Feeding Question

[Damien79]

Is it ok to leave a thawed mouse in the tank with my snake for a few hours? He seemed interested but just wouldnt go for it. I left it near his favorite hide. He bumped it twice but just didn’t go for it. Last week he didn’t even strike, he just took the mouse from the tongs. Thank for any advice.

[dakski]

Is it ok to leave a thawed mouse in the tank with my snake for a few hours? He seemed interested but just wouldnt go for it. I left it near his favorite hide. He bumped it twice but just didn’t go for it. Last week he didn’t even strike, he just took the mouse from the tongs. Thank for any advice.

The rule of thumb is up to 12 hours IF thawed correctly and properly stored and "fresh."

Thawed correctly = Not cooked, just thawed. I can give more info on proper defrosting techniques if interested, just ask.

Properly Stored = Continuously frozen and sealed.

Fresh = up to two years old if vacuum sealed and not more than 6 months once taken out of seal AND from a good supplier.

[Damien79]

The rule of thumb is up to 12 hours IF thawed correctly and properly stored and "fresh."

Thawed correctly = Not cooked, just thawed. I can give more info on proper defrosting techniques if interested, just ask.

Properly Stored = Continuously frozen and sealed.

Fresh = up to two years old if vacuum sealed and not more than 6 months once taken out of seal AND from a good supplier.

I’m very interested in your defrosting techniques. I’m always up for learning about better ways to care for my snakes. I thawed the mouse in warm water for about 40 minutes this morning and I was running late for work. He bumped it twice then went into his warm side hide. So i placed it near the opening and left for work. It will be there for around 9 hours so that’s inside the 12 hour window you mentioned. What can make a snake sick? Thanks again.

[dakski]

I’m very interested in your defrosting techniques. I’m always up for learning about better ways to care for my snakes. I thawed the mouse in warm water for about 40 minutes this morning and I was running late for work. He bumped it twice then went into his warm side hide. So i placed it near the opening and left for work. It will be there for around 9 hours so that’s inside the 12 hour window you mentioned. What can make a snake sick? Thanks again.

Rotten prey can make a snake sick and regurge. You are within the window, so I wouldn't worry about it. However, I would be feeding at night, not in the morning, necessarily.




This is my step by step list on defrosting F/T rodents.

Others may do it differently and that's fine. This how I do it and it works for me.


STEPS FOR DEFROSTING F/T RODENTS/PREY

1. Put prey item(s) into appropriate size plastic bag (1 for each). I use Quart size ziplock bags up to a medium rat. NOTE: Bags are optional. Some people just throw the prey in the water. I like the bags, but you have to squeeze the air out of them.

2. Fill the container/storage box 3/4 of the way with room temp to slightly warm water. If you have a temp gun (which you should, so if you don't, get one), make sure the water is not hotter than 85-90F, or there about.

3. Put F/T prey item(s) in water. Cover (optional) and leave for an hour +/-. Less if smaller prey and longer if bigger prey (however longer does not hurt smaller prey).

4. After an hour, rotate/flip prey. If in plastic bags, they often will stay on whatever side you put them in on. So if mouse is on left side, turn to right side, etc.

5. Leave for another hour +/- for a TOTAL of about 2 hours (up to medium sized rat - longer if bigger prey - Large rats, for example).

6. Check that prey is defrosted totally through. Squeeze at different sections of the preys body. Should be cool/room temp to touch, but be soft with no cold spots. If hard (except for bone), in abdomen, for example, or cold, put back in water until room temp and soft.

7. Take prey out of the container/storage box and put aside. THEN FOLLOW STEPS 8-11 OR STEP 12

8. Fill container with hot water from tap. If using temp gun, water temp should be 110-130F, not more.

9. Drop prey item into water for 30 seconds +/-. If multiple prey items, do one at a time. You want each item hot when you offer.

10. Remove (if hot water, with tongs).

11. Dry as best as you can, and is quickly as you can, with paper towels. I dry with paper towels while I am walking from the bathroom where I defrost to the snake tanks. I kind of wrap the prey item up in them. It's ten feet, so by the time I get to the tanks, the prey is drier, but still warm.

12. If not using hot water, use a hairdryer to heat rat so it entices snake

13. Open tank and offer ASAP on tongs. Wiggle gently to make it appear alive.