refreezing f/t rat

It should be understood that when you thaw out a rodent bacteria begins to build and grow instantly. It is not particularly harmful to the snake most times to eat a 2 time frozen rodent but the bacteria levels will be considerably higher after the second defrosting because the tissues have allready started to break down ... "the reason the skin easily gives out" bottom line , your takeing more of a risk of regurge and bacterial problems with your animal by feeding not to mention an increased risk of getting a healthy batch of salmonella going in your snake

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Originally Posted by RobertCoombs

It should be understood that when you thaw out a rodent bacteria begins to build and grow instantly. It is not particularly harmful to the snake most times to eat a 2 time frozen rodent but the bacteria levels will be considerably higher after the second defrosting because the tissues have allready started to break down ... "the reason the skin easily gives out" bottom line , your takeing more of a risk of regurge and bacterial problems with your animal by feeding not to mention an increased risk of getting a healthy batch of salmonella going in your snake

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i somewhat agree but also think that snakes are oppertunist eaters....therefore, they can consume large amounts of bacteria with no ill effects. i do refreeze mine once. only if it hasn't been out long. i know 2 bucks doesn't sound like much, but if you have alot of snakes to feed and they all don't feel like eating that day or you are trying to switch them over from live or p/k , it adds up. i don't see a problem with refreezing, (only once) as long as the mice or rats don't get too gamey.

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um yeah that stomach thing happened to me a couple feedings ago. The store gave me another free one, but that was NASTY...all its insides like came out.

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Ugh, haven't had that happen yet-dont' look forward to it either! Out of curiosity how are you guys thawing and heating? I just let it sit out for a while and get room temp then stick the bag in hot water. I also only give about 20 minutes worth of rat dance till I give up. Tried leaving one overnight once, but it Xaero wouldn't eat it and it just reeked in the morning so I gave up that tactic. I'll refreeze mine once and then pitch it until my red tail grows to a size where they both take the same size food. Then I'll just try the bp first and if he doesn't want it I know Floyd will, making refreezing no longer a issue for me. Everybody go out and get a red tail!

My old method:
Take rodents from freezer, place in a ziploc, sit ziploc in bowl of warm/hot water and change the water as often as needed until mouse is 'mushy' to the touch. Then I lay the rodents on top of my bps light fixture for added warmth (I try to get to at least 98 degrees since that's the normal body temp of a mouse).


New method:
The night before feeding I take rodents out of freezer and sit in the fridge (in covered bowl). When I get home from work the next day I sit the bowl out (lid off) to get to room temp while I walk the dog, check the mail, etc. Then I throw on the light fixture as above. I like this way better because I'm not sitting around waiting or changing water. It takes less time to warm up as well, and it may be a coincidence but it seems I'm getting better feeding responses with this new method.

that makes for less chance of the stomach giving out too because you are guaranteed that you aren't heating it up too quickly or too much like you could be with the hot water method.

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Originally Posted by Tigergenesis

New method:
The night before feeding I take rodents out of freezer and sit in the fridge (in covered bowl). When I get home from work the next day I sit the bowl out (lid off) to get to room temp while I walk the dog, check the mail, etc. Then I throw on the light fixture as above. I like this way better because I'm not sitting around waiting or changing water. It takes less time to warm up as well, and it may be a coincidence but it seems I'm getting better feeding responses with this new method.

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Thx for the tip Tigergenesis. I'm going to have to try that one out.

No prob - let me know how it works for you. :)

I have 50 plus snakes in my keep so finding someone to eat an allready thawed rodent isnt very hard I also breed my own rodents so I know they are the very best quality possible (God only knows how many times the pet shop has tried to feed the frozen ones you just bought)
I thaw mine simply by running the hottest tap water I can in to a 50 gallon rubbermaid and toss in what I need Then I go do the snake chores cleaning and changeing water by the time I am finnished with that the rodents are usually ready to go
BTW by snakes being opportunistic feeders doesent mean they naturally eat carrion, it means they take any opportunity they can to catch a live prey item, there are very few snakes that take to eating allready dead prey in the wild

um hey how exactly do u thaw it on the light fixture? i mean do u put it under the light? or on the side of the light fixture?

i had that stomach thing happen too it IS gross. and my bp decided to drag it with his mouth all around the enclosure and then throw it in his water bowl. mmm, that was a fun MAJOR cling up.