Would the rat be garbage by morning?

[Peter Williams]

Everyone ate tonight but one. She struck at it and missed, and then didn't bother trying again (f/t). I wanna leave it in there til morning, but if she doesn't eat it I don't want to waste that perfectly good rat, I don't know if I should feed it to one of my other snakes or leave it in there...If I do leave it in there overnight, is it totally garbage by morning, and I'll have to throw it out?

[dr del]

Hi,

Well the best way to think of it is this;

You have a nice steak but dont feel like eating it so you leave it lying on a nice warm counter overnight - do you pick it up and start eating it in the morning or chuck it?

Let your nose and concience be the final guide though - but if they are still there the next morning I always just throw them away.


dr del

[Kathleen]

Sorry to hijack your thread but I was wondering about something that seemed semi-relevant. If a BP refuses a F/T, can you re-freeze that mouse and thaw it again some other time, or does it lose its nutritional value (and freshness)? Just curious.

[dr del]

Hi,

It depends a lot on how fresh it was when frozen the first time and how long it took to defrost and the method used.

freezing causes cell damage and so does too hot water while defrosting - the 2 combined can create something resembling a mouse grenade. One touch and splat!!!

But if that was avoided and it smells fine then you might be able to refreeze it - but I would mark it as a refreeze and never do it more than once.

The longer it sits out decomposing the less I trust them to be edible by the time the second defrosting is complete.



dr del

[Kathleen]

Hi,

It depends a lot on how fresh it was when frozen the first time and how long it took to defrost and the method used.

freezing causes cell damage and so does too hot water while defrosting - the 2 combined can creatre something resembling a mouse grenade. One touch and splat!!!

But if that was avoided and it smells fine then you might be able to refreeze it - but I would mark it as a refreeze and never do it more than once.

The longer it sits out decomposing the less I trust them to be edible by the time the second defrosting is complete.



dr del

Thanks for the reply.

[MarkS]

This is where animals like bullsnakes or snapping turtles come in so handy. Natures garbage cans.