Reptile & Amphibian Forums

Was curious to know if there are any negative effects of feeding snakes freezer burned rodents? I have a few bags that you can see the white patches all over the pinks, etc..

Thanks

No negative effects. Feed away.

Later!
HH
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Due to political correctness run amuck,
this ol' hillbilly is now referred to as an:
Appalachian American

www.natures-signature.com

Would you eat a freezer-burnt steak?
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www.strictlyballs.ca

Ha! Ha!

We're talking about a snake eating a rat, not a human eating a steak. But either way, freezer burnt meat/rodent is not harmful to eat. The "burn" is simply a loss of water content in that area.

Quote: "Although undesirable, freezer burn does not make the food unsafe. It merely causes dry spots in foods."
Found here > www.cfsan.fda.gov/~dms/qa-sto3.html

You wouldn't give a freezer burnt steak to your dog? Heck, my dog would maul you for it. And the few times I've used freezer burnt rats, my snakes never belched in displeasure.

Relax, I'm not trying to be Mr Smarty Britches, I'm just kind of pickin' at ya. Nothing personal.

Smile, and have a great day!
HH
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Due to political correctness run amuck,
this ol' hillbilly is now referred to as an:
Appalachian American

www.natures-signature.com

First, nope I would not give either of my dogs a freezer burnt steak, (Sorry girls). Freezer burnt flesh is a breakdown of the tissue, not unhealthy, but not as good as fresh. I feed my snakes the best food that I breed. My breeder rats get fed a high quality rat lab food, (not dog food) and my snakes in turn (I feel) are healthier because of it. For that simple reason, I would not feed my snakes "sub-par" food.
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www.strictlyballs.ca

"My breeder rats get fed a high quality rat lab food, (not dog food) and my snakes in turn (I feel) are healthier because of it. For that simple reason, I would not feed my snakes "sub-par" food."

I know where you're coming from, what you mean. I just respectfully disagree with you on this. I also use a commercial rodent diet, Mazuri.

I think you're splitting hairs on this. Your principles are noble, but, they're not consistent.

Mazuri Rodent Breeder 6F5M30, which you've said you use, has 16% protein. Mazuri Rodent Pellets 5663 has 23% protein. I've used both of these and can tell you firsthand that the 5663 is a much better product and rats grow & perform at their fullest potential. A fairly significant difference.

You said "...I would not feed my snakes "sub-par" food." but yet you are feeding your rats sub-par foods (6F5M30 versus 5663). And one legitimate reason that you or anyone else may have for using the 6F5M30 instead of the 5663 is the price difference. However, the fact remains that 6F5M30 is inferior to the 5663.

So, to save a few bucks by using 6F5M30 is perfectly fine but to save a few bucks by feeding a few freezer burnt rodents is not?

"Freezer burnt flesh is a breakdown of the tissue, not unhealthy, but not as good as fresh."

And if we really get into splitting hairs - Feeding F/T, period, is inferior to fresh-killed. It all becomes trivial.

Fella, I'm not trying to argue with you or demean you in any way. I'm not criticizing you or your thoughts, I'm just trying to get you to see the flaw in your principles and also see the other side of the coin. So please, don't take this personal. I surely don't mean it that way.

Have a good one & I'll see ya 'round!

Later!
HH
-----
Due to political correctness run amuck,
this ol' hillbilly is now referred to as an:
Appalachian American

www.natures-signature.com

Nope,. we're all entitled to our opinions. I toss any feeders that have been in my freezer for over 6 mohnths (and I hermetically seal my bags). Freezer burnt rats can cause a hige mess with explosions during feeding, so I want no part of that.
As for "splitting hairs" regarding rat food, of the hundreds of different dog foods and rat lab blocks and diets on the market, the nutritional value between #1 and #2 or 3 is insignificant. As long as we're not feeding #38, we're all ok...
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www.strictlyballs.ca

I need to get temperature readings om my deep freezer one of these days just to know for sure what they are. I don't vacuum seal rodents and I've used some that were a year old that had no burns or obvious defects.

"As long as we're not feeding #38, we're all ok..."

Ha! Ha! We're both OK, then - 'eh?

May I say that you've been quite a gentleman and I've enjoyed the discussion.

Take care!
Mike
(Mikie)(Seriously. That's what my family/friends have called me since I was knee-high to a grasshopper. Even now at the ripe ol' age of 46.) Later!
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Due to political correctness run amuck,
this ol' hillbilly is now referred to as an:
Appalachian American

www.natures-signature.com

"Ha! Ha! We're both OK, then - 'eh?"

Eh!? was that 'eh? a Canadian reference hillbilly?....
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www.strictlyballs.ca

"Eh!? was that 'eh? a Canadian reference hillbilly?....

Ha! Nah, just an ol' hillbilly "'eh." I didn't even think of the Canadian "'eh" until you just mentioned it & then I remembered that old comedy show with the two Canadians. I can't for the life of me remember their names at the moment.

Have a good one!
Mike
-----
Due to political correctness run amuck,
this ol' hillbilly is now referred to as an:
Appalachian American

www.natures-signature.com

Bob and Doug MacKenzie; they are our national treasure.
-----
www.strictlyballs.ca

Yep! That's who I was trying to think of.

Catch ya later!
Mike
-----
Due to political correctness run amuck,
this ol' hillbilly is now referred to as an:
Appalachian American

www.natures-signature.com

>>Would you eat a freezer-burnt steak?

No due to flavor not nutritional value. Important distinction between your example and a frozen rodent. A freezer burnt steak still as a nutritional value just not a prime cut of beef any longer.
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Jeremy Payne
JB Reptile
Specializing in Boa Morph's

1.0 Snow "Kahl"
0.2 Triple Het Moonglow "Kahl"
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1.1 Double Het "Sharp" Snow
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1.1 "Kahl" Albino
1.0 Hypomelenistic
1.3 Pastel Hypo
0.1 Suriname/Columbian cross
0.1 Anerthrystic