How to guide: Frozen Feeders: Rough Draft

[Ratsicles]

This is a thawing guide with a little misc info Ive been working on to hang in some stores that sell rodents or cater to reptiles. Please give feedback.

Have you considered frozen feeders?

Frozen feeders help ensure you have the right size prey on feeding day. No more last minute dashes to your pet store to find that they are closed.

Can be kept up to 3 months in a Ziploc bag ... Up to 2 years if vacuum packed.

None of the mess or smell of raising live prey.

Freezing kills parasites that may be in your prey and can affect your reptile.

No need to worry about frozen prey possibly attacking and injuring, or maiming your reptile.

Thawing Instructions:

·Remove prey from freezer and place on counter, in a cupboard, on top of fridge or freezer, etc. (Thawing times chart on backside.)
·Once the prey item has been thawed it needs to be heated to above room temperature. This can be done by:
o Placing the prey, submerged, in hot water.
o Placing the prey item under a heat lamp.
o Placing the prey by an electric heater.
o Using a hair dryer or heat gun.
·Check the prey items head and hips, these are the thickest areas and usually the last to warm up. If they feel cold more warming is required.

The first few feedings may require a “jiggle or shake”. Hold the prey by the tail (preferably with hemostats or tongs) and “shake” the prey lightly about 2 inches from the reptiles nose. Once it strikes the prey release your grasp on the prey item. The prey can also be left on the under tank heat pad or under a heat light for the shy eaters.

CAUTION:

Do NOT use a microwave to thaw feeders, this may cause them to explode or will cook inside of prey. Reptiles cannot digest cooked food. For this reason you also should not use boiling water to warm prey.
Pinkies and fuzzies are highly susceptible to “popping” when warmed too fast.
_________________________________________________________________
(backside)

Mice:
Pinkies – smalls 1 hr thawing time.
Mediums – larges 2 hrs thawing time.

Rats:
Pinkies – fuzzies 1 hr thawing time.
Hoppers – smalls 2 hrs thawing time.
Mediums – 4 hrs thawing time.
Larges - 4-6 hrs thawing time.

Rabbits:
Pinkies - fuzzies 2 hrs thawing time (0.1 – 0.5 lbs).
Hoppers – 4 hrs thawing time (0.5 – 1.0 lbs).
Smalls – 6 hrs thawing time (1.0 – 2.0 lbs).
Mediums - 8 hrs thawing time (2.0 – 5.0 lbs).

The above time estimations are based on removing the prey from the freezer and immediately placing it at room temperature (72 f).
Putting prey, submerged, in warm or tepid water, will dramatically decrease times. Thawing in warm or tepid water is NOT recommended for pinkies through fuzzies.
They can also be placed in the fridge to thaw overnight.

Sizing and size comparisons:

Rats & Mice
Pinkies = 1-5 days old
Fuzzies = 7-12 days old
Hoppers = 2-3 weeks old
Weaned = 4-5 weeks old
Small = 5-7 weeks old
Medium = 8-10 weeks old
Large = over 10 weeks old

Adult mouse = Hopper rat
Medium rat = Fuzzy rabbit
Large rat = 1 - 1.5 lb rabbit.

Generally younger prey items are more nutritious, have more vitamins & minerals, and provide more “bang for the buck” for your reptile.

Feeders should be kept in plastic bags as long as possible to maintain scent.

Feeders can be placed in paper bags, Rubbermaid containers, Tupperware containers, plastic sacks, and etc. in your freezer to “hide” from sight.


Thanks,

Bryan

[Pork Chops N' Corn Bread]

