Hi,
As far as aquiring food for you snakes, I'd say, hands down the best way to go is to get frozen rodents, and I like rodentpro.com myself. The best prices, super quality, and very reliable. Shipping prices can be high, but there are ways to save on that as well - splitting the order with other local herpers, for example. Also, they have their website setup very well for order efficiency, which means they tell you exactly how much room in a box a certain thing takes up, so you can fill the box up exactly and not waste space (and so, money) on the shipping. If possible, I suggest going with their grehound shipping, it's only $60 for a huge box, you just need to be able to pick it up at a local greyhound station. I have about 12 animals right now, and spend between $300 and $350 every 8-12 months on rodents for my animals - really not too bad at all. Of course, there's the issue of storing so much food, and how quickly you'll use it up, but again splitting the order is a good way to get around this.
For thawing froze animals, I usually just leave them sitting out in my room overnight before I feed the animals, and just give them out at room temperature. The only exception being a), if I need them thawed more quickly, or have an animal that will only eat heated prey, in which case I'll usually thaw them in a plastic bag in a tub of warm water for an hour or two (make sure the water stays warm one way or another.
As far as guinnea pigs, I've never used them myself, but there shouldn't be any problems, as long as your snake will take them. Only issue being not nearly as many people breed them for food purposes as the more common mice, rats, and rabbits, but they are out there. Also be aware though, if you're dead set against rabbits, rodentpro for example has "collosal rats," which average over a pound a piece and only cost $2.29 each.
Hope this helps a bit,
-Christian-
>>I have 6 snakes in my collection, and I am getting frustrated with having to buy rats every week and have to drive to the store. The store is kinda far away, and large rats are 6 bucks. I cant keep shelling out that kind of cash just for a stupid rat.
>>
>>My question is, frozen thawed. Is it practicle?? I should really be studying this myself, I realize, but I am extremely busy with school and electronics and what not. I still obviously want to care for my snakes in the best way, but Im sick and tired of driving 15 miles just to get hammered with crappy rat prices.
>>
>>So I have these rats in my freezer, the question is, how do I thaw 6 rats each week? Can I take them out of the freezer, and have them sit under a heat lamp in the garage for a hours? Or can I take the frozen rats and put them in a dish of really hot water (still in bags) and throw a heat lamp over the hot water for a few hours? Like I said I should just research this myself, but I recognize that most people here are experienced, or much more than myself.
>>
>>My second bit is this- My boa is getting slightly bigger and I think the "two large rats a week" thing is over. He needs something bigger, this Saturday in particular. I refuse to feed him a rabbit, even though I prekill all of my food, I just flat out like rabbits too much. What I have had my eyes on is a guinnea pig. Will that work? They hardly ever have any Jumbo rats, and the 12 bucks for two semi-small adult rats is just stupid. Can I euthenize the guinnea pig and feed him to my boa constrictor? If so, can I purchased frozen guinnea pigs? I guess frozen rabbits arent such a big deal, since they are already killed.
>>
>>I have an array of different types to feed- blood python, Green tree python, carpet pythons, white lipped, boa, and something else cant remeber (oh thats right I have 3 carpets!
>>
>>Thanks, if anyone here can answer my question. Thanks a million as a matter of fact.
>>
>>Best,
>>John
>>
>>-----
>>Many feel that I need to be balanced with equal time. Wrong. I AM equal time.
>>
>> -Rush Limbaugh, 1992
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