f/t length of time to thaw

cueball3335 · #1 (**permalink**) 06-22-2006, 05:26 PM

is it harmful to the snake if a mouse was fed not completely frozen i'd imagine the body temp. would drop below the comfort zone

i am thawing one now and i am not sure how long to leave it in warm water. i just put the water as hot as it could get from the faucet and the rat has been in the bowl for about 20 min.

Slithers · #2 (**permalink**) 06-22-2006, 05:29 PM

touch the rat, make sure it is FULLY THAWED! touch the skull, people say the brain is the last to thaw...but check the stomach too. they should NOT be cold at all.

Always fully thaw, thanks for asking first!

VoodooChile · #3 (**permalink**) 06-22-2006, 05:31 PM

It can cause the snake to regurge if the prey is too hot/cold.
Best thing to do after you feed them something you think was too hot/cold is to wait it out and see how the snake reacts. I wouldnt handle it for at least a few days

I leave my rats thawing untill they are nice and squishy, (for a small-med rat, about 30-mins to an hour room temps) then I sit them in warm/hot water for at least 10 mins. The best indicator of thawing is to hold the prey between your fingers for a few minutes applying slight pressure. I also do the same to the head, as I was told the brain is the last to thaw

If it feels too cool, just keep warming it up

Hope that helps..

cueball3335 · #4 (**permalink**) 06-22-2006, 05:33 PM

thanx alot i will keep those suggestions in mind

mo1416 · #5 (**permalink**) 06-22-2006, 06:50 PM

What I found works best for me is to let the rat thaw out in warm water(not as hot as possible) because I've noticed if I thaw it out w/only really hot water really fast they tend to make more of a mess in their feeding tubs (rat guts and stuff all over). I just fill a container w/warm water let it sit for 20min. or so then I empty the water out and re-fill the container again w/warm water. I do this about 3-4 times.
Mike

VoodooChile · #6 (**permalink**) 06-22-2006, 07:46 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mo1416

What I found works best for me is to let the rat thaw out in warm water(not as hot as possible) because I've noticed if I thaw it out w/only really hot water really fast they tend to make more of a mess in their feeding tubs (rat guts and stuff all over). I just fill a container w/warm water let it sit for 20min. or so then I empty the water out and re-fill the container again w/warm water. I do this about 3-4 times.
Mike

Ugh, I know what you mean about the mess!! Sometimes the larger ones do that due to freezer burn. The smaller ones just do it cause they can!

mo1416 · #7 (**permalink**) 06-22-2006, 09:19 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by amercnwmn

Ugh, I know what you mean about the mess!! Sometimes the larger ones do that due to freezer burn. The smaller ones just do it cause they can!

I think mine do it just to see me cringe

CruiserMaiden · #8 (**permalink**) 06-22-2006, 09:34 PM

I take mine out of the freezer the night before and put them in the fridge. In the morning I take them out of the fridge and put them in a sink full of hot water until they are warm. If I am going to feed at night I just take the rats out of the freezer in the morning and leave them in the fridge all day. This seems to work just fine for me, but I've never heard anyone else doing it this way.

CruiserMaiden · #9 (**permalink**) 06-22-2006, 10:29 PM

not sure what courtney's post had to do with it, but mine happened to be referring to my snake food handling proceedures.

But to answer the question at hand - I dont time my feeders I just warm em up til they are warm and squishy. Foy my ball python I also have to hit it with a blowdrier for like 45 seconds on either side to make it dry and really warm or he wont take it.

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