How Many Times Can Rats Be Thawed & Re-Frozen?

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by CharlesMTF

To add to this question... how long can you have the rodents frozen for? Because, the longer you can freeze, I guess the larger quantity you can buy in, to store for awhile. And, I'm guessing, cheaper.

---

This varies. Freezer burn can and does happen. Places like bigcheeserodents and perfect prey vacuum seal packages which help. If I open something. I get the good freezer rated bags then I still put it in a freezer container to try and help.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by CharlesMTF

To add to this question... how long can you have the rodents frozen for? Because, the longer you can freeze, I guess the larger quantity you can buy in, to store for awhile. And, I'm guessing, cheaper.

---

Mainly depends on how they are packed if they are vacuum sealed up to a year.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by CharlesMTF

To add to this question... how long can you have the rodents frozen for? Because, the longer you can freeze, I guess the larger quantity you can buy in, to store for awhile. And, I'm guessing, cheaper.

---

I found an old food saver for free and have devoted it to individually vacuum sealing each rodent. I'm pretty sure this puts it out into the 2-3 year range but I go through them faster than that so I do it mostly for freshness. before that I was going 6 months but the freezer burn really takes it's toll after a while on them if they are not vacuum sealed, making them more fragile and less appetizing.

as for refreezing, I try and avoid it but will do it once.

Thanks for all of your insight everyone. Lots of great tips and advice given here! Back when I kept snakes before, I would re-freeze on occasion and I never had any problems. I never really knew what the general rule of thumb was, though. Now that I am working with a lot more snakes with a lot more still on the way I just don't want to be wasting any more rats than I have to, but at the same time I don't want to risk the animal's health...

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Neal

I personally wouldn't refreeze anything, but I know that people have done it once. A feeder isn't worth the loss of an animal to me, so that's why I won't refreeze.

Also how long was it thawed for, because it can and will begin to decompose.

---

I feel the same way. With that said, I have one BP who is often happy to eat one that is leftover the next morning. Never misses his own meal and always happy to eat the leftovers. Fatty.

I haven't read the thread ( sorry :oops: ) but I go for once only and even there you are taking a chance of a rat-grenade.