Switching to F/T or Pre-killed

[Jay_Bunny]

I have decided that I want to switch my kids over to frozen/thawed or pre-killed. I plan on "building" my own CO2 chamber since I will also need to be producing frozen/thawed for my ferrets.

I successfully have gotten both of my big females to take pre-killed. Both were freshly killed and still warm and I had no problem getting them to take it. Just did the zombie rat dance.

I was just wondering how you get a rat up to body temperature without making it gross. I know soaking it in warm water is a no. I basically makes it all wet and soggy and no good for snake din din. I could try heat lamps. I have several extras laying around. Any advice?

[Somed00d]

I know soaking it in warm water is a no. I basically makes it all wet and soggy and no good for snake din din.

my snakes don't mind wet food. I soak them in room temp water for an hour then hot water for about 5-10 minutes, dry it a little so its not dripping then feed the snakes.

[Wh00h0069]

When I thaw out rats for my boas, I sit them in front of my oil-filled radiator, in the snake room, and let them thaw to room temperature. I then put them in hot water for about five minutes. I keep them in a zip lock so they do not get wet. Then they are good to go.

[starmom]

I take mine out of the freezer and leave them to thaw all day long right by the racks and cages. Around dinner time (human dinner time) I open the bags to allow for pre-scenting.

When time, I take the rodents, one by one, and warm their heads with a blow dryer; the only useful thing a blow dryer is for, in my opinion!!! I then offer them to the hungry and waiting snakes!!!

[Oxylepy]

I just set mine out until they are thawed. My male eats readily, but the babies are still on live, they won't touch the thawed. :-/

[Blue Apple Herps]

I use zip-loc bags (the name brand ones) and put them in there in the hottest water from the faucet until they're thawed and very warm. The name-brand bags do a good job or keeping them dry. I tried the off-brand ones, but they're leaky.

[yfz450racer74]

i just use heat lamps to bring them up to temp the last little bit. for me it seems to work the best. you do have to watch them though since they do heat up fast and can burn the hairs on the rat causing a really nasty smell. i never leave them under the lamp for more than 3 min before their good to go.

[mainbutter]

I use warm water to heat up my frozen mice to 98 degrees.. Did that feeding my corn when she was alive, and just switched my bp to it and she just loves it. I do dry them off on a paper towel.

One thing you can do if you want something a little less soaking wet is to build a mouse/rat thawer. Basically, it just consists of pouring boiling water into a large bowl, put a stand a few inches over the bowl and put your rodent on the stand. cover with a tupperware or something. The heat released from the heated water will gradually thaw your rodent. I've never tried it, but have heard of people doing it who want fast thawing without soaking, because they just seemed biased against it.