Do F/T rodents stink?

[TheBallPython]

The only other snake I've owned was a garter that ate fish, so feeding rodents will be new to me. So my question is, after a frozen rodent is thawed, does it have an odor? Just wondering, as it will determine whether I feed f/t or live when I get my ball.

[pavlovk1025]

F/T or live smell about the same to me. The longer a F/T sits out the more pungent it gets, IMO. Ive left them in overnight and woke up to a staaank.

[TheBallPython]

lol, thanks! I'll have to remember not to let them sit all night.

One more question. Being a BP, if they decide not to eat the thawed rodent, do you have to throw it away? I can't imagine any other way of keeping it from stinking up the house, and I know my family would kill me if I put a dead mouse in the fridge.

[pavlovk1025]

Any rodents one BP doesnt eat get offered as a second meal to the others, if it is still not eaten I re-freeze it. You have to re-freeze because otherwise it'll just decompose. Try to feed, if it refuses, re freeze. Thaw it out the next week for feeding time, if it doesnt get eaten...flush him. No other way about it really I think.

And if you cant keep it in your fridge you might as well chuck it dude.

[TheBallPython]

Thanks for all the advice! I've just always heard that re-freezing meat products is dangerous for humans, wasn't sure if it would be the same for snakes (hense the fridge idea). I can definitely keep them in the freezer, it was the refrigerator that wouldn't fly.

[pavlovk1025]

Some people re-freeze, some dont. I do, and only once. Here's a thread on the matter..

http://ball-pythons.net/forums/showt...light=freezing

[pavlovk1025]

I forgot to add that I wont refreeze anything that's been out more than 3 hours, cause they get all bloated and nasty smelling.