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I have a few stubborn eaters that will only take live rodents.. I been trying to switch over to frozen with no luck and after 2 weeks of attempting to feed frozen/thawed I give in and go to the pet store and by small rats for $6.00 each.. Do you think if I just stopped feeding live all together the snakes will eventually get hungry enough to take frozen???? I don't want to starve them but live rodents here just isn't really a option...

My method of defrosting rodents is night before I'm going to feed them I pull the rodents from the freezer and put them into a sterilite tub with warm water on them and let them sit in that over night til the morning.. Then in the morning I drain the water then refill the sterilite with warm water let the rodents sit in that about 5 minutes to get their temperature up then I take them out of the water and lay onto a towel then warm them with a hair dryer til they are relatively dry and warm.. Then offer to the snakes. Most of my snakes will not take them from tongs so usually I lay them in the front of the bin then throw a heavy sheet over the rack to block out the light and check back in about 45 minutes.. Does this sound right or is there a different method I should try????

I'm just frustrated and trying to see what works best for everyone else??

Thanks ahead for any advice Good Luck to all this season!!

Jbugg

I seem to have better luck feeding at night. I just thaw the frozen rats in hot tap water--then drain, add more hot tap water and let sit for a few minutes to heat up, pat dry and they are good to go. I feed from tongs, though.

If you are still having trouble, try getting them used to P/K's first. That way, if your snakes haven't eaten a P/K after an hour or so, you can freeze the rodent for next time.

Good luck!

$6.00 for a small rat? WOW! You need to find a local rodent guy!

Tell me about it i'm in the Montgomery Alabama area any rat guys????? Prekilled isn't a option as that means I have to get them alive 1st.. Frozen Thawed is what im trying to use exclusively as I made my 1st order the other day and have 150 rats in my freezer....

WOW you're taking a long time to thaw them out. Try just putting them in a ziplock baggie and into scalding water for about 30 minutes or until they feel soft all over. The bag keeps out the water making the hair dryer unneccessary. Then after they are soft. Refill whatever you are using for the water with fresh scalding water and heat them up for about 3-5 minutes. Then use tongs(I use old salad tongs from Salvation Army $2) and hold the rat by it scruff or the loose sking on the back. Then make it dance and "walk" around in front of the snake. Make sure to do several passes in front of it heat pits but not too close to freak it out. They should take it then. Then just simply close the container and let them do what they do best. Let me know how this works.

Jared

Not to contradict you but I was under the impression if you heat rodents up in the bag that they would cook and smell?? I use grill tongs to feed them I usually dangle them in front of them by the tail with the tongs.. I'm nervous about dangling them by the scruf because a I didn't want to hurt the snakes mouth if they grab some tongs when they strike the rat.. But I really do appreciate the response I am getting so far and thank you!

I use the said "baggy" method and haven't ever had a problem with the mice cooking. If anything it just increases the "mouse" smell so the snakes are more interested. I'd give it a try.
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1.0 normal ball python
0.1 greyband hybrid kingsnake
0.2 crazy cats
1.0 husband

I use baggies all the time and never had a problem with it. When you use the scalding water, it cools quickly while thawing the rat. No cooking. I also meant to say the skin of the back more just below the scruff. I understand about not wanting them to get hurt by the tongs. About half way down the back will do. Just make sure to keep the head of the rat towards the snake. When they strike, the should pull the rat right out of the tongs.

yeah you want the rats to be pretty hot through and through, don't worry about scalding unless you put the rat in the microwave (very bad idea) the snakes key off the smell and heat more than anything else so the nasty smell you don't like is like a dinnerbell for your BP. and keep dunking it in the hot waatr if he doesn't go or it right away. I used to get live mice from a professional mouse breeder and I pre-killed the mice just before i fed my snakes, they went crazy. the natural smell of a mouse versus the lab bred feeders is totally different, its like comparing steak to tofu.
mike
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..1 Jayne "The Hero of Canton", Ball Python
..1 Edmund Slackbladder, Mexican Kingsnake
..1 El Diablo "They haven't built a cage I can't get out of" Pueblan Milksnake
(Currently serving 25 to life in a Maryland Supermax
______________________________________________________

Me; And finally monsieur a wafer thin pinkie
El Diablo: blaggh
Me: ah sir its only 1 leetle pink one
ED: ahh, sod off! I'm full
Me: ah sir hmm? its only wafer thin?
ED: bah! i couldn't eat another thing I'm absolutely stuffed. bugger off!
Me: ah sir, sir just ...just one......?
ED: ok just one
Me just the one.
Me: voila!
Me: bon appetite!.......