Quote Originally Posted by chong_python
If a rodent is frozen for at least 30 days it eliminates any parasites that can be passed on to your snake.
False. The majority of digestive based parasites can and will survive freezing in some form for a lot longer than it takes for freezer burn to set in and destroy the food item itself. This is an "internet myth". I highly advise that you read through “A Veterinary Guide to the Parasites of Reptiles” volumes 1 & 2 by Susan M. Barnard and Steve J. Upton … They are available for about $40 each on Amazon.com and will clarify a ton of the bull that you hear on the internet about parasites.

Quote Originally Posted by chong_python
Tapeworms parasitize the digestive system. Roundworms and related parasites inhabit the digestive tract, but their juvenile stages can cause disease to other organs (especially the lungs).
Most parasites are highly specialized and species specific, worms using a rodent as a host would have no effect on a snake and be passed right out.

Quote Originally Posted by chong_python
It is possible for a captive snake to become parasitized by eating prey species that harbor the larval stage of a given parasite. Hence if you freeze it, you will eliminate the risk of your snake getting an internal parasite
The larval stages of a given parasite are the MOST likely forms to survive freezing.

Quote Originally Posted by chong_python
Dont diss everyone at petco, becuase some of them no what they are talking about, They gave the rite information and passed it on. I dont have a petco here, but it seems like they take alot of heat for things, but in this particular case they gave nothing but 100% factual information.
I would never “diss” anyone at PetCo, but in most cases they are part time employees making minimum wage or close to it and have to memorize and retain knowledge pertaining to many species of reptiles, fish, birds, and mammals. I'd take advice from a professional ball python breeder that works with nothing but ball pythons every day over a PetCo employee any day.

Hey Becky, help me out here!!

Oh and BTW – Frozen vs. Live vs. Pre-Killed is a matter of personal preference for each keeper. No single method is “better”, because they all can be done safely and effectively by responsible keepers. Choose the method that works best for you and your snake and leave the preaching to the traveling snake oil sales people!!!



-adam