Reptile & Amphibian Forums

I'm curious to know how you guys thaw out your rats before feeding. I've recently switched to frozen from freshly killed due to the savings, but I have been thawing out a large rat in tub full of hot water for over an hour and the rat still feels cold to the touch. If you guys could maybe give me a better solution I would appreciate it. Thanks.

I found that soaking them in open air water isnt that efficient as the heat dissapates rather quickly beofre it can thaw the rat. I use a cooler and thaw about 10 jumbos at a time. I put my hottest bath water into the cooler with the rats, let it sit for a while, and then they are thawed out. But by that time, the cold rats and the hot water have cancelled eachother out and now both are room temp. Which I then empty out the water and put some more hot in to warm up the rat for eating. If you are only doing one or two rats at a time, you may not even have to re-add hot water, becuase it will still be plenty warm. hope this helps.... Jon
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1.1.1 breeding pair blue tongue skinks w/ juv. offspring
1.0.0 Juv. Albino Bullfrog
0.0.2 Giant Pixie Frog (one juv. and one adult)
1.1.0 Clawed frogs
1.1.0 Albino Clawed frogs
0.0.1 Superlight juv Sulcatta
0.0.2 Fly river turtles
0.0.2 Savannah Monitors (one pastel)
0.2.0 juv pastel Columbian boas
1.1.0 monster pink pastel columbian boas
1.2.0 Hypo Hog boas
1.0.0 Hypo boa
1.1.0 Hypo boa babies, Poss. DH sunglow
0.2.0 Hypo poss. DH sunglow
1.0.0 Coral albino boa (my baby)
and
1.2.0 Pomeranians (the wifes babies)

i use an empty milk container with the lid cut away, i add cold tap water let sit for an hour and then replace with luke warm water then real hot water just before feeding. Too hot of water will make the rat split open EEEWWWW, gradually is the key here the time is different for smaller meals. This method work well with me.
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1.4 various boas(Flicka,Felony,Nova,Alias,Alibi)
0.1 BRB Abalone; ABBI
1.0 Rott X (OSO)
2.0 cats (Simba, Morris)
fish & feeders
~:~~~~~~~ ~:~~~~~~~~

funny you say that, Just the other day....I over heated one and when Brazilian grabbed rat off of hemostats, ripped his leg cleanoff, maybe not so clean, Inards came along with them...ewwwwwwwwwwww
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Thanks,

Frank Roberts
Roberts' Realm Of Reptile Research

I like F/K? Sometimes they bleed thrhout the nose but I don't have any parts "falling off"!!
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Thanks,

Dave Colling

www.rainbows-r-us-reptiles.com

0.1 Wife (WC and still very fiesty)
0.2 kids (CBB, a big part of our selective breeding program)

LOL, to many snakes to list, last count:
20.28 BRB
16.18 BCI
And those are only the breeders

lots.lots.lots feeder mice and rats

yes fresh kills dont do that lol
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Thanks,

Frank Roberts
Roberts' Realm Of Reptile Research

Hey John how are the rats? I put mine in a big sink in the utillity room but I like the cooler better, my wife would too!!
Phil
www.rodents4u.com

I am very happy with the order, I meant to email you but Ive just been extremely busy. I work the 24hr shift at the FD and then I do a side job of mowing and we've been getting slammed with good rains so everythings just rapidly growing and i cant keep up. I will definitely be a repeat customer, and not that a little guy like me matters, but I can gladly be a reference. thanks, i'll email you.... Jon
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1.1.1 breeding pair blue tongue skinks w/ juv. offspring
1.0.0 Juv. Albino Bullfrog
0.0.2 Giant Pixie Frog (one juv. and one adult)
1.1.0 Clawed frogs
1.1.0 Albino Clawed frogs
0.0.1 Superlight juv Sulcatta
0.0.2 Fly river turtles
0.0.2 Savannah Monitors (one pastel)
0.2.0 juv pastel Columbian boas
1.1.0 monster pink pastel columbian boas
1.2.0 Hypo Hog boas
1.0.0 Hypo boa
1.1.0 Hypo boa babies, Poss. DH sunglow
0.2.0 Hypo poss. DH sunglow
1.0.0 Coral albino boa (my baby)
and
1.2.0 Pomeranians (the wifes babies)

I use a 5 gallon bucket with a lid from Home Depot. Fill with hot water and let them thaw out with the lid on. Ill change the water once and let them warm up and then they should be good to go. By the way I always check the largest rat in the center for any cold spots before I feed. Hope this helps

Depot, I also use plastic PVC caps as water bowls and large black plastic covers as hides, all purchased at Home Depot
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Thanks,

Frank Roberts
Roberts' Realm Of Reptile Research

Large prey go in the fridge overnite and are then water heated
in the sink for about an hr.Pinks,weanlings etc are thawed in the sink while heating the larger prey.

TnK

the thaw time. If it's taking too long, get a bigger container with more water around the same number of rats. If you really need to you can thaw in the bathtub. : )
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Caden Chapman
slithering.serpents@gmail.com
http://slitheringserpents.com

I also use the fridge then water method. It works very well. I put the frozen rat into a ziplock, and place it in the fridge overnight. An hour before I feed it to the boa, I take it out of the fridge and let it thaw (still in the ziplock). I then put it in warm/hot water for about 20-30 min, depending on the size of the rat. Then it is ready to go. Just make sure that no water gets into the ziplock. I don't like dripping wet dead rats. Anyway, hope this helps.

hi, I am not sure if this has been mentioned, but I find the best way is to just plan ahead and leave them out overnight in a bag. That way they are fully thawed and I dont have to do anything.

Tom

I just stick them in the sink the night before with no water. In the morning, I add warm water to heat them up.

I've found with putting them straight into hot water from frozen causes the skin to weaken or something. (maybe my tap water is too hot??) The testi's always seem to pop and make a mess. Since i started thawing before warming them, I haven't witnessed this problem even once.

Rick
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Richard Carew
Sunset BCI
You laugh at me cuz I'm different! I laugh at you cuz you're all the same.
Stop Inhumane and Illegal Practices

I guess it just depends on how hot your water is. I dont have my water heater set that high so the hottest water I have is perfect, never had a problem with "nasty rats".
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1.1.1 breeding pair blue tongue skinks w/ juv. offspring
1.0.0 Juv. Albino Bullfrog
0.0.2 Giant Pixie Frog (one juv. and one adult)
1.1.0 Clawed frogs
1.1.0 Albino Clawed frogs
0.0.1 Superlight juv Sulcatta
0.0.2 Fly river turtles
0.0.2 Savannah Monitors (one pastel)
0.2.0 juv pastel Columbian boas
1.1.0 monster pink pastel columbian boas
1.2.0 Hypo Hog boas
1.0.0 Hypo boa
1.1.0 Hypo boa babies, Poss. DH sunglow
0.2.0 Hypo poss. DH sunglow
1.0.0 Coral albino boa (my baby)
and
1.2.0 Pomeranians (the wifes babies)

fridge method works best for me, too. put them in there for a day, then the day I want to feed, I will set the rats on top of the snake cage for a little extra warmth and as soon as they are warmed up - ready. Using hot water takes too much attention - but can be done in the bathroom sink if you change out the water often enough.
Donna