Defrosting...wet or dry??????

[The Devil]

The subject of defrosting rats ect has come up again.

I always just tip the frozen rats into a bucket of hot water, been doing that for years.

After a couple of posts on a similar thread I wanted to find out just how much water a rat retained in its hair when thawed in hot water without a bag.

I weighed a frozen rat, 302 grams, defrosted it hot water 30 minutes and after a few seconds draining, back on the scales.
Finished weight was 340 grams, so that's 38 grams or mils of water retained. Given that some more comes off on the cage paper while being eaten it would still leave enough to give the snake a good drink.

[dickyknee]

I throw mine into a jug of warm water and feed them wet ....

[OzExcalibur]

I'm only new to this, but I have always used a plastic bag because I was worried about residual detergents and stuff in the sink getting on the mouse/rat.

[dickyknee]

Originally Posted by OzExcalibur

I'm only new to this, but I have always used a plastic bag because I was worried about residual detergents and stuff in the sink getting on the mouse/rat.

Use an old ice cream container , rather than the sink , uses less water too .

[Aslan]

Mine are placed in an old icecream container and I run hot water on them to fill the container - feed wet...

[RedEyeGirl]

now ive just realised why i can not get a snake :-(

[LadySnake]

I toss them in a container of hot water and then put half the container under the heat lamp to keep the water really warm. Usually I dry them off a bit with paper towel before feeding.

[Hsut77]

In a bag, submerged in hot water until ready. Dry.

[darkangel]

i stick mine in a bucket of hot water also and feed them wet. i figured the extra water would be good for them.

[trouser_snake6]

I throw them into a jug and i use a paper cloth to get some of the water of and then i feed my python damp mice.

[fuegan13]

i feed all my snake wet except for my jungle python because he will only take dry..... i wonder if defrosting wet removes some of the scent ? or if he just doesnt like the feel of the wet rat/mouse

[waikare]

i use to feed dry til my plastic bag broke oneday, so tried him with the mouse wet he took as usual so knw i just defost in hot water and feed wet

[dezza09]

I defrost on a plate and then rinse with hot water to clean the mouse/rat and warm it up ready for the snake.

[mrmikk]

Into a freezer bag and into a bucket of hot water. They always come out wet though and yes the top of the bag is kept out of the water.

I think it is just the fact that previoulsy frozen liquids in the food item are thawing out, I can't see how it could come out completely dry.

[Layzboy_6294]

i put the mice/rats into a jug like container with cold water until it has defrosted, then i tip the cold water out and replace with hot water from the tap to warm the mice/rats up. I then shake it to stop it from dripping and feed to the snakes.