Feeding f/t rat problem...kinda

[Earl]

Every once in a while when trying to feed my snake a f/t rat the rodents skin will come off when I try to grip it with the hemostats and there will also be a pile of goo after the snake swallows the prey. Do you guys encounter this? Is this to be expected or is there something up with my rats?

[Patrick Long]

I have had tail skin come off, but never their body skin. And I dont ever recall seeing "goo"

[Spaniard]

Usually happens when you leave the rat in the water for too long when defrosting or the water was too hot.

I guess I should ask how you defrost your f/t?

[littleindiangirl]

Ughh... never had that happen!

[Spaniard]

I've never had it happen with hemostats but I have had it happen with one of my strong feeders; squeezed so hard it just went ....POP. Pretty nasty....ewwwwwwwwwwwww

[Earl]

Usually happens when you leave the rat in the water for too long when defrosting or the water was too hot.

I guess I should ask how you defrost your f/t?

I take them out of the freezer, put them into a baggy, and let them thaw in the refrigerator. When they get soft I put them under a heat lamp for about 10 minutes and offer them to the snake.

I used to let them thaw out in room tempurature but I was told that was a bad idea because their insides might still be frozen even though they may seem thawed.

[nevohraalnavnoj]

You can get a lot of rodent degradation if you 1) heat it too fast or 2) heat it too long.

I let mine thaw to room temp (which varies in time, depending on how many rodents and their size).

I then use a human heating pad on the LOW setting until they are warmed throughout. You'll have to have two heating pads (top and bottom) or turn them over like hot dogs on a grill. And for the very last couple minutes I will blast them on high to give them a nice heat signature.

I have had "goo" (and exploding!) problems when I got them too hot for too long.

JonV

[Earl]

Ughh... never had that happen!

I have a picture of the left over goo and guts but I figured noone would want to see that.

[wilomn]

I have had "goo" (and exploding!) problems when I got them too hot for too long.

JonV

Aren't bacteria wonderful. They survive freezing, do the job they're meant to do, disolve organics, so well that we not only get to see decomposition in action but, if we're lucky, get a little private show as well.

Who doesn't like an explosion now and then?

[Spaniard]

Sounds right to me, I dunno strange