2006-06-25 07:11:55 · 18 answers · asked by havok 1 in Pets ➔ Reptiles
The best method I have found is to just leave on a paper plate at room temp or even near a window. 4 hours seems to be a good approx. time for a med. rat. The microwave is a poor choice the internal temps can reach a temp which causes cellular damage which results in a lower nutrition value. The warm water defrost I have found only reduces your defrost time by maybe 1/2 an hour and is just a pain and a mess as well as a rat that feels very defrosted on the outside due to the surface warmth of the water but internally is still frozen or at least very cold. which if fed to a snake could cause complications ranging from simple gaseous bloat and failure to eat the next offered rat to a total aversion to rats from that point on.
2006-06-25 11:12:16 · answer #1 · answered by Rain 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
It all depends on the size of the rat.
I normally set them out on the counter for a few hours to thaw. Once thawed they are put into lukewarm or tepid water.
Before feeding to the snake make sure you feel the hips and the head for 10-15 seconds. If they still feel cold at that point they need to be warmed longer. The head and hips are the thickest parts of the body and usually the last to thaw or heat up.
Do NOT out in the microwave. This can superheat the of the rat and can kill your snake. Also it runs the risk of cooking the prey. Snakes cannot digest cooked food and may regurge the prey item.
Thawing charts, sizing, and size comparisons can be found at the link below.
2006-06-28 23:01:51 · answer #2 · answered by bdadawg 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
do no longer use a microwave. no longer purely will the rat explode even yet it may reason warm spots interior the path of the rat and harm your snake. the final thank you to thaw them is to place them in a Ziploc bag and placed the bag in a pot of warm water. no longer boiling water. As warm as you may get if from the faucet. A rat might take 15 minutes or longer to thaw based on the size. whilst it feels gentle and heat each and each of how by way of with no longer chilly spots it rather is carried out.
2016-10-31 11:20:25 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
You can put it in a bowl of warm water, put it in the fridge a day prior to the feeding......
Basically whatever you do to thaw meat, it can be used to thaw frozen rodents.
Just don't use the microwave or any other direct heat source. That would just get messy.
2006-06-25 07:15:26 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Emerge in hot water till thawed and then again to bring the rats internal temp closer to a living animals temp. Be careful not to cook it though, snakes find that unappetizing.
2006-06-25 07:14:58 · answer #5 · answered by rabbitwhisperer 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
All of the above answers are wrong. My best friend has a snake and it is a constrictor. they just put the frozen rat in the cage and the snake eats it. When they are hungry, they will eat it guaranteed.
2006-06-25 07:46:34 · answer #6 · answered by Memere RN/BA 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Sounds like you trying to gross people out.
But not me!!
I don't think a snake will touch it.
But...if its a really big rat just use the same method you would use for thawing a Turkey.
2006-06-25 07:16:33 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
put the rat in a ziplock. fill a sink w/ warm water. put the rat bag in a couple hours b 4 u feed the snake
2006-07-02 01:07:34 · answer #8 · answered by wittlebaby 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
don't microwave it, put it in a baggie and then let the baggie sit in a container of hot water for a while until it feels thawed.
2006-06-25 09:35:08 · answer #9 · answered by me 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I put the ones for my boa constrictor and cornsnake in the fridge over night and then put them in warm water until they are warm.
By the way....NEVER feed live rodents to your pet snakes!
2006-06-25 10:43:32 · answer #10 · answered by ncbigman1963 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