Eatting half?

I went to go feed my python today [second week of having him] and he struck really fast, curled up, but hit more towards the hind legs of the mouse. He worked his jaw a bit, but ultimately dropped it. I went to retrieve it, but he refused to give it back.

I left him alone and around 30 mins later to find he'd eatten half of it, with no concern for the other half. [Tried dangling it again he didn't care] should I be concerned, or will he just be a lil hungrier next week? I've left him with it for a little while longer.

Did it split in two?? :confusd:

If so there may be a better way to thaw or other issues we could help with.

It split pretty much where he nabbed it and chewed on it a bit. That back end piece was gone when I went to check. I have been thawing it by placing it on top of his cage in the morning when I go to work and feeding him around 7pm

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Originally Posted by Tato

It split pretty much where he nabbed it and chewed on it a bit. That back end piece was gone when I went to check. I have been thawing it by placing it on top of his cage in the morning when I go to work and feeding him around 7pm

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That is definitely not sanitary. Would you thaw your meat by leaving it on the counter all day? You should thaw in the fridge for that long or run it under cold water for an hour or so, until its thaw. Then warm water or a blow dryer to heat it up once its thaw.

Yeah, feeding rotten rodents is not cool. (gag!) And remember, even if you thaw YOUR meat by leaving it out, you aren't eating it raw (-ok, I'm assuming here),
but your snake IS eating it raw, with all that bacteria from laying around at room temperature all day. Nasty...that's why it fell apart.

It's still in the food bag it came in, and that's how people have told me explicitly to do so.

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Originally Posted by Tato

It's still in the food bag it came in, and that's how people have told me explicitly to do so.

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Doesn't matter what bag it's in, and we're advising you to the contrary. Properly thawed frozen rodents do not fall apart this way...only when they're spoiled & gross.
Remember that the rodents you're thawing are whole animals...their guts (ie. GI tract) are FULL of bacteria, which are all too happy to proliferate the longer they're at
room temperature. Take a cue from human food safety rules: thaw meat in the refrigerator (the slower way) OR thaw in cold water (the fast way)...& like I said before,
that's for OUR food, & it's being cooked, which destroys bacteria...our snakes are eating it raw, & very few are carrion eaters. Your snake was sadly desperate enough
to try to eat anyway, & this could prove to be a health issue for your pet.

No one is trying to beat you up, we just want you and your noodle to be happy which is also healthy.

First thing, thaw the rat like you would want it thawed if you planned on eating it. Second people are going to give you bad advice on occasion. I put mine in gallon ziplocks with hot tap water if I feed frozen thawed. I mostly go live because I have the best chance of everyone eating and the availability of live rats. The one meal of rotten rat shouldn't hurt.

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Originally Posted by Bogertophis

Doesn't matter what bag it's in, and we're advising you to the contrary. Properly thawed frozen rodents do not fall apart this way...only when they're spoiled & gross.
Remember that the rodents you're thawing are whole animals...their guts (ie. GI tract) are FULL of bacteria, which are all too happy to proliferate the longer they're at
room temperature. Take a cue from human food safety rules: thaw meat in the refrigerator (the slower way) OR thaw in cold water (the fast way)...& like I said before,
that's for OUR food, & it's being cooked, which destroys bacteria...our snakes are eating it raw, & very few are carrion eaters. Your snake was sadly desperate enough
to try to eat anyway, & this could prove to be a health issue for your pet.

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I have been defrosting rodents by leaving them out 8 hours easily for 35 years, never experienced that. But when I have been pressed for time I’ve used hot water methods and experienced that more then once. My other thought would be the rodent wasn’t good from the get go. Rodent Pro always had questionable quality back in the day not saying that was the brand, but I do believe they are also Artic mice brand.

I tend to defrost mine on a heat pad in empty shelves of the racks - mice and small rats for about 4 hours bigger rats for almost 6.

If they have never been defrosted before they shouldn't get to the point of being a rat-grenade at that time.

If they had somehow gotten defrosted or spoilt beforehand then it would be fairly likely I suspect. If you use too warm water then that can also slightly cook them which will also increase the chances of them splitting.

You could try defosting them in the fridges ( in a tupperware please - let's not scare the normal people :rofl: ) while you are at work then finish it off near the snakes once you are home.

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Originally Posted by Sonny1318

I have been defrosting rodents by leaving them out 8 hours easily for 35 years, never experienced that....

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Maybe I'm reading between the lines here, but it sounds to me as if the OP is only feeding one snake, while I'm pretty sure that you don't thaw just one rodent at a time?
Would that be an accurate assumption? I have heard of some breeders or keepers of larger snake collections say they thaw a BUNCH of frozen rodents all day, or over-
night, but in that case, they stay cold (relatively unspoiled) for FAR longer than just one. I don't have to wonder IF the OP's rodent was spoiled, it obviously was. :puke2: And even if you can "get away with it", feeding spoiled prey to our pets is not what I'd call "best practices" nor anything I'd feel good about doing.

When my snakes dont eat, I throw my rats off my balcony into the woods, so they dont stink up the trash. One time I miscalculated and slammed one into the wall with full force; it did not split or burst. What could've been the circumstances where one splits that wasnt even soaking in water? Something not good.

It takes zero effort to let a rat defrost in the fridge, unless someone in your home is actively asking you not to, which in that case, water thawing or even just buying a mini fridge solely for this purpose would be great.

Remember, we as humans have decided to kidnap this species from its rightful place in the wilderness for the sake of our own entertainment and profit. The LEAST we could do is feed them with the same care and consideration that we do for ourselves. Yea it can be a pain in the butt, but it's a pain we've all signed up for.

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Originally Posted by wnateg

That is definitely not sanitary. Would you thaw your meat by leaving it on the counter all day? You should thaw in the fridge for that long or run it under cold water for an hour or so, until its thaw. Then warm water or a blow dryer to heat it up once its thaw.

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I leave meat out on the counter to thaw all the time, or sometimes in the sink. There is nothing wrong with thawing out the rat for a few hours out in the open.\


** Note when I leave meat on the counter it is on a plate. **

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Originally Posted by sur3fir3

I leave meat out on the counter to thaw all the time, or sometimes in the sink. There is nothing wrong with thawing out the rat for a few hours out in the open.\


** Note when I leave meat on the counter it is on a plate. **

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From the USDA:

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Perishable foods should never be thawed on the counter, or in hot water and must not be left at room temperature for more than two hours.

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Originally Posted by sur3fir3

I leave meat out on the counter to thaw all the time, or sometimes in the sink. There is nothing wrong with thawing out the rat for a few hours out in the open.\


** Note when I leave meat on the counter it is on a plate. **

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And you don't eat it raw do you? Our snakes eat raw rodents which are intact...so they have a whole GUT-LOAD of bacteria waiting for room temperatures to proliferate
& cause illness. Your meat gets cooked...that kills bacteria...and personally, if you want to chance getting sick, I couldn't care less...I only care that we are sharing BEST
PRACTICES here for keeping our pet snakes healthy. Please note, the OP did not say they left it out for a "few hours"...they left it out for all day while they went to work!