Some more frozen thawed help please

[Seanjackmc]

First time trying f/t. So I warmed up a small rat for my sons snake today in warm water inside its plastic bag. It seemed thawed and warm. I opened the cage expecting Mario to come flying out of his hide to eat. I had it on tongs and nothing. Mario never moved from his hide. I tried to mimic it moving around and still nothing. The room is dark and quiet with no activity what so ever. I ended up just dropping the rat and leaving. Checked back a few ours later and still nothing. Mario hasn't moved. Should I remove it and try again tonight? I read about the zombie walk and other tips but those do me no good. Do I need to throw this rat away and start fresh tonight?
any help is appreciated.

[33rpm]

Not sure if I can help, per-say, but what I do is feed on the same day every week, at the same time. Usually around 11:00 at night, as they are nocturnal. I tried feeding him in the daytime, once. I think he was sleeping. Come night time, he's a beast on those f/t rats! I dangle the rat by the tail on tongs because I'm afraid of him nailing the metal tongs as he strikes the head of the rat. Good luck. These guys are all about patience, I've learned.

I'd probably use a new rat for the next offering, but that's me.

[RoseyReps]

I'd probably use a new rat personally. After you thaw it out completely, blast it with a hair dryer on the head to get it nice and warm for him. Sometimes I aim the dryer at the rat while dangling it towards the rack to get the warm rat smell 'a flowin' all in their tubs. Sometimes it takes a while to get them to switch, sometimes it's an easy switch. Each snake is different. I had success with one of my pains by doing a live, followed by a fresh killed, then next feeding started out with fresh killed, second helping was f/t (he was a mouser, so he took 2 mice in a single feeding).

Good luck!

[33rpm]

I forgot to add, when I heat up the rat, I leave it wrapped up in the fridge for a couple/few hours to defrost. Some people are squeamish about that, but whatever. Then I put it in warm+ tap water for 15 min. After that I put it in pre-boiling water for maybe 1 1/2-2 min. Works for us, anyway. There are zillions of ways to heat up a rat. Feeding is fun!

[33rpm]

I'd probably use a new rat personally. After you thaw it out completely, blast it with a hair dryer on the head to get it nice and warm for him. Sometimes I aim the dryer at the rat while dangling it towards the rack to get the warm rat smell 'a flowin' all in their tubs. Sometimes it takes a while to get them to switch, sometimes it's an easy switch. Each snake is different. I had success with one of my pains by doing a live, followed by a fresh killed, then next feeding started out with fresh killed, second helping was f/t (he was a mouser, so he took 2 mice in a single feeding).

Good luck!

I like the blow drying the rat towards the enclosure idea!

[ewaldrep]

I thaw them out in the fridge overnight and then hit them with a hair dryer for a about 20-30 seconds and then about 5 seconds on the head. My female takes it off the tong but my male prefers me to lay it next to his hide and leave him be Your guy looks nice and healthy so if he doesn't take a fresh one tonight I don't think there would be any harm in waiting a week and offering again. Good luck!

[MrLang]

You should definitely not re-use the rat after leaving it out for a while. The rate of decomposition is greatly increased when it's a whole animal. A piece of chicken would probably be fine, but remember that the rat still has stomach acid, etc inside it.

If the snake didn't even pop out of the hide, I would try pre-scenting it a bit more. Usually I thaw it out open to the air near the cage. By the time I'm ready to feed, the snake has its head poked out of the hide waiting to ambush the prey it smells.

I've had luck recently holding the rat in tongs by the scruff, rather than the tail or leg. For one, my big snakes usually rip the leg or tail off when they strike, which I find gross. The other point is that the rat looks more like a live one when it's horizontal, obviously. I FINALLY got my lesser cinnamon on frozen when I made that simple switch. Some snakes like zombie dance, others get scared and would prefer you hold it still and let them check it out for a minute, then they will smell it, lick it, and strike.

I've tried using warm water in a bag for the longest time and that worked fine. What I'd do is right before offering, put its head in the corner of the bag and submerge that in the hottest water my tap could produce for about 10 seconds. You want the head a little warmer than the rest to mimic nature. I also thaw it in the air in a bag and when it's totally soft and not cold when I squeeze it, I blast the head for abotu 10 seconds on each side with a blow dryer and offer immediately.

If you have a temp gun, I've had the best luck where the head and body were 100-110 degrees.

Good luck!

[Seanjackmc]

Ill try again tonight with the blow dryer trick. Maybe ill leave it on the screen top (glass enclosure) for 20 minutes or so before I attempt to feed in hopes it will get him in the mood. On a funny not , I forgot to mention I dropped the first rat on my che and it smelled pretty bad maybe that was the problem lol! Thanks for all advice guys I appreciate it. If he won't take it tonight should I leave over night? If he doesn't eat then ill feed him a live mouse tomorrow. Can you feed more than one live at a time and how? The feeder mice by me are small, I'm guessing 20 grams max. Two would be a decent meal for him I think.
Thanks

[33rpm]

I'd leave it overnight, but I wouldn't be in a rush to keep shoving food in his face. It could possibly stress him out. Another week without eating isn't a big deal for Balls.

[Seanjackmc]

I'd leave it overnight, but I wouldn't be in a rush to keep shoving food in his face. It could possibly stress him out. Another week without eating isn't a big deal for Balls.

Good to know, I appreciate it, no luck tomorrow ill let it be for another week.