General Questions about F/T

[Argentra]

Yep. The hard part is getting the snakes to switch from live to FT.

[kid_mustango02]

I was Trying NOT to mention PetCo, PetSmart, Petland. They have NO business selling anything for reptiles. It gives the impression that they know what they are doing when it comes to reptiles.

Sorry Mr. Constrictor. I wasn't trying to attack you in anyway. You didn't mention who you bought from. I was just giving the OP a little info by comparing local retail to bulk online ordering.

The area I'm in, I have no choice but petco. I still use them to buy live (even though I hate doing it) for the smaller snakes. I would be breeding my own if I didn't live in an apartment....but yea, I feel the same as you do about those stores.

[frankykeno]

Questions:
1) How bad is this going to smell? I've read the healthier the specimen the less stench created. If I buy top quality rodents, will I be able to thaw them in my room all day then bring my girlfriend over without her being able to tell, or is it going to smell like a corpse?

A thawing rodent shouldn't stink. While you might smell a slight rodent smell if it stinks as soon as it's thawed, it was already decomposing at some point and you should toss it out. Good f/t suppliers do not send damaged, partially rotten, underweight/improperly sized or poorly packaged prey items.

2) If it will smell terrible, are there any inexpensive ways around this? Thawing in a Zip-Loc bag, etc.

If you are concerned about either a bit of smell (there should not be much) or hygenic concerns with thawing rodents laying around, the by all means thaw them individually in small zip lock baggies

3) Where do you get your F/T?

I don't currently feed any f/t I didn't personally send to the freezer from our own breeding stock but when I did buy f/t I only used www.themousefactory.com They are not the cheapest out there but I felt that they produced the best quality and packaged/shipped in a way I am willing to pay for. I found them very helpful when I'd phoned in helping me purchase the best deal for my dollar.

4) How is this usually shipped? I'm generally not home during the day. If they're just dropped off are they all going to thaw out on my porch or do I have to be home to sign for them, how's this usually work?

The Mouse Factory shipped to me overnight, very well packaged in dry ice. The rodents were in well marked freezer packages, packed in such a way that I could easily remove only the rodents I needed without thawing the entire package of that size.

You do need to be home to receive the package so you can both get those rodents into a freezer as soon as possible and safely deal with the dry ice.

[Mr. Constrictor]

Sorry Mr. Constrictor. I wasn't trying to attack you in anyway. You didn't mention who you bought from. I was just giving the OP a little info by comparing local retail to bulk online ordering.

The area I'm in, I have no choice but petco. I still use them to buy live (even though I hate doing it) for the smaller snakes. I would be breeding my own if I didn't live in an apartment....but yea, I feel the same as you do about those stores.

I didn't realize you attacked me. LOL. I just try not to mention the big retail stores. They just all suck. I wish more people knew that and they would stop selling reptiles. But your right they should have frozen feeders.

[RichardA]

I too have used themousefactory.com with great results.

I too buy the occasional frozen feeder from a chain store in a pinch. As far as mentioning them....LOL.....well sometimes feeding your snake takes the front chair to them not having a clue what they are doing.

I thaw in hot tap water, and also rinse them off in the water.

Switching isnt too bad if you are willing to tease a bit and make it look "live" to the snake, most will take them at some point.

Everyone pretty much covered it all, good post.

[abhorrent]

Thanks guys. Looks like this Friday I will make a run to PetCo. (I know, I know, sorry but it must be done) to look at them, decide what size I need and start trying to wean her over. If she takes two in a row I'll be making an order from themousefactory.

Thanks again guys, really helpful responses and disproved some of the misconceptions I had about f/t.

[cinderbird]

Thanks guys. Looks like this Friday I will make a run to PetCo. (I know, I know, sorry but it must be done) to look at them, decide what size I need and start trying to wean her over. If she takes two in a row I'll be making an order from themousefactory.

Thanks again guys, really helpful responses and disproved some of the misconceptions I had about f/t.

you REALLY should find a different supplier other than pet/co/smart. They only have 1 size of f/t rats and they are incredibly over priced (7.00 EACH). and the come in a container of two and look scrawny. This is the experience i have had with the chain pet stores near me. I'm lucky enough to have 2 reptile breeders and suppliers within 30 minutes driving distance. Look into them. You wil always get a better quality item at a better price, often they have bulk discounts. (my 10 small rats cost me 33.00 with tax or so, at pet dumb that would be closer to 70.00 for lesser quality rats that are the wrong size).

And as far as the water thing goes, maybe my girl is different but she will absolutely not eat a rat if it is dry, she likes them wet.

With the smell issue; a bad rat smells bad, a good rat smells kind of earthy and rodent-like, its a mild non offensive smell that you have to be right on top of them to smell. Sometimes, you'll get the occasional rodent that partly thawed (maybe it was near the door in the freezer, etc). the bellies on them will be soft and very red, I don't feed these, I just toss them.

good luck with the switch!

[abhorrent]

you REALLY should find a different supplier other than pet/co/smart. They only have 1 size of f/t rats and they are incredibly over priced (7.00 EACH). and the come in a container of two and look scrawny. This is the experience i have had with the chain pet stores near me. I'm lucky enough to have 2 reptile breeders and suppliers within 30 minutes driving distance. Look into them. You wil always get a better quality item at a better price, often they have bulk discounts. (my 10 small rats cost me 33.00 with tax or so, at pet dumb that would be closer to 70.00 for lesser quality rats that are the wrong size).

And as far as the water thing goes, maybe my girl is different but she will absolutely not eat a rat if it is dry, she likes them wet.

With the smell issue; a bad rat smells bad, a good rat smells kind of earthy and rodent-like, its a mild non offensive smell that you have to be right on top of them to smell. Sometimes, you'll get the occasional rodent that partly thawed (maybe it was near the door in the freezer, etc). the bellies on them will be soft and very red, I don't feed these, I just toss them.

good luck with the switch!

Thanks. I guess I make one more trip to the local reptile guy then, despite really not wanting to.