How long can you keep the mice/rats Frozen?
Is there a limit on the amount of time frozen?
And can you Freeze thaw freeze then thaw again?
:confused: :confused:
08-26-2007, 02:02 PM
ADEE
Re: F/t
i will only get six at a time.. two every five days (two snakes, one each) im not sure how long you can keep them frozen. as far as freeze/thaw goes, i keep them in baggies of two so i just take out what i need.i would think if your snake refuses a meal you could just refreeze it
08-26-2007, 02:35 PM
GirDance
Re: F/t
There's a sticky in the feeders forum under non-breeder FAQ:
You can either lay it out to defrost at room temp or defrost overnight in the fridge - either way you will have to warm it up further to attract your snake's interest in it. You can also put it frozen straight into a water-tight ziploc baggie and float the bag in very hot (but not boiling) water. There is a product called an "Arctic Mouse Defroster" which by all accounts works well on smaller prey (mice and rats up to pup size). You can use a hairdryer or a heat lamp to warm up defrosted prey items. The goal, whichever method you use, is to bring the prey up to "live" temps, especially the head and belly area, both so your snake will key into it and also because partially defrosted/ice cold prey is not good for your snake's digestive system. Do not let prey thaw so long it could start to decompose and do not use the microwave.
5. Can I re-freeze a prey item that wasn’t eaten?
You can refreeze a fully thawed prey item if you do so within a short period of time. If the thawed item has been left overnight and uneaten, it is best to throw it away as it will have already started to decompose. Some refrozen prey items (especially pinks) will be more likely to have weakened belly skin so take care when re-using those. Separate and mark all refrozen prey items for next week's feeding. If they are unused again, dispose of them as repeated freezing will degrade the quality of your snake's food.
6. How long can frozen prey be safely stored in a freezer?
As long as your freezer maintains a proper and consistent low temp (sufficient for your own food storage) and the prey items are kept sealed as airtight as possible, they should be good for at least 6 months minimum. It's a good idea to date mark each package from the supplier so you can keep track of how long each package has been around (handy if you order smaller orders every few months).
