Reptile & Amphibian Forums

I grew up around snakes; it was my dad's hobby that became my own. We bred our own rats and mice when I lived at home, and I will hopefully get to start another rodent breeding project in the next couple of years (I HATE paying so much for the little things)... but until then I am at the mercy of the swaps (for bulk frozen) and the local pet store (for live mice).

I like the method of thawing that my dad came up with through trial-and-error: put the frozen rodent in a zip-lock bag with as little air as possible, then place the sealed bag in some hot tap water to soak ~20 minutes, depending on the size of the prey. This usually produces a warm, thawed rodent, though occasionally damp, as the cheapie bags that I buy do leak from time to time. I know well enough that a warm, damp environment is a bacteria haven, so I am interested in anyone else's thawing suggestions.

For those who haven't tried it, I think the microwave-method was the most memorable "error" we ever made ... I can laugh about it now because it was over 15 years ago.

Thanks,
~Rebecca
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0.1 Dumeril's Boa '04 (Courtney)
0.2 American Pit Bull Terriers (40lb darling lap dogs:Brandy&Mara)
1.2 Ball Pythons
[1.0 '05 Orange Hypo (Specter)]
[0.1 '05 Het Hypo (Sylvia)]
[0.1 '03 Normal (Sue)]

Ive done the baggy method and ive done the throw 10 rats in warm water, "dry" with towel and feed. Ive never had a problem either way. I know guys that have been doing those 10 years that still do the x amount of rats/mice in a bucket of water. Ive never heard of any ill effects.

Ive tried the take out of freezer the night before and warm with heating lamp but that doesnt work for me at all.
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Dave

www.DNReptiles.com
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Yep, me too. Been thawing them in bucket of hot water for 10 years...never had a problem.
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Dale....dgoins222@yahoo.com

you do thaw in baggies?

Actually, I thaw in warm water...I use the baggie method when I need some extra warming. Most of the time I can take it right from the warm water, dry it off a bit and offer.
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Dale....dgoins222@yahoo.com

dont they get all soggy and wet and mushy?

Just looks like a rat that didn't have an umbrella LOL. Just dry him off a bit so it's not dripping all over (distracting to the snake) and offer with tongs. Been thawing that way for 10 years or more.
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Dale....dgoins222@yahoo.com

how many balls do you have? also do you offer with tongs to all or just drop the rat in and leave? if you do just drop and leave how lobg do you leave the rat in before you remove it? and also how long do you try to offer a rat with tongs before you give up? thanks again.

I have 26 Balls. I usually stop offering when I feel the rat is not warm any more...sometimes I reheat, sometimes I just skip it depending on the snake. I do have a couple where I can just drop the rat on top of the belly heat area and they will eat. I only leave it there around 30 min. before removing and giving to another one.
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Dale....dgoins222@yahoo.com

You mite try the double boiler method , that a pot of almost boiling water with another pot on top with the prey in it and the hot water heats the top pot and intern heats the prey items . David

Overnight in the fridge. Heat with lamp right before serving.

Or if you only have one or two to heat up I have a friend that uses an old Easy Bake Oven to warm up his rats.
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Tosha

i dont know why, but mentioning the easy bake oven made me laugh out loud for some reason.

I actually DO use a microwave. I put the rodents into a plastic bag with most/all of the air removed, then put the plastic bags into a microwave safe container full of water. I put a glass lid on top to hold the rodents under the water, then nuke at 20% power. Time varies depending on the number/size of the rodents. I haven't had any explode/rupture, but I have cooked a few.

Steve

I just put mine in warm water out of the bags. Then I just hold the rat over the bucket until it stops dripping and offer it, none of my snakes have ever shown an objection to it being all wet, but maybe I'm just lucky. You just have to know your individual snakes, some of mine will take it only from tongs and some only if it's left on the cage floor. They all have their little feeding quirks.

I've been placing my frozen rodents in warm to hot water for over 20 years. I lightly towel dry them before feeding but have offered wet mice and rats too. Some rats or mice are left in their vacuumed pack bags for some of my more finicky feeders.

Casey Lazik

Try using a cooler. The insulation keeps the heat in, so you can thaw a lot more rats in a shorter period of time...and usually without having to change the water. I use a big one that can thaw 100 small rats at a time. It has wheels on one end and a big handle on the other, so I can pull it around the room while I feed.

-Anthony

>>I've been placing my frozen rodents in warm to hot water for over 20 years. I lightly towel dry them before feeding but have offered wet mice and rats too. Some rats or mice are left in their vacuumed pack bags for some of my more finicky feeders.
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>>Casey Lazik
>>
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Anthony Caponetto
www.ACreptiles.com

Great idea! I'm up for volume thawing!

Take care,

Casey