How To Keep Feeder Mice if I Keep Kosher?

I'm researching and adding up prices for getting a pet snake, but I have one major issue: I keep kosher, and if I put frozen feeder mice in the freezer, that would be unkosher.
I've tried looking for mini-freezers online, but I only find mini-fridges with tiny freezers, and they're even then, they're out of my price range.
How should I store frozen mice if I can't keep them in the house (they can be stored in the garage)?

Just feed live or only buy a frozen the day you are going to feed


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Just feed live or only buy a frozen the day you are going to feed

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PetSmart (here in Canada) only sells frozen mice, and they're not sold separately.

I think I paid $200 for my mini freezer and it's well worth it.

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Originally Posted by EL-Ziggy

I think I paid $200 for my mini freezer and it's well worth it.

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Was it a mini-fridge with a freezer or an actual mini-freezer?

Have you tried Craigslist for a used one?

Also, what makes it not kosher to put the rodents in the freezer?


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Also have you searched your town for other pet stores that sell live feeders my pet smart does not seek feeders at all and found another store that does

I was looking for mini freezers as well recently but made room in my current freezer and abandoned the idea until I get a killer black Friday or similar sale. What I did find in my research is Home Depot has some decent units that are freezer only models under $200. Hope that helps.

There are "chest freezers" on the smaller side that you can get cheaply too... They are not tiny though and you'd need to find a space to put them. You can often find used chest freezers on Craigslist or similar for cheap too.

Get this freezer, only $134 brand new, this is the one I have for my rodents. Works great.

http://www.homedepot.com/p/Haier-3-5...1ACW/300858995

https://www.amazon.com/Igloo-FRF110-...s=mini+freezer

Another small option on Amazon (freezer only)

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Originally Posted by cchardwick

Get this freezer, only $134 brand new, this is the one I have for my rodents. Works great.

http://www.homedepot.com/p/Haier-3-5...1ACW/300858995

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This isn't the brand I have but it's the same size. I see I paid too much for mine now. This is a great deal. :)

First off, welcome. You've found a great place to learn.

Sounds to me like a small freezer in the garage may be your best bet, and probably only option. It seems you can find them fairly cheap, but I get the budget thing. My two cents: if you are serious about getting into snake keeping, a small freezer is a small investment when you look at the big picture. Snakes have long life expectancies, with BPs living over 30 years. You can find a small freezer for $200 or less (American) , which should be a one-time purchase. Then, factor in how much money you'll save being able to buy prey in bulk rather than piece by piece. 2 small rats at PETSMART are $12. Online I get them for $50 for 30, so $1.75/each (plus shipping, but it's still a LOT cheaper). Your freezer will pay for itself in no time.

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Originally Posted by BPGator

Also, what makes it not kosher to put the rodents in the freezer?

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Requirements of Jewish law.

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Originally Posted by RickyNY

Requirements of Jewish law.

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I know kosher is a requirement of Jewish law. I'm curious how specifically having a rat in your freezer makes the other food not kosher.


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Yeah. Those freezers in mini-fridges are crap. Wouldn't keep them frozen anyway.

I have a 5 cu ft chest freezer I use. I have plenty of space and I but about a six month supply each time.

There 3 cu ft should be perfect.

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Originally Posted by BPGator

I'm curious how specifically having a rat in your freezer makes the other food not kosher.

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I don't want to speak out of turn but I assumed it's because you should not have non-kosher 'food stuffs' in contact with kosher food. A rat is not kosher.

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Originally Posted by BPGator

Have you tried Craigslist for a used one?

Also, what makes it not kosher to put the rodents in the freezer?


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Meat and dairy have to be kept apart. And based on how kosher a person is, the meat must also be kosher, and frozen mice aren't.

A small freezer chest in the garage, basement, other non-eating room is your best option. Could you get gift cards, in advance, for Chanukah? That would help you save up quickly. My son bought me my chest freezer and told me not to even think about Chanukah, my birthday, or Mother's Day for a full year. Would someone do that for you?
The only other thought that I have is to separate out the bottom level of your freezer if it is a side-by-side, or one small corner of the freezer if it is an on-top. Use very thick cardboard or heavy plastic to make a separate area within the freezer. It can't be used for anything else, and when you got your own freezer, this freezer would have to be defrosted and re-kashered.
This sort of skirting the law will not be acceptable in a Hasidic or Orthodox household. Conservative would depend. Reform or Reconstructionist would be fine in almost all cases.
or...how about using a tiny bit of space at a nearby friend's house? You could keep your couple of packaged mice in a paper bag, tucked into a little Tupperware container.
Let me know what you decided to do. I'm interested. I'm Reform, by the way.

I buy my frozen mice in bulk and they are double wrapped right next to my food in my freezer. I but one year worth at a time, and I keep 6 months in my regular freezer, and the next 6 months in deep freezer. I pay around 60 cents per mouse.

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Originally Posted by Merriah

I buy my frozen mice in bulk and they are double wrapped right next to my food in my freezer. I but one year worth at a time, and I keep 6 months in my regular freezer, and the next 6 months in deep freezer. I pay around 60 cents per mouse.

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I do this too, though it still makes me nervous no matter how many times the rats are wrapped. Seriously considering some of these mini freezers people are posting links to...

A chest freezer is a great investment, snake food or no!

We keep rats in ours, but also any deer my husband happens to take down during hunting season, any excess veggies we get from the garden... all kinds of stuff!

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Originally Posted by cchardwick

Get this freezer, only $134 brand new, this is the one I have for my rodents. Works great.

http://www.homedepot.com/p/Haier-3-5...1ACW/300858995

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That's the one I was looking at as well - they say it'll go on special every once in a while for $100.

How long have you been using it Chad?

Is it technically unkosher even if its not your food? Is it unkosher to keep chilled dog/cats food in the fridge?

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Originally Posted by Jhill001

Is it technically unkosher even if its not your food? Is it unkosher to keep chilled dog/cats food in the fridge?

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I believe so, since it would come into contact with the kosher food.

Hello everyone! OP here.

I just want to thank you all so much for your suggestions and comments, and for those of you wondering about keeping kosher:
-Meat and dairy cannot be mixed together.
-Most fish are kosher, and fish is pareve; it's neither dairy or meat, so it can be mixed with either.
-A mammal is only kosher if it has cloven hooves AND chews its own cud.
-Some people only allow kosher food in their kitchen (and dining room), but in my case, anywhere else in the house is okay.

But that's not the point of this reply.

I wanted to let all of you Canadians who want to keep mice in separate freezers that I found a great, cheap mini-freezer!
https://www.costco.ca/RCA-1.1-cu.-ft...100347669.html

I can't believe how many people responded!

This thread isn't necessarily closed, though, so feel free to post and ask about the subject!