Any tips on not wasting rats when my BP is off feeding?

I've been thawing a rat offering it and putting it back in the freezer or fridge when she doesn't take it. After 1/2 thaws the rat starts to get gross and I chuck it.

Any suggests on how not to waste them while waiting for her to start eating again?

Get a boa or two.

I kid, but that's what I am doing. If I expect any refusals I thaw out the balls food first and if any of them don't eat the boas always do.

Try fresh Kill then if they don't eat you can freeze that :)

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Originally Posted by ExotixTowing

Try fresh Kill then if they don't eat you can freeze that :)

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That is an option but I don't know how I would feel about killing a rat :(

I will usually buy about half as many rats as I need during breeding season, and just rotate them through the cages until they're eaten. My bank account loves this time of year, I only need about 1/4 of the rats I usually do.

In your case, this may take a little time, but try only thawing a one or two rats at a time, and then using tweezers, offer one to a snake at a time. If none eat, you're only out one rat, instead of several.

-Jen

Unfortunately I only have 1 snake so I can't pass the rat down the line

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Feed live and get a rat cage. If he doesn't eat just put the rat back in the cage and wait for next time.

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Originally Posted by DrDooLittle

Feed live and get a rat cage. If he doesn't eat just put the rat back in the cage and wait for next time.

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This. :gj:

Balls are too picky/unpredictable for us to even consider f/t, especially with the amount we have. Our smaller corns get f/t and that is it. Everything else gets live.

What I do with mine is while the rat is still frozen I take it and a hair dryer and hold the frozen rat over the cage (I have a screen top) I turn the hair dryer on low and blow it on the rat and into the cage. I know it sounds crazy, but I kept trying to figure out how to not waste the thawed rat. So the scent of the rat even though frozen will blow into the cage and I can see if my female comes out of her hide. If she does I take that as she is interested, if she doesn't I put it back in the freezer. It works for me.

You cannot refreeze rats like that. Think about why you can't refreeze chicken or steak or pork and then apply that to a rat.

Honestly, when your BP is off feed, I would learn the routine. I have a BP that goes off feed every single October/November ish and then comes back on feed anywhere from February to April. After his first refusal, I don't offer food anymore until February. If he doesn't take it in February. I wait til March to try again. If he doesn't take it in March, I wait til April. Once he starts eating, I feed weekly. It works well and he doesn't waste as much food this way.

Star