Safe Defrosting of Frozen Rats (refresher course)

[Kristy_07]

What size food items are you heating dani-boy?

 

[cris]

After the heated debate yesterday I would just like to add something.

Sorry i was probably a bit harsh, wasnt trying to offend it was just the idea of the warm water method being an urban myth that made me a bit more critical (and 15 tinnies).

 

[CarpetPythons.com.au]

No worries!

 

[Snake-Supplies]

I gut mine and slowly pan fry in foil till cooked, then take off the heat.
While it is cooling, I cook the peas, corn, bacon and rice and add an egg to bind it up.
then I stuff the mixture in the rat and seal it up with some seaweed strips (used to make sushi)

I then put it in the pan again for a couple of minutes to reheat and then serve.

She loves it

 

[Kristy_07]

...(and 15 tinnies)...

I thought you seemed a bit less tactful than usual :lol:

 

[Kristy_07]

She loves it

Your girlfriend? Oh no, mate...

 

[Snake-Supplies]

No.... my snake. =S

 

[Just_Plain_Nuts]

I used to put them right next to our heat lamps but if you forgot about them for half an hour they would cook, then i tried the hot water and plastic bag idea but didnt like it , took too long and messy. Now I have a halogen set up a certain distance from a heat proof base and basically with the spacing i can control the heat and baking speed. Works great quick and clean

 

[dani_boy]

Kristy_07 not sure yet becuase i dont have my python yet but im planning to get him/her as a hatchy, juvenile or yearling so maybe for all if them

 

[beatlloydy]

I have a tall Plastic container (was a 150 blank CD cylindrical container). I put all my rats and mice in the 1 container and fill it with warm to hot tap water. I leave it for an hour or so and then work from smallest to largest (as smallest will defrost first).

I never leave the mice or rats in the enclosures...if they dont eat immediately then "no food for you" (seinfeld reference)...I just skip them and they get fed next week...If I have a leftover there are always a few ones that always would like seconds.

Keep em lean and keen em keen...I think we overfeed.

On a separate topic but related: what is the longest most keep them in the freezer....Is it 12 months (3 months is probably a norm)...but as the price of these critters are going up buying in bulk is a definite option these days. As I only have about 9 snakes bulk purchase would mean probably 100 or so..which would mean storage times of 12 months.

I have eaten 12 month meat from the freezer with no ill affects...this is providing the freezer is kept constantly frozen and nothing allowed to slightly thaw etc.

 

[Trouta]

WOW i have just got my first snake a week ago a 2 metre long MD and im gonna give her her first feed this weekend, i dont no whether she is fussy, or likes it wet or dry, but all i do no is im gonna get a frozen rat from the pet store tommorrow, best tip for this novice to make sure i dont stuff it up and my girl gets a good feed?? put it in a bucket of warm tap water for 10 to 15 minutes and serve??? i got no idea

 

[saximus]

The first few posts pretty much explain what you need to do. For a snake that big you will need a pretty big food item (large rat or even rabbit if they have any). Just use hot water from the tap. It will need longer than 15 minutes though. At about the 15 minute mark you will probably need to change the water because it will be cool. The best way I have found to tell if it's ready is gently feel around the belly area. It should be squishy and warm. If it is cold it needs a few more minutes in the hot water. Hope that helps

 

[Titanic_Boa]

I just get the fuzzy mouse out of the freezer and defrost for 1-2 hours and serve cold and she hasn't refused. But i've only just got her a week ago and have fed her 3 times should i be heating it with warm water even though she still eats them

 

[smigga]

I just get the fuzzy mouse out of the freezer and defrost for 1-2 hours and serve cold and she hasn't refused. But i've only just got her a week ago and have fed her 3 times should i be heating it with warm water even though she still eats them

What sort of snake do you have and how old?

 

[cosmicwolf4]

If prey item is small, I just put straight form the freezer into hot tap water, and change water a couple of times if necessary. However, now that I'm feeding larger food items, too, I find it easier to leave medium or larger sized rats out for a few hours, and then warm in water before feeding.

I am using various sizes of rats and as you do, I put into freezer bags, but leave them to defrost overnight because I have found that they defrost totally, and then in warm water before feeding. I use Jumbo rats though for my big ones, so maybe that makes it a bit different.

 

[Trouta]

Yep thx Saximus, was quite an elaborate thread this one and being my first feed first snake just wanted to get it right, yep defrost in warm water was what i got out of it thx

 

[Titanic_Boa]

What sort of snake do you have and how old?

Yearling Murray Darling

 

[smigga]

ok, IMO you should probably feed one larger meal rather than 3 smaller meals. I defrost my mice/rats in warm water as i find this easier and quicker.

 

[Titanic_Boa]

ok, IMO you should probably feed one larger meal rather than 3 smaller meals. I defrost my mice/rats in warm water as i find this easier and quicker.

What i meant to say was i have only fed her 3 times since i've hade her. The day i got her which was Friday than Monday than fed her again on Thursday each time being a fuzzy mouse

 

[smigga]

If you are doing that then you could feed her one fuzzy rat once a week, again IMO this would be a better approach and would be much more cost effective.