F/T Rat Question?

[Generationshell]

I have a quick question, last week I had a horrible feeding experience as far as once i had dethawed the rat and what not it its guts where coming out. Its smelt so horrible *cringe* It got all over my snake and his enclosure and he didnt even eat it...he just toyed with is for an hr. So i got the rat away, cleaned his enclosure, cleaned my bp and went to the store to get a nice fresh one. I just cldnt stand seeing him have to deal with that rat. Guts everywhere. ....bleh

So does anyone know what caused the guts to spill out after thawed. Was that just a fluke thing or is it because of the way I dethawed it. Ive never had it happened before. And i def dont want it to happen again!

And it had to be the day I was showing my dad how to do everything because I leave for college and he is going to be the primary caretaker.

My dad is now planning to buy the snake "fresh" rats each week, but I dont want him to do that. The plan was to go stock up on rats from the exotic store and freeze em for him to thaw out.

So the main ? is What caused the stomach to explode. Guts hanging out and everything.


Thank you every one!!!

[wilomn]

It was either rotten when it was frozen, you thawed it too quickly using too much heat or you left it to thaw too long and it rotted.

My guess would be that it was rotten when frozen.

[Kyle@theHeathertoft]

I had a rotten mouse pop up in a batch of f/t feeders once, I was LIVID. So very angry. I've since found a much more reliable supplier with better quality feeders.

Best of luck!

[rj1204]

Yeah, sounds like a bad rat or you cooked it. I let my rats defrost in my snake room for 3 hours or so, then I put them in hot tap water for 10 minutes and blow dry. I know some people microwave the water and put the rat in, which can cook them.

[jfreels]

If it helps, here's what I do....

- In the morning I put all the mice/rats in a gallon ziplock.
- Before I start dinner, I put warm water into my feeder bowl and put the mice/rats in.
- After dinner, pour out the water and replace it with fresh warm water and then I go feed the snakes.

I've never had one "bust" on me. My previous mice came from Rodent Pro and my rats I got from Charles Cardell of Cider Reptiles & Rodents.

[Paysons Bps]

You should let your dad buy one a week and let him feed live!

[Generationshell]

I think I may have cooked it possibly. I usually warm up water in the microwave for a min and let the rat lay in the water for an hr. Then I run hot water for like a min over it to warm it up for my bp.
But it has never cooked a mouse b4 and thats how I do it everytime

If It was rotten do you think thats why My snake wasnt eating it?

Course the last time I buy from petsmart
Now I get em nice and plump at my exotic store and freeze em myself.

I just prefer feeding f/t. Live has too many risk factors.

[jlawson]

I thaw mine in hot tap water. I'll change the water 2 times...and then blow dry. No problems here.