Any tips on not wasting rats when my BP is off feeding?

[Rusky]

I've been thawing a rat offering it and putting it back in the freezer or fridge when she doesn't take it. After 1/2 thaws the rat starts to get gross and I chuck it.

Any suggests on how not to waste them while waiting for her to start eating again?

[mikel81]

Get a boa or two.

I kid, but that's what I am doing. If I expect any refusals I thaw out the balls food first and if any of them don't eat the boas always do.

[ExotixTowing]

Try fresh Kill then if they don't eat you can freeze that

[Rusky]

Try fresh Kill then if they don't eat you can freeze that

That is an option but I don't know how I would feel about killing a rat

[LLLReptile]

I will usually buy about half as many rats as I need during breeding season, and just rotate them through the cages until they're eaten. My bank account loves this time of year, I only need about 1/4 of the rats I usually do.

In your case, this may take a little time, but try only thawing a one or two rats at a time, and then using tweezers, offer one to a snake at a time. If none eat, you're only out one rat, instead of several.

-Jen

[Rusky]

Unfortunately I only have 1 snake so I can't pass the rat down the line

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[DooLittle]

Feed live and get a rat cage. If he doesn't eat just put the rat back in the cage and wait for next time.

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[AK907]

Feed live and get a rat cage. If he doesn't eat just put the rat back in the cage and wait for next time.

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This.

Balls are too picky/unpredictable for us to even consider f/t, especially with the amount we have. Our smaller corns get f/t and that is it. Everything else gets live.

[Cally95]

What I do with mine is while the rat is still frozen I take it and a hair dryer and hold the frozen rat over the cage (I have a screen top) I turn the hair dryer on low and blow it on the rat and into the cage. I know it sounds crazy, but I kept trying to figure out how to not waste the thawed rat. So the scent of the rat even though frozen will blow into the cage and I can see if my female comes out of her hide. If she does I take that as she is interested, if she doesn't I put it back in the freezer. It works for me.

[weird_science04]

You cannot refreeze rats like that. Think about why you can't refreeze chicken or steak or pork and then apply that to a rat.

Honestly, when your BP is off feed, I would learn the routine. I have a BP that goes off feed every single October/November ish and then comes back on feed anywhere from February to April. After his first refusal, I don't offer food anymore until February. If he doesn't take it in February. I wait til March to try again. If he doesn't take it in March, I wait til April. Once he starts eating, I feed weekly. It works well and he doesn't waste as much food this way.

Star