frozen rat problem

[RogueStar]

I usually thaw my mice and rats either in hot water or under a spot light. If the rodent feels warm to my hand, the balls usually accept them more easily.

You probably don't want to heat it up many times, after a while the skin on the stomach gets so worn out it'll break when the snake constricts... Not a pretty sight. Or smell....

[beardieguy]

well i tried 2 small live mice today.the first one i left live he got it in 10 seconds.the second one i stunned with a pen.it took him about 5 mins to go get that one and he wasnt even going to strike just swallow it and as he was biting him the mouse woke up but he just took it down.i think the problem is more of it being a rat that the fact that it was frozen.they didnt have any mouse scent stuff left so i think i might do the frozen rat crawler with the scent stuff next week see what happens

[dalvers63]

i might do the frozen rat crawler with the scent stuff next week see what happens

I wouldn't bother spending your money on any artificial scent. Just ask the pet store for some of their smelly mouse bedding out of the mouse tank. Then, thaw the rat, put it in a bag with some of the nice stinky mouse bedding and heat it up in a bowl of hot water.

Brush off the bedding and offer that to your snake. If he doesn't take it, you may need to wash the rat with a gentle soap and lots of water rinse, then repeat with the mouse bedding and heating it up.

Another thought is, just keep feeding him mice. Some ball pythons like mice better than rats and that's just the way they are.

[beardieguy]

well i think he is still hungry and i gave him 2 small ones.i couldnt imagine how many he would eat whens hes bigger.hes only about 6 months old now.ill tell them to put some mouse bedding when i try the frozen rat crawlers again