Reptile & Amphibian Forums

everytime i try to thaw out a mouse it starts to expand near its stomach and leaks out mouse guts....i just wanted a couple of tips to stop this from happening next time....thanks

This happens to me from time to time. I can't tell you how to stop it as I'm not really sure why it happens. (Maybe someone else here will be able to answer that.) I used to thaw my mice out under a heat lamp and it seemed every other mouse would "burst".

Now, instead of using the heat lamp, when I take out the mice I'm going to use I place them on aluminum foil and allow them to completely thaw at room temperature. Depending on your freezer and room temps this can take up to a couple of hours. After they are fully thawed, **I place them in a ziplock bag or two and either run them under hot water or heat up water in the microwave. After the water is steaming I will place the bag (with the mice sealed inside) into the water container. I let them sit until the mice are warm and feed. This has drastically cut down on the number of "belly busters" I've had.

I think one reason for this is due to the slower thaw time.

**None of the snakes I have that do eat F/T will eat a wet mouse and that is the reason I use the ziplocks. If your snake is willing to eat them wet you shouldn't have to use the bags. I know a lady who has a BP that refuses to eat anything offered unless it is dripping wet.

Never had the bursting problem, but I put the rodent in a ziplock bag in hot water in the sink for about 25 minutes. The water cools off by then and then I drain the water and do it again for another 15-20 minutes, just to make sure it is completly defrosted. Then I blow dry them or dry them off w/ a paper towel. Hope that helps.

kyle

Try thawing it more slowly. And if you;re putting it directly in water, try keeping it in a baggie so it can't absorb a lot of water. Maybe that will help? I soak mine directly in hot water out of the tap, and it happens occasionally. Seems to happen a lot more with the smaller ones (I feed rats) that have tender skin. Pups, fuzzies, etc.

Wait until you have a large rat do that, though.. after you put the snake on the carpet with it because you were cleaning the cage...
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thanks for all the help everyone..