Preferred method for feeding frozen thawed?

I have been feeding using tongs and dancing them in front of my bps after they are heated. I have seen people mention that they will drop the heated rat in the tub and leave it overnight. How successful is that method? I have one or two shy eaters and have been considering trying this. The only thing holding me back is that I haven't wanted to waste a rat. When I get a refusal, I'll either feed it off to another BP or it will go back into the fridge and I'll try again later.

I feed all f/t and have rarely had any luck with just tossing it in the tub. I have a few now that would probably take them that way, but then again, those are the ones that barely let me get the tub open before they come bolting out for chow. Don't really want to wake up the next day to a bunch (or any) dead, uneaten rats. Any leftovers go back into the freezer for one more shot later...

I have a lot of luck leaving them in overnight. I have two that will not eat for me unless I leave the rat in the door of their hide and wait for all the lights to go out. By morning 90% of the time it's gone. I'd try it for picky eaters, some just don't like an audience. I always do that zombie dance with tongs to see if they'll take it, some do, some don't. If they don't I leave it in overnight.

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Originally Posted by sho220

Any leftovers go back into the freezer for one more shot later...

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I have not had a leftover mice/rats yet. I was wondering what to do with the dead mice/rats if my snake does not eat.

I did not know if I should toss it out or refreeze for next feeding. Do then stay good in the freezer after being heated up?

just curious ;)

For me, it depends on the snake. My normal, yb and boa all take F/T right off the tongs (no need for the zombie dance, as soon as the door to the cage is open and the rodent is in, they're on it).

My POG is really shy, and for him I usually heat up the rat like normal and leave it in his enclosure. He's quite picky though, so it's kind of hit or miss with him :/

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Originally Posted by Tree

I have not had a leftover mice/rats yet. I was wondering what to do with the dead mice/rats if my snake does not eat.

I did not know if I should toss it out or refreeze for next feeding. Do then stay good in the freezer after being heated up?

just curious ;)

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Most of the time, I will put it back in the freezer and try it one more time. After that it's into the trash. On the second attempt I give it to a solid feeder so I rarely waste any feeders...

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Originally Posted by LGray23

I'd try it for picky eaters, some just don't like an audience. I always do that zombie dance with tongs to see if they'll take it, some do, some don't. If they don't I leave it in overnight.

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That's interesting...I'll have to give that a go sometime. I have a female Black Pastel who is kind of picky. She's never gone off feed but isn't as enthusiastic as the others. Maybe I'll try it with her. That might just be the ticket! Thanks! :gj:

I am new to this feeding F/T. When we started , I put him in a seperate tub with the meal, he took to it pretty quick. The Last couple feeding I used tongs, he seems to like that. Zombie dance, what zombie dance. He strikes lightning quick, I don't even get a chance to wiggle. Been quite surprised, he was malnourished and used to live, but has a heck of an appetite.

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Originally Posted by sho220

That's interesting...I'll have to give that a go sometime. I have a female Black Pastel who is kind of picky. She's never gone off feed but isn't as enthusiastic as the others. Maybe I'll try it with her. That might just be the ticket! Thanks! :gj:

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I suggest it, I have to leave it in for at least 2 of mine because they are so paranoid. I currently only have one that won't take any f/t prey I've offered, overnight or not. That still leaves 8 success stories a majority of the time lol. Of course those stats shouldn't include my normal male who's a garbage disposal...or my boa who eats anything that dangles in his tub :) But my other 2 that require it, it's usually a good 70-80% chance they eat it overnight when no ones looking...

I feed a night and have 2 that show 0 intrest in food but its almost always gone come morning. If not and the rat doesnt smell or look like its rotting it goes back into the freezer. I keep my leftovers in a rubbermaid tub in the freezer and they get offered to my best eaters first the next week. I have refroze a 2nd time before. Depending on how the rat looks. Any raunchy smell at all or bloating and it gets tossed