smelly f/t feeders

about a month ago i had a mishap with my freezer and had to trash all my feeders. freezer is now running fine, i got my new stock of feeders and on the first feeding day during thawing i could tell they smelled different. i have never had feeders smell like this and i could tell something was not right.

Corny could care less about the pinkies i'm feeding him, but i'm wondering if i shouldn't be offering these feeders. i tried feeding Spaghetti and she refused it. i had scented the room, she was ready, but when it was presented she just wouldn't strike. that's out of the norm for her. i've tried a few more feedings and these rats just stink! it's not room-filling but when i get close and smell them there is a very strong odor that i have never smelled on a f/t feeder before, and it's not a good one. i'm still getting refusals (haven't been offering to Yellow as he's in shed atm) and i'm wondering if i should just start over with new stock again.

f/t feeders should have NO smell, correct? i've never had an issue and now that i'm noticing a smell i'm thinking this has to be abnormal. could there be something wrong with these rats and why Spaghetti is refusing? should i just get new stock?

If the snake doesn't trust them, I wouldn't either.

I've fed many a highly stinky f/t rat to mine and never had an issue, but it was always the same rat smell that I've smelled in a room full of live, healthy rats. I think it's gross, but he is usually more excited for the stinkier ones. The feeders always looked just fine, and if it's a bit of rat urine - well, they're already eating the contents of the bladder and the gut so why should a bit more make a difference? If it looked dirty, that would be a different issue, but eliminating during death is a natural process so I don't fuss much.

However, as I said, he was always very happy to take them and I could reasonably identify the smell (I can identify various animals by the scent of their urine/feces at this point, have had lots of practice - not my favorite skill, but occasionally useful I guess.) . Since your snake rejected yours, you might as well accept the snake's judgment on them - they're better at identifying odors and the cost of some f/t rats for one snake isn't very high for peace of mind. Tossing them and getting new ones is your best choice here.

They all have some smell whether I bought locally or shipped especially bigger ones. Ball pythons do this sometimes. If boa did it that would be a concern (rarely had non newborn boa refuse)
The fact that your other guy takes it adds to the odds that its ok. But why wont you go get one locally and try that to make sure its not a problem with the snake

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Originally Posted by Kcl

Since your snake rejected yours, you might as well accept the snake's judgment on them - they're better at identifying odors and the cost of some f/t rats for one snake isn't very high for peace of mind. Tossing them and getting new ones is your best choice here.

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i know the "ratty" smell from the feeders but what i'm smelling is entirely new and something i have never smelt on a feeder. the peace of mind is definitely worth the price of new feeders. i think i'm just going to get new ones and see how feedings go before i toss anything out. if they're accepted then i'll throw the old ones away.

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Originally Posted by VIP CONSTRICTORS

The fact that your other guy takes it adds to the odds that its ok.

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i know they have some smell but what i'm smelling is not a normal feeder smell, but you make a good point about Corny happily taking them. thanks for your input!

If I'm ever in doubt about my feeders, I throw them away and buy new ones. The cost of replacing some rodents is not worth the risk to my snakes.

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i opened one once and i could smell it was differenct. The corny wouldnt take it either. so i took a closer look and sniffed. sure enough it was a decaying smell. it wasnt fresh. I know that smell. so it had become defrosted and frozen again. I will never forget that smell now.

Oh! There was one rat my girl didn't take since she started eating again and that's probably why! I was told you can refreeze it once before throwing it away, but if she ever doesn't take again, I may not bother.

just to update: Spaghetti happily took her rat from my latest stock. i left Yellow's in his enclosure and will check back on him later.

new stock came from Perfect Prey: there was no smell like with the other rats i got before. that last stock was not from Perfect Prey, and i will never stray from Perfect Prey again.

"MOM, not with my mouth full GOSH YOU'RE EMBARRASSING ME!"
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