Reptile & Amphibian Forums

just curious to see what ways fellow herpers thaw out their monitors food.

np

I'll agree for teh win.

noone uses a light or nukes em?

some keepers do use lites to thaw, i wouldnt microwave them. or, you can thaw them in a bucket of hot water (i do), or you can offer live. -john
cybersalvator.com

>>noone uses a light or nukes em?

umm don't nuke'em. I've never tried it but they probably will explode. I wouldn't want to clean that up

Also it may create hotspots in the rodent. Use warm/hot water.
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hbailey

0.0.1 argus monitor
1.1 butterfly agama (L. Reevesi)

For cooking I opt for skewering them and spinning them over a hot fire pit. Once the outside is good and crispy it is fully cooked and ready to eat. Oh before cooking make sure you gut and skin your rodents.

I have never tried them in a microwave but I figure it's kinda like a hot dog it explodes and just doesn't taste the same.

Now to thaw them out, you only want them to be just that nice warm prey for your animals to indulge in. Lights are ok but I use a 5 gallon bucket of hot water. This will stop any hot spots from occuring and no chance of cooking the prey unless you use boiling water of course. Once you have felt for any ice crystals, and the rodent is nice and pliable and warm you can feed it off.

Hope this helps you out with feeding your critters, or your camping trips with the other boyscouts.

I generally put mine in a dish and leave it under warm running water until thawed. I also nuke at times but i wouldn't recommend it unless your microwave has a defrost feature and if it does be sure to let them sit for atleast 2 minutes afterwards incase any hot spots were created.
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James Grigsby
Newark,Delaware

Animals Kept include:
0.0.1 Varanus Salvator (Gator)
0.1.3 Varanus Exanthematicus (Adisa) long term captive (other 3) yet to be named hatchlings
2.0 Ferrets (Chaos & Kasha)
1.0 Cat (George)

thanks guys. Since my little girl is old enough to eat mice now, i'll be purchasing a chest freezer for mine and her food. I'll be buying frozen rodents/chicks instead of live food since they are cheaper and less dangerous and i can also store my pizzas, hamburger, etc in there also and save some space in the freezer in the fridge.