Thus far, I have been feeding my ball pythons with rats that have been thawed for a few hours at room temperature, then put on a heating pad for a while to warm them up. The rat is dry and furry when fed.
They eat, but I do have a few problem feeders now and then. And there is also the problem that on colder days I would put them on the heating pad and the bottom of the rat would be warm, but the top would still be cold etc. I turn it over and the other side warms up but the top is now cooled down etc.
I have just watched some videos of people who thaw their rodents in warm water, then dip it in hot water before feeding. Some wipe them off with a towel before offering but some just offer it sogging wet.
I would guess this would give a better more even temperature to the rat, but I am wondering if there is a difference in feeding response from snakes when you offer the rodents wet like that? Better, worse, no effect? I know each snake has individual personality but there must be some general guideline, I mean I am sure no snake would feed better when there is someone banging on the tub or something, so that is not a method to use, as an extreme example. My mind tells me that wet rats probably don't smell of rat as much as a dry one? But I do see people doing this and they have videos of their balls feeding very well.
Also, what temperature should the hot water be that you dip it in to heat the rat? If it is too hot wouldn't it cook the rat?
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