Are f/t rats suppose to be stiff?

I have been defrosting my rats for over 2 years in ziplock bags overnight in cool/warm water. I noticed that the rats are pretty stiff when going to feed but my bps dont seem to mind. Is this normal? My pups are not stiff, its mainly the smalls. Is it better to defrost directly in water to soften them up a bit?

I would guess that if they fully thaw, rigor mortis would set in after awhile. Google says that it takes between 8-12 hours in adult rats. Defrosting in water would probably allow you to feed them off before they get stiff. Sounds like an interesting experiment to try.

i also defrost in a ziplock, i dont need a bowl of funky rat bong-water spilling in my bathroom lol. I am on small rats, i start with very warm, but not hot water, sorry i dont have an exact temp. after about 1.5 hours the rat is floppy with no cool spots. Still in the bag i run him under hot but not boiling water for 10 minutes, and then straight into the snake! - but once defrosted its totally floppy and pliable.

I haven't experienced that and I'm only an owner for 4 months now so nowhere near an expert but I would say it's fine as long as the stiffness isn't due to it still being frozen which by your method of defrosting can't be the case.

I actually take mine of of the freezer the morning of feeding, put in ziplock bag and just let them air defrost. By the time 8pm-ish comes around when I feed mine, the rat is good to go with a little warming with a hairdryer.

Overnight in water is too long. Even overnight without water is too long, but you may get away with it.

I feed a lot of large and XL rats and they completely thaw in 3-4 hours, sometimes 5 hrs for really large XL. And that is without water.

For me, the best thaw procedure is to thaw in the fridge for 24 hrs. Again, it may take longer on the larger ones. That way if I get busy and forget about the rats there is no harm. The rats will easily keep fresh for two days in the fridge.

When I was feeding pups and smalls, they were completely thawed in the fridge overnight.

Feeding stiff rats is just asking for a regurgitation and other possible health problems as well.

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Originally Posted by highqualityballz

I have been defrosting my rats for over 2 years in ziplock bags overnight in cool/warm water. I noticed that the rats are pretty stiff when going to feed but my bps dont seem to mind. Is this normal? My pups are not stiff, its mainly the smalls. Is it better to defrost directly in water to soften them up a bit?

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hmmm maybe there's something wrong with your water? maybe u have hard water or something that's making the rats stiff? maybe it might help, u know, if u switch to some higher quality h2o...

(ok i'll stop there. lol)

;) :twisted:

Lol Ax01.

I feed my girl small rats and sometimes they aren't as soft as I'd like, but I wouldn't say they're stiff. I usually thaw for an hour or two in warm water in the sink, then dry them off and she takes them right away.

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I guess stiff was the wrong word to use, they just are not as soft as i think they should be. Maybe its just in my head. Also ax01 your jokes are becoming pretty corny!

I think once you get into smalls, they are just beefier. Their bone structure is bigger and they are just a more sturdy animal than a rat pup. As long as you know they are freshly thawed and have not been sitting around, it's all good.

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Originally Posted by cletus

I think once you get into smalls, they are just beefier. Their bone structure is bigger and they are just a more sturdy animal than a rat pup. As long as you know they are freshly thawed and have not been sitting around, it's all good.

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Yeah that what i thought. Just making sure. Thanks!