2007-01-01 04:45:55 · 21 answers · asked by Anonymous in Pets ➔ Reptiles
yes ask for frozen then thaw them in warm water while the rat is still inside the bag
2007-01-01 04:50:22 · answer #1 · answered by crystal 4 · 2⤊ 0⤋
You can. You're better off going with mice, due to the size of an average corn snake and the fact that a mouse will have more bones than a rat pup of the same size and it's important for the snake to have the calcium that it gets from the bones it digests. You can usually buy one frozen mouse at a time, so don't buy a whole bunch of them until you see if the snake will eat them.
The best way to introduce snakes to frozen/thawed is to skip one feeding (won't hurt the snake) then thaw the mouse inside a plastic bag in warm water. (don't get it wet--snakes sometimes reject wet mice--I think putting them in water washes off some of that delectable pissy mouse smell that snakes adore) When the mouse feels good and warm but not hot, offer it to the snake. Corn snakes are pretty easy feeders and it's more likely than not he'll accept it on the first try. Great if it works--having a few feeders in the freezer is more convenient than running out every week for fresh snake food. Wrap them good in saran wrap and put them in a sealed tupperware or rubbermaid container or your freezer will get that delectable pissy mouse smell. :0
2007-01-01 12:10:04 · answer #2 · answered by Redneck Crow 4 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Most snakes, including corn snakes, will readily eat frozen rodents that have been carefully thawed. I suspect a rat will be too large for your corn snake, so you should probably be considering mice instead. Frozen mice are available in several sizes. Frozen mice are almost always disease-free and parasite-free. Plus, they don't bite.
A couple of pointers:
1. Don't try to thaw-out the mouse too quickly. Take your time to ensure that the mouse is thawed out completely, using warm (not hot) water. This can easily take an hour or so, depending on the size of the mouse. You'll probably need to replace the water with warm water several times as the mouse thaws. Don't be tempted to thaw-out the mouse on the stove, in the oven or in the micro-wave!
2. Using forceps, hold the mouse by the tail and wiggle it near the snake in order to trick the snake into thinking that the mouse is alive. Yes, it's best to try to get the snake to strike the mouse. When he strikes it, he will usually throw a coil or two around the mouse to constrict it. Continue to wiggle the mouse for 5-10 seconds to continue the pretense that the mouse is real. If I skip the "post-wiggling" step with my rosy boas, they will sometimes drop the mouse and completely abandon it. Having said all of this, my red-tailed boa will usually eat his dinner even if I don't wiggle it in front of him.
Hope this helps. Good luck.
2007-01-03 15:01:48 · answer #3 · answered by Ken B 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Check with your pet store. Most stores sell frozen mice/ rats and you though them out overnight by air. I have tongs I use for my 8 foot boa when feeding completely thawed rabbits and she loves them. Feeding dead rats as opposed to live rats also helps bring down aggression. you have a corn snake, you shouldnt have a problem with that. Remember, feed in a seprate container! Never feed in the cage. Have fun!
2007-01-01 04:50:41 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 2⤊ 0⤋
Yes, you can usually get prekilled or frozen rats and mice. The prekilled ones are gassed with carbon dioxide. Some people feel this is more humane for the mice. Rats might be a bit large for a corn snake to digest so I would stick with large mice, several if needed. If you get the frozen ones, put them in a ziploc bag and put them in hot water until they defrost and heat up.
2007-01-01 04:48:51 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 3⤊ 0⤋
Most stores like petco and petsmart sell frozen rats. Those you soak them in warm water to make sure they are warm and defrosted all the way through. Reptile stores that sell live rats will kill them for you before selling it to you so you don't have to worry about killing it yourself or giving your snake a live rat that can harm or even kill your snake.
2007-01-01 12:53:05 · answer #6 · answered by Gray Wanderer 3 · 1⤊ 0⤋
You can usually eventually get snakes to take thawed ratsicles, but it takes a while if they were originally fed live or freshly killed. Make sure you don't try to defrost the rat in the microwave or you'll be scraping rat brains off the walls of your microwave.
2007-01-01 21:09:36 · answer #7 · answered by maggot_hex 2 · 1⤊ 0⤋
hi there most pet stores sell frozen feeders as well as live feeder just ask .. but i would stick with lg mice not rats but if ur buying rats only hoppers ... go by the girth size of ur corn ... the thickest part around it body...just make sure u thaw and warm it up to body temp in warm water....
2007-01-01 05:21:52 · answer #8 · answered by Anonymous · 2⤊ 0⤋
You can buy the dead ones that come in frozen packs. But one thing, I can't assure you the snake will eat the frozen rats. It's better if you get live ones. That way, the snake feels like it's in it's normal habitat and will live longer.
2007-01-01 07:04:30 · answer #9 · answered by ♀VANshee 7 · 1⤊ 2⤋
Usually you buy live rats from the show, then stun them right before you toss them in with your snake. Snakes don't eat carrion so if it has been dead for a bit, it won't eat it.
2007-01-01 04:47:55 · answer #10 · answered by coppersmith 3 · 1⤊ 2⤋
Yes, buying pre-killed or f/t rats or mice are the best way to feed them. You don't have to worry about bites or taking care of the mouse until it is eaten.
2007-01-01 05:48:57 · answer #11 · answered by Anonymous · 2⤊ 0⤋