Eatting half?

[Bogertophis]

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

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. 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.

[wnateg]

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.

[Joykoins]

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.

[sur3fir3]

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.

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. **

[wnateg]

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. **

From the USDA:

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.

[Bogertophis]

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. **

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!