Reptile & Amphibian Forums

I've always fed my snakes live mice until recently, when one got bitten (not too badly, but enough). I know you have to thaw the mice before feeding, but are they supposed to be room temperature? Warm? How do you thaw them quickly? Can anyone help me out?

-Spangles
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Pets:
0.0.2 Albino Corns
0.0.1 Normal Corn
2.0.0 Green Iguanas
0.0.1 Florida King Snake
0.0.1 Rat Snake

I put frozen mice in a ziplock sandwich bag and float it in hot water for 10 minutes (or however long necessary). Holding the mouse with tongs and running hot water over it directly may make it thaw faster (if your snake has no problem with wet food). Pinch the rodent's belly to make sure it's warm all the way through (do not feed it to the snake if it still has a cold spot).

I find the warmer the food is, the faster my snake grabs it.
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1.0.0 Sinaloan Milksnake
1.0.0 Shepherd Mix
0.1.0 Pug
0.0.3 Goldfish
1.0.0 Husband

You will get different opinions. This is what I do. I just thaw them out in the fridge overnight then the next day set them out till they are room temp. My corns are eating fuzzies so they don't take that long to warm up. Sometimes I just set them out the same day on the counter. Takes a couple hours that way. With my jungle carpet, she eats small rats, I put them in some hot water for a half hour or so. You can boil water and it will thaw them out faster. I tried that with the rats the last time and that worked good. The rats were also warm so I think she liked that better. Just make sure they are thawed completely, no cold spots. You will have to handle the food item to make sure. I hope your not squemish to do that. :0) Also when I thaw them out in water then I blot them dry alittle with paper towels.

When i do use frozen i just take them out of the bag and set them underneath and
to the side of my heat lamp.It warms them
up good in about 5 minutes...Paul