Originally Posted by bdadawg

This is a thawing guide with a little misc info Ive been working on to hang in some stores that sell rodents or cater to reptiles. Please give feedback.
[CENTER]Have you considered frozen feeders?[CENTER]
Frozen feeders help ensure you have the right size prey on feeding day. No more last minute dashes to your pet store to find that they are closed.
Can be kept up to 3 months in a Ziploc bag ... Up to 2 years if vacuum packed.
None of the mess or smell of raising live prey.
Freezing kills parasites that may be in your prey and can affect your reptile.
No need to worry about frozen prey possibly attacking and injuring, or maiming your reptile.
Thawing Instructions:
·Remove prey from freezer and place on counter, in a cupboard, on top of fridge or freezer, etc. (Thawing times chart on backside.)
·Once the prey item has been thawed it needs to be heated to above room temperature. This can be done by:
o Placing the prey, submerged, in hot water.
o Placing the prey item under a heat lamp.
o Placing the prey by an electric heater.
o Using a hair dryer or heat gun.
· Check the prey items head and hips, these are the thickest areas and usually the last to warm up. If they feel cold more warming is required.
The first few feedings may require a “jiggle or shake”. Hold the prey by the tail (preferably with hemostats or tongs) and “shake” the prey lightly about 2 inches from the reptiles nose. Once it strikes the prey release your grasp on the prey item. The prey can also be left on the under tank heat pad or under a heat light for the shy eaters.
CAUTION:
Do NOT use a microwave to thaw feeders, this may cause them to explode or will cook inside of prey. Reptiles cannot digest cooked food. For this reason you also should not use boiling water to warm prey.
Pinkies and fuzzies are highly susceptible to “popping” when warmed too fast.
_________________________________________________________________
(backside)
Mice:
Pinkies – smalls 1 hr thawing time.
Mediums – larges 2 hrs thawing time.
Rats:
Pinkies – fuzzies 1 hr thawing time.
Hoppers – smalls 2 hrs thawing time.
Mediums – 4 hrs thawing time.
Larges - 4-6 hrs thawing time.
Rabbits:
Pinkies - fuzzies 2 hrs thawing time (0.1 – 0.5 lbs).
Hoppers – 4 hrs thawing time (0.5 – 1.0 lbs).
Smalls – 6 hrs thawing time (1.0 – 2.0 lbs).
Mediums - 8 hrs thawing time (2.0 – 5.0 lbs).
The above time estimations are based on removing the prey from the freezer and immediately placing it at room temperature (72 f). Putting prey, submerged, in warm or tepid water, will dramatically decrease times. Thawing in warm or tepid water is NOT recommended for pinkies through fuzzies.
They can also be placed in the fridge to thaw overnight.
Size comparisons:
Rats & Mice
Pinkies = 1-5 days old
Fuzzies = 7-12 days old
Hoppers = 2-3 weeks old
Weaned = 4-5 weeks old
Small = 5-7 weeks old
Medium = 8-10 weeks old
Large = over 10 weeks old
Adult mouse = Hopper rat
Medium rat = Fuzzy rabbit
Large rat = 1 - 1.5 lb rabbit.
Generally younger prey items are more nutritious, have more vitamins & minerals, and provide more “bang for the buck” for your reptile.
Feeders should be kept in plastic bags as long as possible to maintain scent.
Feeders can be placed in paper bags, Rubbermaid containers, Tupperware containers, plastic sacks, and etc. in your freezer to “hide” from sight.
Thanks,
Bryan

BRAVO!!! Very nice. Maybe you should include something about what the rats can do. Like maybe the story of Chance Louise's snake and some pics of her injuries. Just as a way to help people realize that f/t is better

[amercnwmn]

CruiserMaiden has some good pics too, and i have some old bite mark wounds on one of my rescues, if you want some pics..

I usually just toss my frozen in a bowl of hot water untill they thaw...is that wrong?
I also read somewhere their brains were the last to thaw..is that true?

	TOS Term of Service - the rules for participating on redtailboa.net

[Heidi]

amercnwmn, If I could explain the smell of gut pop you would answer your own question. Not that it is wrong, but it would waste a rat. JS says it can also be from freezer burn but I think mine was from thawing too fast. I put it in luke warm for about 10, got overzealous and went to hot too fast and when I took it out it was, well check out Jasons (rex, whatever his user id is now a days) post. Phewwwwwwwwwwweeeeeeeeeeeee!!!!!!!!!

[Pork Chops N' Corn Bread]

Originally Posted by amercnwmn

I also read somewhere their brains were the last to thaw..is that true?

Maybe on some hard headed rodents!!! lol Its pretty much the thickest areas of the rodent that thaw out. Maybe I will do an experiment if I can find some cheap meat thermometers. I just keep my rodents in the vacume packing and thaw them out. The smell makes me gag after i cut the packaging open. It hits Ruby like a truck and she goes for them instantly. No dangling required. I use the hottest water I can get from the sink and use that for rats. I have had pinkies and fuzzies burst and its a bad site. (looking for ajax or comet)

[Ratsicles]

I had thought about adding pics of rat attacks ... my main fear is this though ... Pet stores generate revenue from their live rodents. Showing pictures may actually drive off a customer from that store (something the petstores wouldnt be too happy about).

