Thanks for the replies folks

I think it's in my best interest to try to get that mini freezer ASAP as a few of you suggested... There aren't any specialty stores around here that I'm aware of. The only pet store in my area that isn't a chain focuses on fish, they have even less reptile supplies than Petco.

I would buy frozen rats from a private seller in my area, but there just doesn't seem to be much of a reptile fan club in Maine. I often find that pet store employees treat me poorly after learning I'm shopping for a snake. I was once refused a specific rat because she refused to "sentence it to death" despite it's cage being labeled "feeder rats"