I left them sitting out :\

So on Saturday I bought a box of f/t nice for Calliope. I heated one up, and fed it to her, and all went well. Sadly due to how hectic and stressful the day got, I completely forgot to put the other three mice in the fridge, and they were left sitting on the kitchen counter for several hours. Once I realized my mistake, I quickly put them in the freezer, but I'm worried that they may not be good anymore. I'm very aware of the "when in doubt, throw it out" rule, but I do want to be sure. I don't want to make Calliope sick, but mice are expensive. Of course if they aren't good I won't feed them to her, and I will get some new mice for her but I figured I'd just ask you guys to be sure. I'd never want to give my snake food poisoning by giving him mice that are no longer good so hopefully you guys can help. If I don't get any replies, I will just throw the mice out and buy new ones. Mostly just looking to see if they are still good. Thank you.


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Were they thawed when you realized you left them out?

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Just a couple hours? Still in their packaging? I think they are ok.

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Originally Posted by omglolchrisss

Were they thawed when you realized you left them out?

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Yes they were thawed.


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Originally Posted by Sunnieskys

Just a couple hours? Still in their packaging? I think they are ok.

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Still in the packaging, but completely thawed.


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Originally Posted by OneEyedFox

Yes they were thawed.


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How long exactly were they left out?

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Originally Posted by omglolchrisss

How long exactly were they left out?

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I'm not entirely sure. It was probably at least 7 hours since I got them when the sun was up and then when I realized what I had done, the sun had already set.


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You can refreeze once. And if it was just a couple of hours it's fine.

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Originally Posted by OneEyedFox

I'm not entirely sure. It was probably at least 7 hours since I got them when the sun was up and then when I realized what I had done, the sun had already set.


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Yeah I would throw them out if I were you lots of bacteria could form on them in that amount of time!

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Originally Posted by omglolchrisss

Yeah I would throw them out if I were you lots of bacteria could form on them in that amount of time!

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Thank you very much. I don't want my baby to get sick.


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Yep that amount of time I would toss them outside for other critters. Don't feed to your snake. Outside critters can handle it. Recyclers.

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Originally Posted by Sunnieskys

Yep that amount of time I would toss them outside for other critters. Don't feed to your snake. Outside critters can handle it. Recyclers.

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We've got a stray cat that comes around that's pretty friendly. Almost too friendly lol. He will follow you around until you pet him and drool all over you when you do and he gives love bites. I think he might be the father of at least one of the kittens I have since their momma got out while she was in heat and that was how she got pregnant. I'm sure he'll enjoy them.


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Originally Posted by OneEyedFox

Thank you very much. I don't want my baby to get sick.


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When it comes to stuff like that always take the same precaution with them as you would for you chicken shouldn't be eaten after that long of sitting on the counter... although sometimes I eat pizzas I find laying by my bed the next day but that's a different story [emoji23][emoji23][emoji23] (not really still gross)

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Originally Posted by omglolchrisss

When it comes to stuff like that always take the same precaution with them as you would for you chicken shouldn't be eaten after that long of sitting on the counter... although sometimes I eat pizzas I find laying by my bed the next day but that's a different story [emoji23][emoji23][emoji23] (not really still gross)

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I'll remember that lol. I do the pizza thing too. My family has a habit of just leaving food out and so it's not uncommon for me to find pizza left it over night and just eat it anyways cause I'm hungry and lazy.


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Originally Posted by OneEyedFox

I'll remember that lol. I do the pizza thing too. My family has a habit of just leaving food out and so it's not uncommon for me to find pizza left it over night and just eat it anyways cause I'm hungry and lazy.


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Also it's sinful to waste pizza!!!

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Originally Posted by omglolchrisss

Also it's sinful to waste pizza!!!

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Exactly!


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Good rule of thumb is if you wouldn't cook and eat raw meat after being left out thawed for too long, neither should your snake.

