Frozen mice-

[fehlend_mich]

The first time I tried to feed Annie was the 10th, she wouldn't take it so I figured that she just didn't feel comfortable at home yet so I tried again the 19th, she still wouldn't take it but the next day her eyes were blue so I didn't worry about it. My problem is that at the pet shop they fed her live and the mouse that I had offered her was live so now it's become not only my brother's new pet but too big for her as well. I was wondering if you guys feed frozen where you get it from. I live in a super-rural area and there's not a pet shop around for hours so I have to get them off the web, and I'd really rather do that than end up having another pet mouse in the home. Any advice about how to easier switch her over from live would be appreciated as well. Sorry if this post isn't in the right place.

Thanks,

[daniel1983]

i get mine frozen rodents from a pet store and I am breeding mice now also. I have heard wonderful stories about www.rodentpro.com They sell just about anything you need and alot of people on this site get rodents from them. I am about to start ordering mine from them also.

From swithching from live to f/t there are several things you can try. How are you thawing? Mine will take it when it is wet or dry, but being wet lowers the odor and a picky feeder might not take it. Since your bother has the other mouse as a pet now, try using some of the mouse used bedding to scent the dead mouse, that will work sometimes. Or you could try pre-killed (if you dont have a problem with killing the live mouse), then work your way to a f/t.

The whole reason the bp may have not taken the mouse was because it was about to go into shed. Give it a couple of more tries and try some of the things I have suggested and see what happens.

[daniel1983]

Also, sometimes bps will get 'stage fright'. If my male does not take the f/t mouse out of the tongs, I set the mouse down in the enclosure, turn the lights out, and just leave him be. I check every thirty minutes up to 2 hours(or if the mouse starts to really smell). He always takes them in the first hour.

Hope this helps.

[Ginevive]

Another hint I have to offer, is, to make sure the mouse is heated enough. It is not something to do in a hurry; it can take a good hour or more to thaw a mouse thoroughly.
If the mouse is not warm enough, the BP will not pay attention to it (or be able to find it, really.) They sense their prey via heat. But then again, you do not want to actually cook the mouse. I just put the frozen critter into a bowl of hot water, change the water to be hotter a few times in an hour, and then feed it. I would try simply placing the mouse in the cage, and then placing a towel over the cage to avoid distracting your snake. He should just take it from there. Check on it every so often to see if he is at all interested.
Good luck!

[Schlyne]

I make sure the mouse is hot enough. After Issa strikes and coils, I put a piece of newspaper over him, and the rest of the cage. (He's already on newspaper for feeding, so he doesn't ingest substrate). After that, I cover the top of the tank with a towel and turn the lights off. I don't uncover him and take the paper out until the next morning. I think he's started taking the mouse within the first couple hours now, but I'm going to continue this pattern for a while.

[PrincessErica]

If the mouse doesn't get hot enough in hot water alone, I like to toss it under the heat lamp for a few minutes inside the Ziploc baggy. You have to keep a VERY close eye on it though, as overheating the mouse is a recipe for the guts exploding. I just like to bump it up a couple extra degrees because it seems to help my little guy take it faster. Otherwise the mousey dance is a long, drawn-out process.

[neithersparky]

Yeah I popped my first frozen rat under the heat lamp. Anyways my Duchess does not require a dance nor a particularly warm body. She also doesn't strike, just swallows the dead ones. I dunno.

On the topic of f/t rodents though, I want to order some online but I know I won't be home to receive it and I don't want to have it sent to my workplace. How can I make sure that my frozen rats actually get in my hands when they arrive? Anyone know if you can make special arrangements with either the company or with UPS or something?