Is it true that as long as a wild rodent (rabbit or squirrel for example) is first frozen, that it is safe to feed to a captive snake with no risk of parasites or disease?
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Frozen prey...
adams
Dec 27, 2005 01:24 PM
Replies (2)
Kelly_Haller
Dec 27, 2005 05:44 PM
The vast majority of parasites and their eggs will be killed by a hard freeze (below 0 F) of at least 30 days. This includes even cryptosporidium oocysts. However, most viruses and bacteria are unaffected by freezing. I have never tried it, but I know of several people that have used pre-frozen wild animals as feeders without incident. In most cases you would probably be all right, however there is always a chance that you could have a problem.
Kelly
Caden
Dec 27, 2005 06:30 PM
If freezing killed the bateria salmonella you wouldn't have to be so careful with frozen chicken. Some things do survive.
Freezing wild prey is way worse than commercially available frozen, because wild is exposed to so many more pathogens and parasites etc.
Caden.