Throw them out. It's not worth the possible trouble and vet bill it could bring for 3 mice. You are talking like $6. And if you want a big bill, pay my snake food bill lol. I still havent picked up a chest freezer so i pay about $100 a month in food for the snakes alone. Then i got a hornworm addicted beardie lol.

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Originally Posted by Sauzo

Throw them out. It's not worth the possible trouble and vet bill it could bring for 3 mice. You are talking like $6. And if you want a big bill, pay my snake food bill lol. I still havent picked up a chest freezer so i pay about $100 a month in food for the snakes alone. Then i got a hornworm addicted beardie lol.

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I need to get a job. I'm 16 but I'm so terrified of driving I freeze up and my mother is so busy she's almost unreliable so I likely wouldn't have a ride to work. Anyways, for me, a box (4 pack) of large mice is 15 dollars, and while it's not much, it always sucks having to ask mom for money because I have none. I definitely agree that it's better than taking him to the vet though. The only reptile vet in town is pretty expensive just for a general checkup too. I'm gonna give the mice to the stray cat outside and see about asking my mom for money to buy mice again this weekend. Hopefully I won't forget them on the counter this time lol. Man I really need a job!!!


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Originally Posted by OneEyedFox

I need to get a job. I'm 16 but I'm so terrified of driving I freeze up and my mother is so busy she's almost unreliable so I likely wouldn't have a ride to work. Anyways, for me, a box (4 pack) of large mice is 15 dollars, and while it's not much, it always sucks having to ask mom for money because I have none. I definitely agree that it's better than taking him to the vet though. The only reptile vet in town is pretty expensive just for a general checkup too. I'm gonna give the mice to the stray cat outside and see about asking my mom for money to buy mice again this weekend. Hopefully I won't forget them on the counter this time lol. Man I really need a job!!!


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Lol i hear ya. People say reptiles are cheap...they lied. It's like how people say bearded dragons are a beginners pet. They arent. They require all the lighting and vitamins and varied fruits, veggies and insects.

I generally go with a 4 hour rule. Sometimes i need to leave the rat (F/T of course, never leave live rodents unattended) in my spider royals enclosure and walk away for an hour or so. I take it out if it's been 4 hours and he hasn't eaten.

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[QUOTE=Sauzo;2564277]Lol i hear ya. People say reptiles are cheap...they lied.[QUOTE]

Heck yea they did. I got my first ball python in August, I don't want to think about how much money I've spent since then..:weirdface

I too, am in need of a job lol :D

In my experience the snake either eats right away (within seconds or a few minutes) or refuses the food. I have never left a rodent for long and had the snake eat hours later. It has always been now or never.

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Originally Posted by Godzilla78

In my experience the snake either eats right away (within seconds or a few minutes) or refuses the food. I have never left a rodent for long and had the snake eat hours later. It has always been now or never.

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The problem was that I had left out the other three mice. Like I fed him one from the box, and I forgot to put the others back in the fridge and had left them sitting out. But I have had him strike and wrap around a mouse and then just leave it alone for a bit and come back later.


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Originally Posted by Pezz

I generally go with a 4 hour rule. Sometimes i need to leave the rat (F/T of course, never leave live rodents unattended) in my spider royals enclosure and walk away for an hour or so. I take it out if it's been 4 hours and he hasn't eaten.

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I'll remember that!


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Thing is, leaving a F/T mouse in the cage overnight is fine. The part i wouldnt chance would be refreezing a thawed one and then thawing it again. Now if your BP would/could eat all of them, then them being left out a few hours and thawed is not an issue and like i said, even leaving them overnight in the cage is not an issue.

I've left F/T rats in my BPs cage for hours and if she didnt eat it, i would feed it to one of my boas. I have gotten less tolerant of picky eaters so if they dont take it within 30 secs or less, i just lay it on a sheet of printer paper and check back in a few hours lol. I've been spoiled with boas and my retic as they all eat the second the cage door is slid open.