Thawing F/T How do you guys do it?

I generally let it thaw out in the fridge overnight, then drop it in a container of hot water to warm it up. This works for the different prey sizes we use for the kings and for the BP.

Since I feed many multiple sized prey, I just throw it all together in a bucket, fill it with warm water let it sit, maybe 30 min, till the water is cold. Then I dump it and do it again, usually takes 2 to three times until the largest prey is thawed through, then I fill it with the hottest water from the tap and feed.

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Originally Posted by 200xth

Rodent in ziplock bag.
Ziplock bag in container of hot water.
Wait a few hours.
Remove rodent.
Feed to snake.

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This :number1: Except I hit them with a hair dryer before feeding. The hair dryer adds a little heat and gets the sent moving around the room. I usually shoot the rat with a laser temp gun right before I feed, so I know I'm in the right temp range. Too hot is just as bad as too cold.

Thanks for the suggestions guys. Do any of you take them out the night before? I do like the fridge idea overnight that would probably be perfect and would be a natural thaw just like meat. I have always just thrown them in water but that may be the problem. I should try feeding them dry and not wet. Thanks again.

I like to avoid feeding them wet because I don't think the sent molecules are as easy for your snake to pick up when the hair is wet. I have nothing scientific to back that up, just antidotal evidence and experience.

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Originally Posted by Slim

I like to avoid feeding them wet because I don't think the sent molecules are as easy for your snake to pick up when the hair is wet. I have nothing scientific to back that up, just antidotal evidence and experience.

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I would have to agre. Maybe my thawing methods are why not all eat every time? I'll will try a different method next time.

I do the fridge the day before for small feeders but really large feeders get at least 2 days in the fridge.
Place in warm water untill warm all the way through.
Feed to hungry snake.

I place directly in water only because I feel like its a little "bath" or rinse before my snakes eat. Rinses off bedding, poop, or anything else that may be stuck to them. I have had trouble with some going after wet rodents. For those picky eaters I have used hair dryers and warming in baggies in water so they don't get wet. The latter is much easier.

I'm going to try the temp gun to see what temp I actually am feeding.

I have that will only eat thawed if its thawed with ambient temps. She want touch it if its thawed out in water period. Maybe scent issue. Also take its head to a heat lamp for a minute or so makes the whole process easier.


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My method:

1. The night before feeding, I put the prey item in the refrigerator to thaw overnight.
2. On feeding day, I take the prey out of the fridge when I get home from work and let it come up to room temp while I'm doing other stuff.
3. When it's time to feed, I put water on to boil in a tea kettle.
4. I put the prey in a little Tupperware dish I have and cover it with tap water.
5. I then add hot water from the tea kettle until the prey temperature is 100 - 104 degrees. I try to get the head warmer than the body. I use a probe thermometer pushed against the prey to measure the temp.
6. When the temp is right, I use tongs to remove the prey from the water and dry it thoroughly on a paper towel.
7. Hubby uses tongs to grab the prey by the tail and offer it to the snake. He wiggles the prey a bit and keeps it just about head height.
8. Usually within about half a minute, the snake zaps the prey and coils.

My little boy is a strong, aggressive feeder. He sometimes zaps the prey so hard that my husband is left holding nothing but a rat tail in the tongs.

*cough* microwave *cough*

no, seriously, all is fine as long as you do not use a microwave oven.

simple and fast: drop them in tap water (cold / lukewarm / doesnt matter), then maybe warm water, but you can skip that. then dry with towel or paper towel, then blast them with a hairdryer.

overheat and they explode when constricted and innards go everywhere.

the thing is that it takes a lot of energy to turn ice into water, and when you turn water into ice a lot of energy is released. phase transitions. cold or lukewarm water will get it done, once its fully thawed, dry it with a towel and give it a hairdryer blast.