Reptile & Amphibian Forums

Last January over in the King Snake forum someone asked if freezer burnt rodents were safe to use... I've had marginal problems with freezer burn myself but nothing so bad I didn't think it safe to use... so last March when I purchased a batch of frozen rats I also bought some ziploc vacuum bags along with the pump.

Long story short... it was worth it. Except for about two feedings worth of rodents I keep everything in the vacuum bags... nothing in those bags has shown signs of freezer burn in those two months. Hopefully it keeps working great since I had to purchase a boatload of pinkies last month for the Stuarts... if you have problems with freezer burn give them a shot... been worth it here.

For the on topic part here's the hondo... despite having handled her in ways my betters don't recommend... she has responded well to short but frequent periods of handling... no more musking, no more bitting... still a little spastic at first but she does calm down within a minute or so... all in all much improved. She's about 29" long now, as is the abnorma, no scale so I can't tell you the weight. Not a concern for me in any case since I can see both are doing well.

Scott if you're reading this... one of those Stuarts is possessed... more than makes up for all the warnings you gave me with the "micro" and hondo combined. I get tagged at least twice during each handling session... long gone are the days I can say "I've only been bitten once" since I've had that little demon... I hope it passes... right now it's amusing but at 12-18 months... I might start bleeding... the amusement level would drop considerably at that point!

Gerry

Gerry, I know you have probably told the story but I cant even remember my name some days That looks to be a "real deal" animal you have there is it not? Oh, and I have only been bitten five times in as many years, that I can remember of course ,and my speckled king is responsible for four.

Joe

Yes it's a "real deal" hondo... I was fortunate enough to pick her up from Scott Ballard last year... a picture perfect F1 example from WC specimens he (Scott) is lucky enough to possess... as is the L.t.abnorma I also picked up from him at the same time. I'm very fortunate to have run across Scott... more fortunate still is the fact he's been willing to sell me some of his animals. Though I haven't asked him yet I'm hoping the mates to those females are in eggs right now!

While I do remember my name most days... my age is a different matter... when asked "how old are you" the first thing I ask is "what year is this"... yes I do forget what year it is... having been born on 1/1/59 I can simply add a 1 onto the year (9 times out of ten anyone) and recall my age... so far I've yet to forget which decade of years I'm in... 30's, 40's 50's... time for that in my 60's I guess.

Gerry

LOL. Good stuff. Yeah, it is amazing to me to see what hondos should look like. They are so watered down in our hobby, as are many other ssp, that sometimes we forget what real deal snakes look like.

Joe

Good lookin tri-color hondo, Gerry. Your experience with the vaccuum bags may be something I'll have to try. I buy rodents in bulk too.

--Dennis

Yes, I'm sure getting those quality freezer bags and pump help out considerably Gerry.......great idea.

Man, that real-deal L.t.hondurensis sure is is sweet!, just as your other stuff you mentioned is.

Glad to know those Costa Rican stuarti are doing well for you too even though they are still a bit defensive...LOL!..

~Doug
-----
"a snake in the grass is a GOOD thing"

serpentinespecialties.webs.com

Darn, forgot to respond to the original post itself. LOL. Yeah Gerry, I have been using an inexpensive model food saver vaccum for a couple years now and it rocks. I use it only for mice and they stay "fresh" for well over a year. Maybe longer, but I usually get into the year old mice prior that. The only drawback is the bag expense. They cost a lot!!! I reuse them at least once, and then they get too short to put any real amount of mice into. (cutting them open and shortening them by doing so).

Joe