Storing Rodents

I received 25 rat pups from Big Cheese Rodents, but they came in a vacuum sealed bag, not a resealable bag. When I open it, could I just keep the extras in a ziplock brand bag, or is there a better way? Would this cause them to go bad or get freezer burn? I was thinking to maybe use a food vacuum sealer and seal each rodent individually. That way I could thaw it out in water while it’s still in the individual seal. Would this work? What’s the longest I can have the rat out of the freezer before I have to put it back? https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/202...97baac1451.jpg


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I have that exact order and I just put them all in a big ziplock bag with no problems, no need to vacuum seal each one. When I take one out to thaw I simply put it in a smaller ziplock (new one each time).

As for how long a frozen rat can be out and still be "fresh" enough to put back, I'd say under an hour assuming it has only been sitting in average room temperature that isn't too warm. Once a rat's thawed though it's feed or bust, because decomposition will start to happen very rapidly which can be dangerous for your snake with bacteria and such.

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Originally Posted by Snagrio

I have that exact order and I just put them all in a big ziplock bag with no problems, no need to vacuum seal each one. When I take one out to thaw I simply put it in a smaller ziplock (new one each time).

As for how long a frozen rat can be out and still be "fresh" enough to put back, I'd say under an hour assuming it has only been sitting in average room temperature that isn't too warm. Once a rat's thawed though it's feed or bust, because decomposition will start to happen very rapidly which can be dangerous for your snake with bacteria and such.

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Ok thank you! I have a ziplock bag that the pack fits in exactly. I’ll just keep the pack in there once I open it. Appreciate the help


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That’s one thing I wish Big Cheese would change. They really should use resealable bags. I know Cold Blooded Cafe uses them.

I put my remaining Big Cheese feeders in gallon size Ziplock freezer bags. For rat pups you could probably use a couple of quart sized freezer bags.

I order mine from RodentPro and they come in large zip bags. I leave them like that. I thaw in water and serve wet.

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Originally Posted by KMG

I order mine from RodentPro and they come in large zip bags. I leave them like that. I thaw in water and serve wet.

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Ok thank you. Interesting, most people that I’ve heard from don’t feed at does substrate ever get stuck, or do you use paper?


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Originally Posted by EL-Ziggy

That’s one thing I wish Big Cheese would change. They really should use resealable bags. I know Cold Blooded Cafe uses them.

I put my remaining Big Cheese feeders in gallon size Ziplock freezer bags. For rat pups you could probably use a couple of quart sized freezer bags.

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Would one regular ziplock bag that fits the pack exactly work, or should I separate them into multiple bags? Are there special bags that are made for the freezer? Thanks for helping.


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Originally Posted by EthanMG

Would one regular ziplock bag that fits the pack exactly work, or should I separate them into multiple bags? Are there special bags that are made for the freezer? Thanks for helping.


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They do make ziploc freezer bags. I haven’t bought rat pups in a long time but one gallon sized freezer bag might work. You could also break them down into smaller bag groups for convenience and to preserve freshness.

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Originally Posted by EL-Ziggy

...You could also break them down into smaller bag groups for convenience and to preserve freshness.

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Yep, that's what I do. I break down my order, and put the smaller feeders into a QUART bag, and then put a few of the QUART bags into one larger GALLON bag. Helps preserve freshness. Or, maybe not, but it seems like it helps for me. The larger feeders, I just put into the GALLON bags.

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Originally Posted by Charles8088

Yep, that's what I do. I break down my order, and put the smaller feeders into a QUART bag, and then put a few of the QUART bags into one larger GALLON bag. Helps preserve freshness. Or, maybe not, but it seems like it helps for me. The larger feeders, I just put into the GALLON bags.

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Alrighty makes sense, appreciate it!


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I wrap each one in cling wrap and put them in a gallon zip lock. Throw it in the freezer.

In a vacuum bag they will keep for years. In a freezer ziplock bag you have six months max. The seal a meal vacuum sealer has a web site that sells refurbished cheap. Don’t use your wife’s sealer! I still don’t hear the end of that one.

Buy it cheap an stack it deep. Break down the order into smaller bags.

An you can reseal bags after you open them. But that takes a sealer.

Good luck!

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Originally Posted by 303_enfield

In a vacuum bag they will keep for years. In a freezer ziplock bag you have six months max. The seal a meal vacuum sealer has a web site that sells refurbished cheap. Don’t use your wife’s sealer! I still don’t hear the end of that one.

Buy it cheap an stack it deep. Break down the order into smaller bags.

An you can reseal bags after you open them. But that takes a sealer.

Good luck!

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Yes, I think I will go the vacuum seal route. Makes me feel better knowing I’m doing what’s best for my snake and guaranteeing freshness. lol bet your wife was not happened [emoji23]!


