Exploding Mice!!!

[kidsnakedad]

For Slithery's (sorry, it's my son's snake, and he picked the name, and he's 5, and the full name is Slithery Hot Dog Snake) last 2 meals, he moved up to hopper mice. Both of them disintegrated before he got them into his mouth; blood and guts smeared all over the place. Never happened when he was still eating fuzzies. Is this normally more frequent with hoppers than with fuzzies? Bad mice? Bad luck? Bad karma?

[RAZORBLADES&BANDAIDS]

That has only ever happened to me once and it was very gross. I wouldnt worry too much about it. It could just be the amount of pressure the snake has on the mouse.

Good Luck

[mlededee]

For Slithery's (sorry, it's my son's snake, and he picked the name, and he's 5, and the full name is Slithery Hot Dog Snake)...

that's so cute!

it is possible that you are getting the mice too hot when warming them up and that is why their bellies are giving out like that. usually it happens if they were warmed too quickly or if they were thawed and then refrozen. try using water that isn't quite as hot to thaw them (if that's how you do it) or perhaps put them in the fridge the night before to let them thaw and then warm them either in warm water or under a heat lamp.

[kidsnakedad]

I usually move it from the freezer to the frig during the day, leave it out in the room for an hour or two in the evening, then put it in warm, not hot, water for 15-30 minutes just before feeding. In a baggie the whole time, of course. I don't heat them up too much, just warm to the touch. Does any part of that process sound like it could be the problem?

Thanks

[elevatethis]

At work, I've noticed a few customers come back with the exploding thawed rodent story. Its very likely that the frozen rodent thawed at some point before it was put into your freezer or en route. Thawing and rethawing rodents generally weakens the rodents skin and everthing non-bone that holds them together, hence why high pressure would cause the blood and guts to break out.

[mlededee]

well your process sounds fine. if the mice are thawing and being refrozen sometime before they get to you that would make them more apt to rupturing for sure. is there anywhere else you can get the mice? or perhaps you could buy them live and either have the people at the store euthanize them or do it yourself and then put them in the freezer so you know they aren't thawing out at any point?

[kidsnakedad]

Its very likely that the frozen rodent thawed at some point before it was put into your freezer or en route. Thawing and rethawing rodents generally weakens the rodents skin and everthing non-bone that holds them together, hence why high pressure would cause the blood and guts to break out.

Ahh, that makes sense. I bet that batch of hoppers was thawed and re-frozen, either by the pet store or by their supplier. That would explain why the problem was only with the hoppers (both of which I bought at the same time). Thanks.

[Jase]

i've never heard of anything liek that, but i normally only deal with live or p/k food, i've done frozen here and there, but never had a rodent explode, that would probably freak me out

[Ironhead]

For Slithery's (sorry, it's my son's snake, and he picked the name, and he's 5, and the full name is Slithery Hot Dog Snake)

I just had to add to this.....

My daughter, 6 years old at the time, had caught a painted turtle out of her grandfathers pond. Well, I let her name it...and she did..... Oatmeal Cereal Moss.

You have to admit that young children can come up with some very original names. lol

[Jase]

i love letting my 7 year old nephew name things, he comes up with some wierd names, lol