Problem with f/t rat

[RoyaLoveRay]

I recently offered my snakes their first f/t rat. The hemostats I use cut right through the rat's tail. Also, once thawed the rat wasn't soft and meaty as I'm used to with f/t mice. Instead the rat was kind of stiff. My question is, I'm wondering if all of this is normal for f/t rats? Mine have been in the freezer about a year, and they don't smell like they've gone bad or anything.

[EarMice]

Stiff as in how? The rat should be thoroughly thawed and warm; the belly should be completely squishy.

[Mustang5]

It sounds like it wasn't all the way thawed. How do you thaw your rats?

[RoyaLoveRay]

Stiff as in how? The rat should be thoroughly thawed and warm; the belly should be completely squishy.

The rat's joints seemed stiff, and the belly definitely wasn't squishy. It seemed as if it was dried out. I'm pretty sure it was thawed...

[RoyaLoveRay]

It sounds like it wasn't all the way thawed. How do you thaw your rats?

I leave the prey item out for a couple few hours, depending on the prey size and the temperature of the room, until it no longer is cold or hard at all when squeezed. I then usually soak it in hot water from the tap for several minutes. However this time I tried using a blow dryer for the final warmup instead of hot water. I mainly want to know why the hemostats cut the tail off? Thanks guys...

[Reinz]

From the tip of the tail to maybe (?) 2/3 down is just fleshy meat, no cartilage. Thus, it thaws first and I discovered as you have do that hemostats just clamp almost right through the tails.

What works for me is either switching to long tweezers so I don't clamp as hard, or move the hemostats much closer to the base of the tail.

Being close to the base is not a problem if you heat the head up to 95-100 degrees with hot water or hair dryer and check with a Temp Gun. This way the snake is less likely to strike high or even miss completely.
This also helps to ensure successful feeds as well.

[Mustang5]

I leave the prey item out for a couple few hours, depending on the prey size and the temperature of the room, until it no longer is cold or hard at all when squeezed. I then usually soak it in hot water from the tap for several minutes. However this time I tried using a blow dryer for the final warmup instead of hot water. I mainly want to know why the hemostats cut the tail off? Thanks guys...

It sounds like you are doing everything right. I agree with Reinz, make sure the temp is around 95 degrees

[sho220]

I recently offered my snakes their first f/t rat. The hemostats I use cut right through the rat's tail. Also, once thawed the rat wasn't soft and meaty as I'm used to with f/t mice. Instead the rat was kind of stiff. My question is, I'm wondering if all of this is normal for f/t rats? Mine have been in the freezer about a year, and they don't smell like they've gone bad or anything.

Use the hemostats to pinch the rats skin right between his shoulder blades and offer that way...A year is a bit on the long end of what I'd keep in the freezer...maybe a little freezer burn going on?

[bcr229]

Use the hemostats to pinch the rats skin right between his shoulder blades and offer that way.

This. It's much easier to "zombie dance" the rat up to your snake at its own level instead of coming down from overhead, which also makes it more likely that a skittish eater will take the feeder.