live, pre kill, f/t rat or mouse

[BHReptiles]

I think i'm going to keep with mice atleast... until I get the rat breeding thing going to try and keep my cost down...about how long does it take to thaw a rat? if he doesn't eat the rat can you refreeze?..

and thanks for the help..

I usually thaw feeders in a 6qt tub. I just use hot bath water, wait about 15 min, dump the water and fill the tub back up, then let set for another 20-30 minutes. But keep in mind that I'm usually thawing out 5-10 rats at a time in one tub. Sometimes it takes less time if I'm only feeding a few rats at a time.

As for re-freezing, I don't. I took microbiology as a requirement for Nursing School and now there are some people food items that I won't eat if it's been sitting out on the counter for more than 30 minutes. I'm not really a germophobe, but I am a little grossed out when I found out just how many germs were on hot lasagna after an hour on the counter (we did an experiment). Letting a dead rat sit out for 30min-overnight is just asking for the decomposition process to continue and you're going to get some bacteria in there. Not only that, when you freeze, thaw, and refreeze, you are changing the integrity of the skin and your rat will be more prone to busting at the stomach (been there, smelt that...no thank you). For me, I'd rather not risk the bacteria/decomp process and the threat of busted stomachs so I never refreeze. That said, some people will advocate to refreeze once. I'd only recommend that if you just offered the F/T rat and they didn't take it. if you leave the rat in for over an hour (some leave the F/T rats in overnight), then don't refreeze.