best way to thaw?

[Het4Something]

i put my rats in a pot with boiled hot water.... is there another way?

[Gooseman]

Yea, there are several.

-let it sit out for 30 mins to defrost (although this provides time for bacterial growth)
-put it in the microwave (although you're liable to cook the prey and lessen it's nutritional value)
-set it under a heatlamp (quicker than just letting it defrost on it's own, but does still allow time for bacterial growth)
-setting it under the exhaust pipe of your car and letting it idle (all around HORRIBLE idea)
-create a blowtorch out of a lighter and a can of aerosol WD-40 (once again, HORRIBLE idea...)

There really are countless ways to do it, just need to find a way to warm them up all the way through, and without taking TOO long to allow bacterial growth, or heating it up too quickly and causing the body to fall apart...

EDIT: PLEASE DO NOT USE THE LAST TWO SUGGESTIONS, MY BAD HUMOR GOT IN MY WAY!!!!

[mischevious21]

I just keep them in the bag and put them in in hot water and let them sit for about 15-30min depending on how long it takes for them to completely thaw. A friend of mine had a boa and thaws his on the poarch when its warm out... Talk about a shock when someone walkes up to the door and almost steps on a dead rat in a bag-lol

[Het4Something]

-setting it under the exhaust pipe of your car and letting it idle (all around HORRIBLE idea)
-create a blowtorch out of a lighter and a can of aerosol WD-40 (once again, HORRIBLE idea...)

EDIT: PLEASE DO NOT USE THE LAST TWO SUGGESTIONS, MY BAD HUMOR GOT IN MY WAY!!!!

just out of curiosity..... what would happen if i already did that.....











JUST KIDDING!

[Argentra]

The method you're using is probably the best...but I would advise against the boiled water. Just the hottest water out of the tap does it. Boiled water is so hot it increases the risk of exploding prey. Just set the rodent still in the bag inside the hot water for about 30mins, then dry off/spot thaw with a hairdryer on low setting a few seconds. Works like a charm.

[2Devious]

This has been working for me:

Put the rodents into a sealed bag, squeezing out as much air as possible.
Put them in the bottom of a large coffee cup.
Use a butter knife to weigh them to the bottom.
Fill the cup with the hottest water I can get out of my tap.
Let them thaw for 15 minutes.
Pull out the largest and check behind the head and at the widest part of the thighs for still frozen bits. If still cold I start over again.
If nice and warm I offer them up.
A minute or two back in the bag/cup will re-warm a rodent for a slow to grab snake.

[WingedWolfPsion]

Yeah, hot tap water works for me. The smaller the rodent, the faster it thaws. If you change out the water for hot again a time or two during the process, you'll have even a medium rat thawed in no time. I have never used a hair drier, the rodents come out of the hot tap water at just the right temperature to hold warmth until they get to the snake.
If the bag leaks, you may have a soggy rodent. The snakes don't usually seem to mind this, though it's a bit messy.
I figure it slides down the throat easier that way anyhow.

[MelissaFlipski]

This has been working for me:

Put the rodents into a sealed bag, squeezing out as much air as possible.
Put them in the bottom of a large coffee cup.
Use a butter knife to weigh them to the bottom.
Fill the cup with the hottest water I can get out of my tap.
Let them thaw for 15 minutes.
Pull out the largest and check behind the head and at the widest part of the thighs for still frozen bits. If still cold I start over again.
If nice and warm I offer them up.
A minute or two back in the bag/cup will re-warm a rodent for a slow to grab snake.

That is exactly what I do (the silverware to weigh it down and all)! Except I change out the water once or twice. Also, to entice the snake, right before offering, I hold the mouse under the CHE for a couple of seconds just to warm the head a tad more. Gives a nice heat signature where mammals are naturally warmest. It solved my problem once or twice when Mr. Snake seemed finicky.

[shag]

Heres what i do before i even think about thawing it out i'll let it sit out close to the vent holes in his enclosure to let him smell it if he doesn't poke his head out after 10min. or so i know hes not interested and i toss it back in the freezer. Even when its frozen the smell is still attractive, if he pokes his head out it goes in a ziplock with the air squeezed out and into a sink full of hot water. 20min. or so later its thawed and if it not warm i use a blow dryer for 10min or so. Next a put it back on the enclosure to get him going again, if after 15min theirs no action going on and hes not interested for one reason or another i'll toss it back in the freezer ONCE ONLY. Refreezing more than once can get a little messy so i've heard, following this procedure i've yet to waste any feeders or have a messy exploded rat to clean up.

[BallPythonsRule]

I tried microwaving a f/t mouse once... it's not that it cooked... it kinda exploded and we had to get a new microwave...(the smell wouldn't come off)
So don't do it at home!! lol
Just putting it in warm water for 30 min. is fine... no other way that I know of that works good.