Do you Re-Freeze your uneaten F/T?

I feed live so I don't have that problem, but I'm just curious becasue I've read in other recent posts about some people doing it. I tought that once you thawed the rodent it should be eat or throw away.

What do you think about it?

I only feed f/t when I cant get appropriate sized live feeders.

If I heat it up and my snake wont eat it I will re-freeze it.

I've been told that you can refreeze them one time after they've been unthawed. However, I typically don't because by the time I realize it hasn't been eaten, it's been out of the freezer for hours. I figure any nutritional value has severely diminished by that time, and I'd rather pay another dollar or two to start over with a "fresh" prey item.

I never refreeze. You're asking for explosions the next time you thaw it. I would know :rolleyes:

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Originally Posted by Nate

I never refreeze. You're asking for explosions the next time you thaw it. I would know :rolleyes:

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x1000

I once got some at a show and they were dethawed by the time I got home, most did fine but a few would explode when id make sure they were all the way thawed. Let me tell you... the taste of Dead over heated exploded mice is not a good one. :O

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Originally Posted by nate

i never refreeze. You're asking for explosions the next time you thaw it. I would know :rolleyes:

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:o

I don't.

I use F/T medium rats and if Tanveer doesn't eat it the first time offered then I will refreeze. However, I never refreeze more then once!

I don't re-freeze. On the rare occassion that one of my Carpets refuses a meal I toss it out the back door for the crows and other critters to eat. I figure something will be happy with a tasty treat out there.
I really think that once raw meat thaws it needs to be cooked or tossed...I know I would not like to eat anything that was warmed up, sat out for a while then was re-frozen! Seriously, it starts to rot as it is thawing. Yuck and oh, the germs!! :puke:

I usually dont have any leftovers when i unthaw food cause usually if someone refuses the next snake will just eat what that one didnt. But I have refrozen food items in the past. BUt never more then once.

Intersting results.

:gj:

Has any one else witness the exploding experience?

How does this happen?

Is it because it start to rot?

It's not really an explosion. It's typically the thin abdominal area becoming weak and bursting as the natural part of decay. It's happened to me and it's not pretty and the smell you never forget.

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Originally Posted by MasonC2K

It's not really an explosion. It's typically the thin abdominal area becoming weak and bursting as the natural part of decay. It's happened to me and it's not pretty and the smell you never forget.

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Exactly. the freezing, thawing, freezing, thawing cycle will weaken the skin over their intestines.

And no, it's not like a fire cracker exploding...it's just their guts start oozing out and the smell is one of the worst things I've ever smelled. Very unpleasant.

I dont refreeze. I have other snakes that can eat multiple rats so they get the extras. ( My Redtail boas.)

this is the only time Ive ever had one bust open on me. But she hits her food really hard. Ive seen some people that keep gtp and etb that hit theres really hard to and they kind of bust open.

http://i37.photobucket.com/albums/e5...a/snake186.jpg

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Originally Posted by Denial

this is the only time Ive ever had one bust open on me. But she hits her food really hard. Ive seen some people that keep gtp and etb that hit theres really hard to and they kind of bust open.

http://i37.photobucket.com/albums/e5...a/snake186.jpg

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:O

That's nuts!

yea didnt really like cleaning that up. The smell was ungodly... It smelt alot like when a snake regurges except worse

I'll refreeze rats once if not eaten. If a ball python refuses to eat it, I know my boas will.

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Originally Posted by Denial

this is the only time Ive ever had one bust open on me. But she hits her food really hard. Ive seen some people that keep gtp and etb that hit theres really hard to and they kind of bust open.

http://i37.photobucket.com/albums/e5...a/snake186.jpg

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EEEEEEWWWWWWWWW!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! :weirdface

I was wondering the same thing, whither or not you could refreeze

I have refreezed with out a problem but I will only do it once. After that the Boa gets it.

Danny, it looks like a C.S.I. crime scene up in that joint! I have not refrozen feeders. Lately i've started thawing out less than usual in case I have any refusals so as not to waste. If the first round eats then I just thaw out some for the rest.

[QUOTE=zackw419;1055573]I only feed f/t when I cant get appropriate sized live feeders.QUOTE]

If you have any of your snakes that are willing to take F/T why would you bother feeding live?

Yea it was pretty bad. I didnt like cleaning this up either
http://i37.photobucket.com/albums/e5...5/DSC02453.jpg
http://i37.photobucket.com/albums/e5...5/DSC02454.jpg

at least he got most of it on the newspaper

[QUOTE=Mr. Constrictor;1056063]

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Originally Posted by zackw419

I only feed f/t when I cant get appropriate sized live feeders.QUOTE]

If you have any of your snakes that are willing to take F/T why would you bother feeding live?

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Because I feel live is healthier more natural for my snakes. For the most part snakes eat live food in the wild. I believe it is healthy for a snake to 'hunt'.

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Originally Posted by Denial

Yea it was pretty bad. I didnt like cleaning this up either
http://i37.photobucket.com/albums/e5...5/DSC02453.jpg
http://i37.photobucket.com/albums/e5...5/DSC02454.jpg

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Yea it is nasty. And my BP wasn't even interested anymore after it exploded.

edit: answer to the ? I don't refreeze anymore.

I have on a couple occasions. But only with larger prey like rats, it takes longer for them to decompose compared to mice. As much as I don't like doing it, I hate wasting a whole rat after having to kill it myself before it goes into the freezer.

Ive heard and found that slowly letting your prey items thaw out as compared to immediately aiding them in the thawing process helps them to stay together if you choose to refreeze and use them a second time.

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Originally Posted by Mr. Constrictor

If you have any of your snakes that are willing to take F/T why would you bother feeding live?

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Quote:

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Originally Posted by zackw419

Because I feel live is healthier more natural for my snakes. For the most part snakes eat live food in the wild. I believe it is healthy for a snake to 'hunt'.

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Before we go down this road - as we have time and time again, this thread is NOT a live vs. f/t thread. It's fine to express your position and opinions regarding f/t vs. live, but it is a touchy subject and easily derails threads...

Thanks guys :)

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Originally Posted by Envied Reptiles

Ive heard and found that slowly letting your prey items thaw out as compared to immediately aiding them in the thawing process helps them to stay together if you choose to refreeze and use them a second time.

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That is what I do. I pull them out the night before I feed and put them in the bathtub in the snake room and the next morning I get a hair dryer and go over them real quick before I offer them to the snakes so they are warm. BUt some rabbits I have to thaw out take FOREVER to thaw so thats why I just lay out the night before

I used to do it when I had a smaller collection (1-2) but now I don't bother.

I have done it. Just once, though like most posters.

Not necessary, however, when you keep monitors and tegus, as well. With the bigger guys, I thaw out for one, and if he doesn't eat, then the other will. My yellow anaconda is a PIG.

And as far as "stinky" issues go, nothing is worse than monitor barf...

Chris

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Originally Posted by Nate

Before we go down this road - as we have time and time again, this thread is NOT a live vs. f/t thread. It's fine to express your position and opinions regarding f/t vs. live, but it is a touchy subject and easily derails threads...

Thanks guys :)

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I'm just answering his question. Don't know why he would ask me a question like that though..

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Originally Posted by Beardedragon

x1000

I once got some at a show and they were dethawed by the time I got home, most did fine but a few would explode when id make sure they were all the way thawed. Let me tell you... the taste of Dead over heated exploded mice is not a good one. :O

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the taste?!?! you meant smell... right?! haha