Yep, noticed it as well. I thawed two weaned rats the other night for Amani, and that was a "no go". Had to throw them away. Good thing I have my stash of breeding mice in the bathroom, LoL. She ate 3 live ones and was a happy camper. Even on pre-killed, she doesn't have the feeding response that she does with the live ones.

I think that the normal movement and normal core body temperature of the live prey stimulates a much better feeding response, IMO. Since my school is raising rats and mice, I have a good supply of healthy feeder rodents(for freeeee). The only parasites that the mice/rats have are pinworms, so it's not like the health of the rodent will be harmed in any way. One order of the rodents I have gotten from a frozen rodent supplier have come with feces on them, urine stains, not neatly packed, and some weren't even in the bag(ie: the bags weren't insulated from the dry ice, so they burst open). Also, when some were thawed, they smelled rotted or burst open(and were subsequently thrown away). I wasn't too impressed... Now another supplier I got them from packs them neatly, side by side, in meat trays and vaccuum-seals them. None have feces/urine on them and are very fat rodents.

To me, it's kind of like buying raw meat. If, when you thaw it, it smells bad or looks wrong, you would throw it away, right? I feel the same way with the frozen rodents. When they are thawed, they shouldn't have an odor other than rodent, and definately shouldn't burst when thawed properly.

Ok, LoL, I've written a book, but that about sums it up on how I feel about it. It's just my two pennies though, so comment as you see fit