A few thoughts that could help.

If she's young, and eating fuzzy rats implies she is, the following is very important. She will need to eat soon.

1. Once you get husbandry on point (temps, hides - more on hides in second, humidity, etc), you may still have to offer a live fuzzy rat to get her going. If she was eating live and not F/T, you might not be able to switch her right away. They often do switch, but at this point, you might not have a choice for much longer.

2. Hides, hides, hides. If she is in her adult enclosure, as you say, she will need hides that are identical and SNUG on the warm and cool side, but also probably one in the middle, and/or a big water bowl, etc. to clutter up the tank. Adult BP's need to feel secure in their enclosures. Younger BP's, especially ones that haven't eaten, definitely need that feeling.

The more items in the tank, the better right now. Let her feel snug.

3. As Bogertophis said - temps taken at the ground with a temp gun are pivotal. That's the only way you will know for sure what temps you are dealing with.

Below is how to properly defrost a rat without cooking it or it still being frozen. It's important to let it defrost at room temp and then warm it up at the end and quickly before feeding on tongs. A BP will turn down a cooked rat. Also, be gentle when offering. Don't shove in her face, etc. Let her strike at it. If she doesn't, you can leave up to overnight, but not more than 12 hours. Often if they don't take quickly, they won't eat.

Any other questions, just ask.



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. 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 +/-.

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).

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.