Thawing = Wet Mouse

Mouse-icicle is not a good sign :P
If it's covered in frost or ice before it thaws, it's definitely going to get wet with time
What I do is use a tupperware container with holes in it, line the bottom with a sheet of folded paper towel and let them thaw out at room temperature for a couple of hours
Even if the rat gives off any blood or moisture, it will be absorbed by the paper towel
Thawing in a bag seals in the moisture and results in your wet mouse
Hope this helps :)

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Originally Posted by Pandora

Hope this helps :)

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Very much so, thanks! We have a dry mouse thawing on a paper towel at the moment. :)

I am currently feeding a small adult mouse to my ball python. I buy them in 6 at a time and they come individually wrapped in a sealed plastic bag. I will then fill a glass of hot water and let the packaged mouse thaw in the water for 15 minutes. In 15 minutes the mouse is thawed. Because the mouse will be damp I then dry it with a blow dryer for a minute or two........the blow dryer adds heat to the mouse. This is what works for me.

It's just fine to give your snake a wet mouse, just wipe it with a cloth or paper towel to dry it up a bit. My snakes don't mind eating a damp mouse, just as long as they get to eat! Lol. It's totally fine to feed your snake a wet mouse though, they don't seem to mind it much.

Also, instead of waiting hours for a thawed out mouse, I suggest putting the mouse in a container of really hot water. Let it thaw in the water for about 5-10 minutes, maybe longer if the mouse still needs to thaw a little longer (15 min). Right when you take out the mouse, dry it off with a cloth or paper towel, then offer it to the snake while still warm. If the snake doesn't take it after a minute or so and the mouse feels a little cool then dip the mouse in the water for 30-60 seconds.

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Originally Posted by Patricia

We fed our new BP for the first time today, after letting the mouse-icle thaw for several hours. By the time we opened the bag, it was wet.

Is it OK to give wet rodents? Or should we have dried it first? I didn't know if the scent of the paper towel would deter the snake or not, and so didn't dry the mouse.

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Just to double check here, you did warm up the mouse after thawing it fully - correct? The use of a old blow dryer on an f/t rodent can be very helpful. Dries them off fully and helps give them a stronger heat signature for the snake to track, always important in non-living prey.

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Originally Posted by Patricia

Very much so, thanks! We have a dry mouse thawing on a paper towel at the moment. :)

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You're offering a second one? There's nothing wrong with 2 prey items for a snake that needs that but normally they are fed during the same feeding not many hours apart (or perhaps I've misunderstood your posts).

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Originally Posted by mainbutter

There are no adverse health effects from feeding a wet mouse.

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nice to know lol

I thaw rodents in plastic bags in warm water. Sometimes, the bags leak, and I wind up with sodden thawed rodents. The snakes do not appear to mind if their food drips a bit. I guess it helps it slide down better. ^_^

With my BP, I just dangle it by it's tail and when it strikes I drop it. He missed a feeding because I just decided to leave it alone in his cage. He likes the movement I guess. Just don't bite me in the mean time, lol.

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Originally Posted by frankykeno

You're offering a second one? There's nothing wrong with 2 prey items for a snake that needs that but normally they are fed during the same feeding not many hours apart (or perhaps I've misunderstood your posts).

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Well, yes, but that second one was 5 days later. It first ate last Wednesday, then again on Monday. I read that youngsters need to eat more frequently, and it lunged at it instantly, so I'm taking that as a sign that it was hungry and ready to eat. (And hopefully that all is well in its world.)

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Originally Posted by Lewdogg3

HAHA, if they eat it butt first its okay, It happens. It might look funny but it happens and is no biggie

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I once saw a Hognose eat a mouse from the middle in the lab , the mouse just folded in two, I thought it would turn the mouse so didn't interfere but it never did turn it and next thing I know all four feet and the tail were all that was visible, but the snake was fine. I am more careful now to make sure the at least eat from one end or the other. Now that looked funny going down.

As for wet mice, I just pluck the size I need from the thawing bucket, ring out the mouse/rat a bit in my hand and give it to the snake, they don't seem to care.