Reptile & Amphibian Forums

Alright, so I got some frozen rodents a while back from a very big rodent supplier, I'm sure you know who I'm talking about. Well, just a week or two ago, most of the rodents, especially my rat pinks, started to get all these white splotches all over them. I thought the pinks might just be getting freeze dried, but then I looked at the rat pups today, and they're kind of getting them too. Is this some sort of fungus or bacteria? Also, should I stop feeding these rodents to my snakes asap? Thanks for the help.

I have no idea!! All I can tell you is mine done the same thing and I did not feed mine. Just didn't look good.
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Hmmm, not good. They all seem to have it now and there is no way I can afford to buy that same size shipment again. I have never left them out of the freezer and I always try to get as much air out of the bags as possible. I don't know what to do now.

does it look like this below. If so I have been feeding them to the corns I hatched out lest year and the still go after them like there fresh. and they are still putting on wait big time. I know that they are not balls. but if someone is blue when I feed I do give them to my pewter and a small pastal. the only to that are small and they take them right now. but if someone knows exactly what it is I would love to know.

n/p

that is not the frist bag that has done that to me. it only takes about 3 -4 weeks in my freezer. I have a chest freezer that only has feeders in it.btw the mice pinks do the same thing.

Yep, my mouse pinks did it too. I don't know why they do that. I have the same setup you do. I have a refrigerator just for rodents and I haven't really noticed this before. Kinda frustrating. I don't know whether or not to feed them to my snakes. I don't see why you couldn't. They seem to still be fresh and I disected one and it seemed just as normal as the ones that aren't freezer burnt. My snakes have taken them with no trouble at all. If for some reason I should stop, definately let me know. Take care and thanks for the help, I really appreciate it.

Sounds like freezer burn on them, we throw away any that get it. Its usually pinks and fuzzies that seem to get it.

Try to order from one of the suppliers that vacuum pack them.
They always last longer.
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J&J REPTILES
www.jnjreptiles.com
sales@jnjreptiles.com
(207)479-6658

like one of those guys that tries to get out of taking their animal to a vet or something but is it detrimental to the snake's health to feed these to them because the rat pinks have it and so do the rat pups and honestly, since I'm 16, there's no way I can afford to get another shipment right now.

It's freezer burn. Happens to stuff that you keep frozen (and not vacuum packed) for a longish time. AFAIK, it's not dangerous, rather more like a slow version of "freeze dried". (It's pretty unappetizing, though!) Pinks, whether rats or mice, get it - and really show it. My guess is that older frozen rodents get it too, but you can't see it through the hair.

Another way to avoid it would be to freeze items in water, resulting in a block of ice with a pinky in the middle - which doesn't really help when you get 'em already frozen and packaged up.

Just my $.02 - I've been known to be wrong about stuff . . .

i ate a stake once that had that [bleep] on it, im still livin,

n/p

Thank you for the info. I had a feeling it was just freezer burn but better safe than sorry. At least it's not going to kill my snakes. I was afraid I may have to buy an entire shipment again.

Basically it's just freezer burns. It is much more obvious on pinks due to the lack of hair. They don't look real good but I don't think there is any reason not to use them. Considering the fact that snakes eat carrion out in the wild if they come across it. Reptiles have a much better digestive system than we give them credit for. If you feel it's bad to use them, then don't. We breed a lot of our own mice and sometimes we get overstocked with frozen pinks. I use them even with the freezer burns and have had no problems. Some will disagree with this but hey, to each their own.
Bruce Delles c/o Twin Cities Reptiles

They will also last longer if you store them in a manual defrosting freezer and remove as much air from the bag as possible.
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Brad Ratliff
Ratliff Reptiles
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its freezer burn. it will not harm your animals at all. it usually happens when the bag is removed from the freezer then reintroduced to the freezer. in that little time where the surface of the rodents gains moisture, it freezes or frosts the surface after it is back in the freezer. one way to eliminate this if it bothers you is to buy a food saver and vac the bags before you put them in the freezer. hope this helps.......