Weird Question, re: Thawing

I've searched and been reading several threads on converting from live to frozen/ thawed, and also methods of thawing since my incoming ball pythons will be on a bit larger food source than my sand boas. At any rate, many folks have spoken about heating the rat's head with a hair dryer, and seem to have a dedicated hair dryer for that purpose.

Is there a reason for the dedicated hair dryer, other than the potential skeeve-out factor on the part of the hair dryer's owner? Because I already own a hair dryer, and am the only one in my house who uses it anyway. Can I use that one or is there some health reason (for me or the snake) that would require a separate one?

Thanks -- and sorry, like the title says, I know this is a weird question.

Haha, Most people just use their own. I don't see how it would affect anything.

We started with just using the regular one but eventually it become an excuse to get a better one for humans. Some don't like the idea of it but for the most part that is it. there are a few zoonosis events that can occur very rare (I am not sure of the types of transmission) so that could be a good reason for a dedicated one.

Convenience - I keep one in the snake room and mine in the bathroom. Hygiene - I don't want to handle dead rodents, then later be drying my hair with the same dryer and then go to grab my toothbrush, you know?

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I hope there's not a medical reason, because I use my own lol :D

I don't really see how it could be a germ thing, you don't touch the rat with the hair dryer :confusd:

It's funny, my lesser pastel is conditioned to the sound of the hair dryer. Every time I use the hair dryer for myself I see her poke her head out of her hide and start looking for food. :D

Edit: I can understand Fidget's reasoning. My house is so small that convenience isn't an issue (few steps to the bathroom from the rack), but I don't handle the dead rats (Hemostats are my love)

I can't think of a reason other than the skeeve factor to have a dedicated hair dryer. Although, I don't have a need for a hair dryer otherwise, so it would be dedicated by default.. lol.. Another method to consider is to put the thawed rat in a plastic bag (I double bag and reuse the bags) and submerge in hot water. It's worked well for me. I've never tried a hair dryer though, so I don't know if that is a better method.

I think the biggest thing is hygiene. Your handling the rats, and handling the blow drier. If your using the same blow drier in your bathroom, your handling rats, than handling the dryer, handling the dryer than brushing your teeth and washing your face, and all that fun stuff LOL.

LOL -- wow, thank you all for the responses!!

I hear the hygiene question, and honestly I've never had to thaw anything larger than a pinky before so this is going to be interesting. The process I'm planning is to put the ratsicles in the fridge when I leave for work the morning of Feeding Time At the Zoo. When I get home, I'll start the whole "submerge the rat in a freezer ziplock in a bucket of hot water" process.

Upon making sure it's completely thawed I'll take it in to my bedroom (quarantine) to pre-scent the room for a little. Then I will get the quarantine feeding tongs, hold the rat with those, warm its icky little head* with the blow dryer (which is located maybe 8 feet away at my bathroom sink), and feed the snakes.

I think we'll be okay and with no cross-contamination issues, but if that's not the case I'll get a dedicated dryer.

Again, thank you all so much! :)

*I have dead rodent heebie-jeebie issues, but I'm adapting.

As it turns out, my wife is allergic to me using her hair dryer to heat the heads of rodents... Symptoms of her allergy include a red-face, tense posture, increased vocal volume and fits of Rage! Needless to say, letting her buy a new hair dryer so that I could dedicate her old one to the task-at-hand cleared up most of her symptoms rather almost immediately!

Man...why didn't I think of that...

You know...I think you guys are right, hygiene wise it's just the best idea...Guess I need to go and get a new hairdryer for myself now ;)

I did a little poking about there are quite a few zoonostic disorders that can be transferred from rats. I think it is likely better to use a separate hair dryer and buying from a reputable supplier as well. :O

I was going to post the list but I think not, most of them are exotic, and I believe unlikely. Posting a complete list IMO is counter productive. PM me or google it.

If I were more skilled with my tongs, I might not touch the rat with my hands quite so much...but between squeezing its head to check if it's warm enough, and dropping it on the floor at least once per blow-dry, I do a lot of handling. I'm a healthcare worker, so maybe I'm a little hypersensitive to issues of hygiene. But even if there aren't any illnesses that can be transmitted this way, for me there's still the gross-out factor! :D

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I like the hemostats because they have a much better grip than tongs. I used to drop my rats at LEAST once a feeding with tongs, with the stats I haven't dropped one yet! *happy dance*

I do, however, understand the worry of cross contamination. If only germs were colored so we knew for sure!

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Originally Posted by RoseyReps

I like the hemostats because they have a much better grip than tongs. I used to drop my rats at LEAST once a feeding with tongs, with the stats I haven't dropped one yet!

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Hemostats: now on my shopping list!

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Quote:

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Originally Posted by Fidget

Hemostats: now on my shopping list!

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If you have a flea market near you, go there! There is almost ALWAYS someone selling hemostats / tongs / scissors. I got my big ones for like $5 (online they are close to $20)

I really like the foerster forceps the best if you can find them. They grip better and if the snake hits the end it is a rounded surface not a blunt point.
for the illustration...

http://www.interlabs-india.com/-foer...ceps-1281.html

Those are nice! I wouldn't mind having a pair of those instead of my regular ones

I have some of both the foerster are way better. I have a super aggressive feeder and he on more than one occasion hit the rat seriously hard once where the hemostat tips were straight on I worry about him being hurt the round end seems a bit more forgiving.

Ok, wondering if I'm doing this wrong here....I don't use a hair dryer at all to thaw out the mice...? I put the frozen mouse in a small ziplock bag and submerge it in a small bucket of hot water for about 30 minutes, then run hot water over both sides for another few seconds, and he eats it right up within a few seconds every time. The mouse never gets wet and hasn't yet been refused (knock on wood! LOL). SHOULD I be blow drying it for some reason?:mouse2:

The only reason to blow dry it is to add a bit of extra heat to the head. Some snakes seem to do better at striking and actually eating the right end if the head is a bit warmer than the body. I actually measure mine (OCD yes, check) I try for about 97-100ºF body and 100-110ºF head.

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Originally Posted by kitedemon

The only reason to blow dry it is to add a bit of extra heat to the head. Some snakes seem to do better at striking and actually eating the right end if the head is a bit warmer than the body. I actually measure mine (OCD yes, check) I try for about 97-100ºF body and 100-110ºF head.

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I'm glad my OCD appears to work well with snakes, because I figured I'd heat the heads to 99/100 and check it with the temp gun. I'd already started charting the KSB's weight, food intake, and sheds before I knew it was normal :D