Reptile & Amphibian Forums

I have been feeding my snakes frozen rats for the past couple years, but I believe that these rats have been the cause of some health problems that my snakes have been having lately. I've decided to go back to freshly killed rats and was wondering if anyone has any advice on how to efficiently kill live rats before feeding?

Thanks,

Andy

i'm curious,what problems to you think the F/T are causing ?

>>I have been feeding my snakes frozen rats for the past couple years, but I believe that these rats have been the cause of some health problems that my snakes have been having lately. I've decided to go back to freshly killed rats and was wondering if anyone has any advice on how to efficiently kill live rats before feeding?
>>
>>Thanks,
>>
>>Andy

Heavy screwdriver blade laid across behind their head on their neck, pin them FIRMLY while yanking FIRMLY from the base of their tail. Cervical dislocation. You could use a heavy steel rule too. I use a closed pair of heavy scissors.

I am curious what troubles you were having with F/T. I have not heard of troubles unless the prey was not thawed all the way or were truly rotten. Trying to think what else.
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Sonya

Haven't we warned you about tampering with the structure of a chaotic system?
Mrs. Neutron

If it is a small Rat, grab them by the body and slam them on a hard surface (wood or concrete floor). If it is a larger Rat grab them by the tail and slam them on the hard surface. This is the fastest and best humane way to do it. No screwing around with C02 or dry ice, cheap,easy,fast,humane.
I hope this helped you,
John

I think it may have something to do with the quality of the rodents. Many of them come out of the bag flattened and maimed, definitely pre-frozen damage. Maybe I'm just paranoid, I don't know. I've had to go live a couple times in between frozen purchases (some people at the pet store would kill them for me, depends on who's working at the time) and I've never noticed any problems in the week after feeding. But just this past week my boa had a lot of green in her stool after a frozen feed.

Make sure the rats are completly thawed before feeding. The only problems that can come from this is the rat is still frozen.
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Greg Holland
G&M HERPS
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