How long can a mouse stay dead before freezing it?

[DjBorx]

My 6 month Ball Python had mites and the poor thing got very stressed. She has been free of mites for for a bit now but she is not eating. I've tried both, rat pups and mice (frozen/thawed and alive), but she doesn't eat.
Anyway, today I tried to feed her a live mouse again but she seemed absolutely petrified of the mouse (she has eaten alive mice before, no problem at all), extremely scared. So I killed the mouse myself and put it in her cage.
She has smelled it a couple of times and then went back to her hide, so I was thinking of freezing the mouse and offer it another time. Now, the mouse has been dead for 2 hours now and I'd like to leave it in the cage for a bit longer just in case she changes her mind.
Does anyone know how long can a mouse be dead for before freezing it?
Thanks!

[Skiploder]

The mouse will stay dead whether you freeze it or not.

[Rickys_Reptiles]

I'm not too sure, sorry. I do have a tip though... get a rat pup. You can leave a rat pup in the enclosure overnight no problem - as they are harmless to your snake. It's just going to "walk" around the tub all night until it hopefully gets eaten. It's certainly not going to attack your snake.

[DjBorx]

hehehe I guess I need to find the right wording for this. What I mean is how long before the mouse gets bad for freezing?

[DjBorx]

I'm not too sure, sorry. I do have a tip though... get a rat pup. You can leave a rat pup in the enclosure overnight no problem - as they are harmless to your snake. It's just going to "walk" around the tub all night until it hopefully gets eaten. It's certainly not going to attack your snake.

Thanks for the advise, I might try this then... She just seems so scared... and the bloody mouse bit me! Didn't even bleed but I definitely felt it, that bite was the last thing he did!

[Darkbird]

I would either leave the mouse in until the next morning and chuck it, or get it out and freeze it after a couple hours. You might be able to go up to 4 hours before putting it the freezer, but if it starts to smell I would toss it. By the way, this is based on nothing but my experience with the bps I've had, and I usually just write off the prey item or give it to one of my "garbage trucks ", rather than mess with freezing it.

[DjBorx]

I would either leave the mouse in until the next morning and chuck it, or get it out and freeze it after a couple hours. You might be able to go up to 4 hours before putting it the freezer, but if it starts to smell I would toss it. By the way, this is based on nothing but my experience with the bps I've had, and I usually just write off the prey item or give it to one of my "garbage trucks ", rather than mess with freezing it.

I think you are absolutely right. I'm just going to leave it there until tomorrow morning and throw it away if she hasn't eaten it. She has been very curious about it for the last 5 minutes, hopefully she'll go for it. Thanks!

[Jwkempo]

The mouse will stay dead whether you freeze it or not......classic!

[Rhasputin]

I'd say 3 hours hours maximum. I think at the 3 hour mark, is (typically) when rigamortis sets in fully, and I would think any time after that is pushing it.

[DjBorx]

I'd say 3 hours hours maximum. I think at the 3 hour mark, is (typically) when rigamortis sets in fully, and I would think any time after that is pushing it.

Thank you! Great info. She didn't eat it in the end so I got rid of it. I shall wait a few days to see if she eats then... I have the feeling she might be ready for shedding though.