Reptile & Amphibian Forums

ok after years and years of wasting rats by trying to thaw them out and then forget and come back to some smelly snake food and then throwing all of it out i've decided i need some tips on thawing the quickest way.

lately ive been thawing them in a freezer bag on top of my cable box

I usually throw them in hot water. Depending on how many you are defrosting, get a 5 gallon bucket or rubbermaid tub, throw the rats in, fill with hot water. Usually ready to go in an hour or so. Then I just take an old crappy towel and dry them off. Been doing it like this for years, never had any problems.

Someone told me that using cold water is quicker. I'm not sure
how true that is.

I thaw them out overnight in a big tub with cold water.
The next morning I dump the water and soak them in hot water for
15-30 minutes.

I just did this today. Ideally they are in vacuum pressed
bags, so they are dry when they get fed.

I put them in quart or gallon ziplocks (depending what size im defrosting) and put them in hot water. the ziplocks keep them nice and dry.
I nuke water in the microwave for about 10 minutes and use that to warm them up. usually takes about an hour or so to get them all defrosted and about 3 trips to the microwave to nuke the water (new fresh water, although i suppose you could recycle if you wanted).

I used to have the same problem when i would just let them thaw naturally when defrosting a room temp, and decided to speed things up one day. Been doing this ever since, for many years now

I've been using hot water for many years.

No bags. I let them float in a large container of hot tap water, in my basement laundry sink, then check them and add hot water as needed.

Grab one and squeeze and you'll feel if it's warm throughout.

Then, I use a handful of Bounty towels to thoroughly squeeze-dry them off before feeding.

Works every time. And Aspen doesn't stick.

B.

Having to feed about a 100 boas of various ages, personally, I use a few different size plastic tubs and fill them with hot water to thaw them. For tubs of larger rats (large to jumbos) I may have to drain and then refill again to get them de-thawed fully. I have found this works best for me and my needs in feeding my collection.

thanks everyone for their replys it seems that most are using the water technique. lets say i happen to start thawing and I somehow fall asleep, will the rats still be good in the water the next morning?

I wouldn't worry about it. I usually take rats out and throw them in hot water, then run some errands and come back a few to several hours later. If you happen to fall asleep and don't get to it until the next morning, I wouldnt be too concerned about it. just dont let it get excessive, periods of 20 hours or more I would start to have concerns, but if you defrost them in the afternoon and forget until the next morning, I think you're fine. I have never had any problems.

I just took a few rats out a few minutes ago, Im getting ready to go to a friends house to watch the Hockey playoffs, GO BLACKHAWKS!!!!!! I will not be home to feed until later tonight, should be no big deal. I think you will like the water defrosting method, saves a lot of time and will save you some money of wasting rats I think.