Feeding F/t rats doing something wrong HELP

He been eating in a different enclosure since I had him which is 4 months now I will look into that I don't think I want him to eat where he sleep cause of it makes a mess then it's more stuff I gotta clean up from his bedding


1.0 normal Bp #jr [emoji16]

It is not supposed to make a mess. Once you fix that issue you will see.

I have been thawing the rats in the fridge. I put move them from the freezer to the fridge the night before. When I am ready to feed him the next evening I just take them and put them in a sink full of water as hot as the tap goes (in the ziploc bag of course). After they feel reasonably warm I blow dry them while focusing on the head to increase the heat signature. I haven't had any problems with them popping. I was trying to thaw them from frozen when I was ready to feed him before and was just always concerned that they were either too hot or not fully thawed. The fridge has been working great since I know they are not frozen by the time I warm them and I don't have to use very hot water to bring them to temperature. Have you only had the problem with the rat popping once or is it a regular thing? It could have just been an isolated event, but incorrect thawing can cause that too.

This was the first time it pop on me this bad one other time it's open alil but not a lot the other two times only the tail fell of after he strike and rap around it


1.0 normal Bp #jr [emoji16]

I usually take the rat out around noon or so, and leave it to thaw at room temp for about 5 hours or so. Then I place in a zip bag, and submerge into warm tap water to heat the rat. I've never had one explode, and my BP has never refused. I also feed him in his normal habitat, it order to reduce stress of moving him around before a meal. He's usually in his hide, and pops his head out when he feels the vibrations of my approach. Once I lift the lid, he comes out to search, and stokes quickly.


Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

I thaw mine in a old Tupperware in slightly hot water and let it sit about 30 min until the water cools then check and make sure its soft. I usually gave to flip it so the other side can get heat. Then I empty the water and take the container to the one they feed in, open the bag, and feed the snake. They give me no issues other than taking the rat from the wrong end by accident. I've never had guts come out but I have had gooey slime left behind and then I usually wipe the snake down with a damp cloth before placing back in the enclosure

0.2 Normal

If you feed the snake on Friday morning.

Remove from freezer Thursday night.

Place on top of cage - or in another part of the house that is room temperature.

Feed snake Friday morning.



If you feed the snake on Friday night.

Remove from freezer Friday morning.

Place on top of cage - or in another part of the house that is room temperature.

Feed snake Friday night.


See the pattern? Thaw out beginning 8 to 12 hours ahead of when you feed.


You do not need to use hot water, boiling water, lukewarm water or water at all.

You do not need to remove the snake from the cage.

Slowly thaw, then feed. It's really quite simple....elegantly simple as some may say.

Actually I'm pulling your leg. It's actually incredibly difficult.

Here's how to correctly prep the prey item for feeding:

1. Remove rat from freezer. Note temperature of frozen rat.

2. Place rat in a BPA-free plastic bag.

3. Note ambient temperature of room.

4. Reference Table 7.1 of Conant's Freeze/Thaw Matrix.

5. Make sure you note elevation and planting zone (Sunset Planting Guide).

6. Take the temperature of the frozen rat, add to it the ambient room temperature, divide by the cosine of the angle of repose of the rat's tail.

7. Multiple it by the planting zone you live in.

8. Divide it by the square root of the sum of the numbers in columns four and 8 of the Freeze/Thaw Matrix.

9. Take the number you arrive at in Step #8 and subtract from it the proper coefficient of humidity.

10. This should give you the minimum thawing time.

11. At MTt-4hours, make sure to bend all four limbs so that they are parallel to the 7th cervical vertebrae of the rat.

12. At minimum thaw time, place the prey item on a lace doily in front of the ball python.

13. Any questions?

I'd like to note that the lace doily should be hand crochet and some balls prefer it to be also on a small (properly warmed) silver platter.

The lace doily bit cracked me up. I actually put a "plate" down for him, but more to minimize the risk of him grabbing bedding when he strikes since I feed him in his cage. Still though, every time I do it, even though I realize the reasoning behind it, I can't help but think how spoiled he is. lol