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Originally Posted by EthanMG

Yes, I think I will go the vacuum seal route. Makes me feel better knowing I’m doing what’s best for my snake and guaranteeing freshness. lol bet your wife was not happened [emoji23]!


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I had to buy her a new sealer. Darn kids told on me:O


Food Saver is the model an web site. Too many seal a meal ads on TV back in the 70's.

Food Vacuum Sealers | FoodSaver

Good luck!

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Originally Posted by 303_enfield

I had to buy her a new sealer. Darn kids told on me:O


Food Saver is the model an web site. Too many seal a meal ads on TV back in the 70's.

Food Vacuum Sealers | FoodSaver

Good luck!

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Haha [emoji38]. The link you put is to a crock pot… would a generic one from Walmart work? Do I ever have to replace any parts. I was planning on putting two per pack, and resealing the extra one for the next week. Would this be fine? I only have one snake btw.


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Originally Posted by EthanMG

Haha [emoji38]. The link you put is to a crock pot… would a generic one from Walmart work? Do I ever have to replace any parts. I was planning on putting two per pack, and resealing the extra one for the next week. Would this be fine? I only have one snake btw.


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One snake? Big orders I would pack in 5's or so. Open a five pack an put the bag in a freezer bag or reseal it. Freezer bags work for the short term fine. If you don't want all the rats frozen together besides sealing singles wax paper works great.

One guy I sell jumbo rats to seals each one on a roll of ten. He pulls what he wants an throws the sealed rats in a tub of water to thaw. The last ten minutes he adds warm/hot water. His wife made him buy his own freezer:D

When Big Cheese or the like have a sale he'll buy 200. Break them down an reseal them.

Any sealer "should" work. I have worn one out. Burnt up the pump after 50 deer, 10 pigs, 20 cows an 1,000's of fish. Had another that the seals failed after 8 years. Bought a bigger model an gave the old one away to family. They paid $10 for seals on E-bay an it's still going strong.

What ever model you buy look at what size bags it will do. 8" will work fine but I like the 11" models. More options an if it takes the 11" it will do the smaller rolls. An 8" x 20' roll will do a bunch of rats. Buying rolls is cheaper an you make the size bag you need.

An the vacuum sealer is for more then just food. I've sealed paper work, photos, hard drives, meds an sporting equipment.


Good luck!

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Originally Posted by 303_enfield

One snake? Big orders I would pack in 5's or so. Open a five pack an put the bag in a freezer bag or reseal it. Freezer bags work for the short term fine. If you don't want all the rats frozen together besides sealing singles wax paper works great.

One guy I sell jumbo rats to seals each one on a roll of ten. He pulls what he wants an throws the sealed rats in a tub of water to thaw. The last ten minutes he adds warm/hot water. His wife made him buy his own freezer:D

When Big Cheese or the like have a sale he'll buy 200. Break them down an reseal them.

Any sealer "should" work. I have worn one out. Burnt up the pump after 50 deer, 10 pigs, 20 cows an 1,000's of fish. Had another that the seals failed after 8 years. Bought a bigger model an gave the old one away to family. They paid $10 for seals on E-bay an it's still going strong.

What ever model you buy look at what size bags it will do. 8" will work fine but I like the 11" models. More options an if it takes the 11" it will do the smaller rolls. An 8" x 20' roll will do a bunch of rats. Buying rolls is cheaper an you make the size bag you need.

An the vacuum sealer is for more then just food. I've sealed paper work, photos, hard drives, meds an sporting equipment.


Good luck!

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I’ll probably stick to using a vacuum sealer… I would like to order in bulk and keep for longer than a few months because it’d be a waste of money to keep buying small orders for my one snake. I just got him 4 days ago, so I’m still figuring the details out. I’ll probably buy my sealer tomorrow, open my rat pups on Monday, seal them in packs of 1-2 and feed one to him that night. The vacuum sealer may not be that necessary for me now especially since I’ll have to upgrade his food size (he’s 160g and I’m starting him on rat pups), but I like the idea of keeping his food as fresh as I possibly can. Plus once he’s full grown I can order way more rats and keep them for longer. Good point, I didn’t think of sealing other things than rodents and food. Thanks [emoji4]


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Originally Posted by EthanMG

Ok thank you. Interesting, most people that I’ve heard from don’t feed at does substrate ever get stuck, or do you use paper?


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Some are on a substrate and others on paper. All get the same wet rodents. I grab the feeder to be offered and let it drip for a bit... Until the water is only a drip and no longer steady. Then I offer. Sometimes a little substrate may stick but nothing crazy. If I see a big piece I'll remove it but really the snakes do a pretty good job of knocking the larger ones off as they swallow.