Reptile & Amphibian Forums

Was wondering if anyone has noticed this:

I usually feed my nearly two year old indigo, F/T mice that I buy LIVE, and freeze myself. I have padded the tongs on my big hemosostats to hold the thawed/warmed mice by the tail and the snake grabs and feeds from them (with the typical vigor of an indigo of course). On two occasions, I've fed him mice that I BOUGHT frozen, from a local pet store, when he grabbed, the mice ripped apart, making a REAL nice mess (he didn't mind). Made me hungry for spaghetti and meatballs, Bbbbaarfff. I'm wondering if this is likely caused from freezer burn (MY first guess) or something else. I've decided to mostly stick to freezing my own mice fresh.
Anyways, just wondering, is it just ME or has anyone else noticed this. I DO know that I'm likely one of the few that feeds F/T this way, but was just wondering, if any one else has experienced something similar.

Thane
Thanes Place

A little something. I feed him with this method, when he's IN his hideaway. I'll dangle the mouse right at the opening and he notices and attacks. When he's out and about, I'll toss mouse in, on the other side of the cage and he finds it on his own, given a few minutes. I don't want him to associate me with food TOO much

Thane
Thanes Place

Naw I never feed frozen. I get front door delivery so it's allways fresh!

Frank
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"The luxury of not getting involved departed with the last lifeboat Skipper..."

I'd say you are prety much on target. Those mice have either got freezer burn, or are at least partialy decomposed due to previous thaw or a delay in the freezing. If you are going to do it yourself' I recomened putting your live ones in a plastic tub with a chunk of dry ice. This kils them quickly, humanely, painlesly, and it's nice and clean. No blood spatters. It also freezes them quickly. Dry ice is just frozen carbon dioxide so as it evaporates, they just go to sleep, get frozen and presto,...they are snake poop. The only trick is finding dry ice.

That's good info., thanks !! I THOUGHT freezer burn/refreezing MIGHT have been the issue, but wasn't sure. Now, if I can find a good cheap EASY source of CO2 (besides bakingsoda and vinegar and dry ice (hard to find year 'round, LOL)
Hell, I'd LIKE to eat spaghetti again without picturing ripped apart mice .... Eeeeeyuuuucckkkggg. LOL.

Thane

I'd say you are prety much on target. Those mice have either got freezer burn, or are at least partialy decomposed due to previous thaw or a delay in the freezing. If you are going to do it yourself' I recomened putting your live ones in a plastic tub with a chunk of dry ice. This kils them quickly, humanely, painlesly, and it's nice and clean. No blood spatters. It also freezes them quickly. Dry ice is just frozen carbon dioxide so as it evaporates, they just go to sleep, get frozen and presto,...they are snake poop. The only trick is finding dry ice
Thanes place

To euthanize rodents prior to feeding, I use a CO2 cartridge, like you find at Walmart for pneumatic BB guns, about 5.00 for 20 of them, and a quick-fill device used in cycling to inflate a tire quickly on the road after incurring a flat. Make certain you get one of the devices which do not require threaded CO2 cartridges, as they are more expensive.
I merely place the mice into a plastic bag, inflate it with CO2 and within a minute the mice are expired.
Also, I feed my Drys outside of their enclosure, within a plastic tub. This tends to condition them to not go into a feeding frenzy whenever the enclosure is opened.

Jeff

Thanks !! That's what I'll do. Sounds a lot easier than the way I've been doing it.

Thane

To euthanize rodents prior to feeding, I use a CO2 cartridge, like you find at Walmart for pneumatic BB guns, about 5.00 for 20 of them, and a quick-fill device used in cycling to inflate a tire quickly on the road after incurring a flat. Make certain you get one of the devices which do not require threaded CO2 cartridges, as they are more expensive.
I merely place the mice into a plastic bag, inflate it with CO2 and within a minute the mice are expired.
Also, I feed my Drys outside of their enclosure, within a plastic tub. This tends to condition them to not go into a feeding frenzy whenever the enclosure is opened.

Thanes place

Personally when I don't feed live I just thunk em....man I feel so Brutal here !!!!!!

Frank
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"The luxury of not getting involved departed with the last lifeboat Skipper..."

This will happen if you thaw your frozen feeders in warm water, under a heat lamp, etc. I typically will take out what I need the night before, let it thaw at room temps, and feed in the morning; never have had a problem from doing this. If you are going to soak the feeders, soak them in tepid (not warm/hot) water.

i'll typically count out what i'm gonna need in the morning and set out that # before going to bed. in the morning the food is ready to go and even more 'appetizing' as it was never floated in water and is still full of scent......

I thaw them in ziplocs for 3 -5 hours. To warm a LITTLE more I'll set them on the extra heat pad I have for about 3 or four minutes (don't wanna leave on too long and cook 'em, although the pad I have is a reptile heat pad that operates at cooler temps.) I never have soaked them in water. For some reason doing that just doesn't seem like a good way to do it.

Thane