I hate feeding frozen thawed

[PythonOutlaw]

Im considering switching over to strictly feeding Live. I find it such a pain in the A*S feeding frozen thawed.

Water always almost get into the bags, so you got soaking wet mice to try and dry off and feed.

If it's not hot enough, the BP will usually miss and target my hand instead even though im using tongs.

If its to hot, they explode once the python strikes it, leaving intestines all over the enclosure along with the python.

They have a bad stench to them after warming, and seem to bleed alot all over the tubs as the python drags it around

... I usualy take mice out the night before or a few hours before feeding to unthaw, then let the hot water run in the sink, put the mice in a zip loc bags and and warm that way.

Am I doing something wrong?

[xdeus]

It sounds like you're doing everything right. For leakage, use the freezer bags instead of the regular thin zip-locs. I've only had them "explode" on occasion, and I've probably fed thousands of times by now. Also, I'm not sure what type of tongs you use, but I have used 18" hemostats for years with great results.

There are definitely pros and cons to every feeder type. My personal preference is Pre-Killed, but it's not cost-effective with only a couple of snakes.

[Exotic Ectotherms]

Instead of heating the rodent in hot water, try blasting it with a hair dryer for a minute or so. It makes my BP's have a crazy feeding response and it also ensures that the rodent is dry. I focus the hot air on the rat's head so the BP really zeros in on the front of the rat rather than near the hemostats (or your hand). Just don't steal your significant others' hair dryer to do the job....lol. I picked mine up for $8 at Wal-Mart.

[jjmitchell]

My ball pythons eat wet rodents..... I dont even attempt to keep them dry. I have never had a problem with explosions unless they have been way overheated, or refrozen..... I am sorry that you are having a bad experience with it, but I couldnt survive with out the ft rats....

[MidSouthMorphs]

This is how I do it and the rodents are ALWAYS dry and warm and they never burst.

Let them airdry in your snakeroom for 3-4 hours that way they will be completely thawed, I put them on top of a plastic top from a tub. When they are thawed, warm each one with a hair dryer until they are warm to the touch. This way they will be completely thawed, dry, warm, and will not burst.

[Jonas@Balls2TheWall]

My main problem with f/t is that my snakes feeding responses are no where near as strong as with live or even p/k. If it wasn't for cost I wouldnt feed f/t.

[MidSouthMorphs]

I have never had any problem with any snake eating F/T. Even the last snake I bought had been fed live prey due to refusing F/T but he has eaten it fine for me.

[PythonOutlaw]

Ill give the hair dryer a try, sounds good.

[mues155]

I feed f/t and I dont think its that big of a pain. I would rather take the time to thaw and heat dead rodents to feed, then risk a rodent bite on one of my BPs.
Its just safer for the snake, and I dont have to keep a bunch of rodents around the house.

I have had a few explode on me before but it can just be from over heating.
I only have one snake eating live still and I hate it. Im still trying to convert.

[mattchibi]

I actually find f/t very effective for my bp, for now.

My method is really similar to yours, except I never get a wet rat and never get any exploding guts.

Heres my method:
-4-6 hours before I plan to feed, I put the rodent out of the freezer and place it in the fridge.
-Then 30 min before I feed, I fill a bucket with water as hot as the tap goes. (my friend uses boiling water and thats when Ive noticed the guts exploding)
-I make sure the rodent is either double bagged (if its the thin ones) or I use freezer bags with the double lock, and I place the rodent deep into the bucket and put my tongs on top to weigh it down so the full rodent is underwater. NEVER have a problem with the rodent being wet. in fact, when I take them out they are at a very nice body temperature and 100% dry.
-I then bring it up to her cage and she eats it just like that. I used to use blow-dryer to further warm it, and I also used to dip the rodent's face in a cup of hot water then dry it off, JUST before feeding to my bp. but I found both of these were completely unneccesary.

My opinion is, as long as they are eating, it doesnt really matter what method you use.