Would a good compromise be to suggest a web address where they can look up the attacks themslves?

This "flyer" is intended to be removed and taken home with a customer/potential customer.

Bryan

	Geek Auto Linker or Gallon Geek Auto Linker Gallon - United States liquid unit equal to 4 quarts or 3.785 liters

[Pork Chops N' Corn Bread]

Originally Posted by bdadawg

I had thought about adding pics of rat attacks ... my main fear is this though ... Pet stores generate revenue from their live rodents. Showing pictures may actually drive off a customer from that store (something the petstores wouldnt be too happy about).
Would a good compromise be to suggest a web address where they can look up the attacks themslves?
This "flyer" is intended to be removed and taken home with a customer/potential customer.
Bryan

IMO a good Idea would be to give them an idea about it then put an area at the bottom with our web adress here and the RTB.net Logo. Ask natas. He would be the best person I could think of off the top of my head

	Shane The Man, The Myth, The Mystery that is RTB!!!

[amercnwmn]

Hmm..well all I feed are rats right now...cept for my corn snake and he eats mice...but so far no "popping" I leave mine in a ziplock to thaw and raise the water temp as I go..
I hate when their bleedin tails fall off though! UGH!

	Corn Snake The Corn Snake or Red Rat Snake (Elaphe guttata) is a species of Rat Snake.

[Pork Chops N' Corn Bread]

Originally Posted by amercnwmn

Hmm..well all I feed are rats right now...cept for my corn snake and he eats mice...but so far no "popping" I leave mine in a ziplock to thaw and raise the water temp as I go..
I hate when their bleedin tails fall off though! UGH!

Never worried about that because the only mice I thaw out are for the monitor and he eats anything when he wants too. Rotten mice, headless mice, bloody mice, the stinkier the better!!!!

	Corn Snake The Corn Snake or Red Rat Snake (Elaphe guttata) is a species of Rat Snake.

[amercnwmn]

Originally Posted by Pork Chops N' Corn Bread

Never worried about that because the only mice I thaw out are for the monitor and he eats anything when he wants too. Rotten mice, headless mice, bloody mice, the stinkier the better!!!!

HAHAHAHA sounds like my large red tail...she just eats them sideways..lol

	Geek Auto Linker or Gallon Geek Auto Linker Gallon - United States liquid unit equal to 4 quarts or 3.785 liters

[Heidi]

Originally Posted by amercnwmn

Hmm..well all I feed are rats right now...cept for my corn snake and he eats mice...but so far no "popping" I leave mine in a ziplock to thaw and raise the water temp as I go..
I hate when their bleedin tails fall off though! UGH!

Well, you thaw them slowly like they are supposed to then. As long as you increase the water temp as you go and not stick them in hot water right away it is fine. That is what I do too usually for Wil because Casey is always ready to eat, he hides until he is ready so I get the rat ready when he tells me he's hungry.

	Corn Snake The Corn Snake or Red Rat Snake (Elaphe guttata) is a species of Rat Snake.

[Mad Snake Keeper]

Very nice job! Great article!
Currently, my snakes are eating only large mice and small rats. I put them in hot water for a half hour or so, by which time they feel completely soft, then I put them on a heat pad for a few hours to warm up (the blood will only take it if it's warm)... I've tried thawing on a heat pad and let's just say the results were... foul-smelling.
((I have actually tried microwaving one with no intentions to use it as a feeder, as I know the center heats up quickly... it burned. THAT did not smell pleasant. This was at night. I put it outside to deal with in the morning. We have TONS of raccoons around that have come into our house to steal food at night when we leave the doors open, and even these roadkill-eating monsters didn't want a burned rat. ))

	Geek Auto Linker or Gallon Geek Auto Linker Gallon - United States liquid unit equal to 4 quarts or 3.785 liters

[GrapevineFires]

One thing ...

I've found that using a hair dryer is not very efficient. It's a whole lot of work for what seemed to be an incredibly slow way of heating.

	Geek Auto Linker or Gallon Geek Auto Linker Gallon - United States liquid unit equal to 4 quarts or 3.785 liters