I've taken the advice of several breeders and started thawing my rats much slower. I just put them in front of a fan for several hours. Then when they are thawed is when I heat the head next to a lightbulb or on a heating pad.

As for doing pre-killed, I use Trapper T Rex Snap Traps. You can get them in sizes for big rats or small mice and are pretty much idiot proof (a must in my house) so you can't get your fingers by accident. A little bit of peanut butter on the tongue of it and they walk right in. Quick, humane, clean, and you don't have to do the cervical dislocation yourself.
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3.4 ball pythons
1.1 kingsnakes
0.1 crazy cat
?!.?! ASFs
1.0 husband

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