P
Pythoninfinite
Guest
Following on from the thread about thawing rodents, I thought I might put some ideas into the system. Leaving intact animals (guts in) to thaw at room temp, or on a (just) warm spot overnight, or for more than a couple of hours is asking for food poisoning troubles at some time in your reptile-keeping career. Bacterial activity is very high in the guts of rodents, and can cause all sorts of problems, not always, but it's just not worth the risk.
Thawing in hot tap water for 20-30 mins, either in a bag or not, allows the animals to be fed without the time for bacterial breakdown to begin. Most snakes don't care whether the rodent is wet or dry, and in some cases the wet fur assists swallowing and aids hydration, especially in young snakes. Rodents properly frozen will not disintergrate using this method, when the animal breaks up it is always because it is partly rotten to begin with, either left a long time before freezing, or being stored at the wrong temp., sometimes for months (should be stored no higher than -15C if you want the quality to be maintained)
When large numbers of rodents are killed for food, people often place them in large numbers into bags then directly into the freezer. When the mass is large, and they can't freeze quickly because they're in a big lump, the ones inside the heap will partly decompose before they can freeze properly, and when thawed, they can fall apart very easily (and stink). Sealing too soon in plastic bags also assists in retaining body heat, it's always better to either let them cool naturally for 30 mins before bagging, or bag in one layer and place in iced water for 15 mins before freezing. This will ensure optimun quality, but from then on it depends on the efficiency of your freezer.
To test freshness after thawing, pull gently at the fur on the bellies of your rats & mice, if it comes away with some of the epidermis and exposes the underlying tissue, the animals has begun to decompose.
Rapid freeze, efficient storage, and rapid thaw is the way to go. And yes, microwaving can cause cause nasty explosions if not done carefully!!!
I was a professional taxidermist for over 30 years, so I've seen my fair share of fresh and decomposing animals. Rats and mice, both native and introduced, are prone to VERY rapid breakdown if not handled properly from the moment of death. Feed your herps the freshest food you can and you will minimise any ensuing problems.
Thawing in hot tap water for 20-30 mins, either in a bag or not, allows the animals to be fed without the time for bacterial breakdown to begin. Most snakes don't care whether the rodent is wet or dry, and in some cases the wet fur assists swallowing and aids hydration, especially in young snakes. Rodents properly frozen will not disintergrate using this method, when the animal breaks up it is always because it is partly rotten to begin with, either left a long time before freezing, or being stored at the wrong temp., sometimes for months (should be stored no higher than -15C if you want the quality to be maintained)
When large numbers of rodents are killed for food, people often place them in large numbers into bags then directly into the freezer. When the mass is large, and they can't freeze quickly because they're in a big lump, the ones inside the heap will partly decompose before they can freeze properly, and when thawed, they can fall apart very easily (and stink). Sealing too soon in plastic bags also assists in retaining body heat, it's always better to either let them cool naturally for 30 mins before bagging, or bag in one layer and place in iced water for 15 mins before freezing. This will ensure optimun quality, but from then on it depends on the efficiency of your freezer.
To test freshness after thawing, pull gently at the fur on the bellies of your rats & mice, if it comes away with some of the epidermis and exposes the underlying tissue, the animals has begun to decompose.
Rapid freeze, efficient storage, and rapid thaw is the way to go. And yes, microwaving can cause cause nasty explosions if not done carefully!!!
I was a professional taxidermist for over 30 years, so I've seen my fair share of fresh and decomposing animals. Rats and mice, both native and introduced, are prone to VERY rapid breakdown if not handled properly from the moment of death. Feed your herps the freshest food you can and you will minimise any ensuing problems.
