Hi,
That really isn't a good guideline.Originally Posted by eMonk
refreezing is safe.
some even recommend thawing then refreezing then thawing again before each feed. It gets more of the good smelling juices out that makes them go...
Every time you freeze the food it causes damage - not to mention the fact that while it is defrosted normal decomposition and bacteria growth continue as normal.
Every time it goes through the cycle it increases the chance of the animal splitting open during feeding. Not to mention the "good smelling juices" you are talking about are from the animal decomposing - and if that process gets too far along then it becomes a race between the animals digestion and the prey item rotting in its stomach and leading to a regurge (if you're lucky ).
A lot of it will depend on how the people defrost the prey and how long they let it sit to pre-scent etc so a blanket statement that it is ok just doesn't sit well.
If you defrost quickly but avoid cooking the animal (which also weakens the body ) pre-scent for a short time and have not left the prey in overnight (or a long time in general ) then you are probably ok to refreeze it once - but remember to mark it as previously defrosted so you don't try it again.
There are definately snakes that prefer smellier prey but when you are feeding them a rodent that is on the whiffier side of fresh you should probably pay even more attention to the temps in their tank to avoid digestion problems.
Just my 2c.
dr del
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