Reptile & Amphibian Forums

HERE IT IS.

I WOULD LIKE FOR SOMEONE TO PLEASE GIVE ME SOME TIPS FOR FEEDING FROZEN THAWED RATS OF ALL SIZES TO MY BALLS. SOME TAKE THEM, SOME DONT, SOME WANT IT DANGLING FOR A FEW MINUTES, SOME HIT RIGHT AWAY. WHAT SHOULD I DO SO THIS IS NOT AN ALL DAY JOB? SHOULD I HEAT THE RATS WITH A HEATING PAD OR TANK WARMER, OR WHAT? HOW SHOULD I THAW THEM? WHY IS THIS SO HARD? I NEED CONVERSION TIPS TOO. I USED TO FEED LIVE AND FRESH KILL, BUT SUPPLY IS LOW SO I KNEW I WOULD HAVE TO CONVERT. IT IS MORE CONV, BUT IT IS TAKING ME FOR EVER. I FEED 30 OF THESE GUYS, AND THEY ARE ALL DIFFERENT SIZES. ITS BECOMING A PAIN. I LIKED LIVE BETTER, BECAUSE IT WAS QUICK, AND THE SNAKES SEEMED TO LIKE THE HUNT. I USED TO BREED MY OWN RATS SO I KNOW I DIDNT HAVE PARASITES, WORMS ETC. SO PLEASE DONT GIVE ME THAT LECTURE. AND ALL RATS THAT WHERE FED WHERE SMALL SO THE SNAKES EACH GOT 2 A WEEK. NO ATTACKING RATS. WHAT SHOULD I DO ABOUT THIS FROZEN PROBLEM, AND HOW CAN I CONVERT THE NON FEEDERS? HOW CAN I MAKE THIS A QUICK AND PAINLESS JOB? OR AT LEAST A LITTLE BETTER!
THANKS

Try hitting the caps lock key and retypeing then maybe someone will read your post!!!

I only have 5, but Hope this is helpful.

Like yours they are all eating different sizes.
The best way I have found is to take them out the night before and let them thaw in the refrigerator... since I only have 5, I put them all in individual zip lock bags. ( mine will not eat them if they are wet)
At feeding time I Microwave some water and combine it with the hottest tap water... so that it is really hot, without cooking the rats. I throw the 'bagged' rats in for about 5-10 minutes and make sure the larger ones are fully thawed and very warm. ( I add more hot water if necessary)
I actually keep them in the bucket of water to make sure they stay warm... If the rats cool off too much most of mine wont take it, though I have one that prefers to leisurely eat it off the top of his hide. The others snap them off tongs.

Note: all mine were eating live when I got them. I have one F/t Mouse eater, but aside from that , knock on wood, I had little trouble converting them.

Good luck!

P.S. you really should take the cap lock off . All caps is considered "SHOUTING"

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"There is a fine line between a hobby and mental illness"
COLD BLOOD.........WARM HEART