Eatting half?

[Tato]

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.

[dr del]

Did it split in two??

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

[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

[wnateg]

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

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.

[Tato]

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

[Bogertophis]

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

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.

[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!

[Bogertophis]

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.