Whats the best way to thaw a mouse from frozen for my snake?

Question

Hi there, for a start i was wondering what THAW actually means.

My snake has stopped eating normal defrosted mice :( a few people tell me you shouldnt just leave them to defrost and my snake might not like it.

Snake went to bite me the other day, might be hungry, but i am worried about it.

Whats the most appetising way to feed a dead mouse to my snake, from frozen.

Any help is appreciated :)

P.s, snake has not eaten for about 3 - 4 weeks, is this dangerouse?

Thanks.

Answer 1

I currently have (and my wife loves this part) about a dozen frozen mice, two dozen frozen pinkies and 8-10 frozen large rats in our deep freeze. We have a nearly 30 pets and a number of them take rodents as food.

For pinkies, I just lay the bag out on the counter for about 2-3 hours then get a bucket and fill it enough to cover the bag with warm water (I use a thermometer and make the water about 90). I have one of those thermostats that you can just point the laser at the item up to 10 feet away and it will tell you the temperature. So I normally shoot the pinkie until it reads about 85-90 degrees. Then I feed it to the appropriate reptile.

For mice and rats I put them right into a bucket of 80-90 degree water and let them sit for about a half an hour, then I feel them to make sure they are soft and pliable and everything feels mushy inside (I keep them in a plastic bag so I don't get rodent stink on my hands). The rats can take about an hour but I have to buy very large rats because I feed two large boas.

I try to keep plenty of extra rodents on hand in case of a freak snow storm or a long work week where I cannot get to the pet store. The closest pet store is a 40 min drive one way so I like to keep an ample supply on hand.

I normally buy fresh and prekill with a hammer. I am in the process of making a co2 chamber. I found out I can buy co2 in a container about the size of a propane tank for a grill from a paintball gun supply store. I figure on hooking a hose up to a Rubbermaid tote and killing fresh rodents that way from now on.

Oh, I do not know what kind of snake you have but a snake going a month without food isn't a terrible thing if it is healthy to begin with and having no health problems. My boas do not eat usually from November through February or March and I keep the enclosure temps the same the entire year around.

The snake may have tried to bite because he is beginning shed and can't see well, what color were his eyes? If they were milky he is beginning his shed, just leave him be until he is done shedding then feed him.

Answer 2

I thaw my mice out by taking them out of the freezer and putting them in the fridge for a few hours befor I feed them. Then I place the mice in a bowl of hot water for about 10 mins(depends on how big the mouse is) and I feel the mouses head(which takes the longest to thaw) if the head is not cold to the touch then the mouse is ready to go.
Try to put the snake in a dark bin, with a lid, while your thawing the mice, open the lid and drop one in then put the lid back on. One of my snakes is shy and doesn't like to have people watch her eat.
If your snake is used to eating frozen mice then keep it that way, giving them a live mouse could really hurt them, because live mice fight back.
If your snake doen't eat the mice, re-freeze them, give it a few days then try again. Some snakes perfer mice that have been thawed then refreezed.
The best thing for you to do is find a rep vet and go take it in for a check up.
You never know, your snake could be fasting(some can fast for up to a year for a number of different reasons.) Don't worry too much, just keep trying and if all else fails, find a vet...hope this helps...

Never put a mouse in the microwave...it'll cook the mouse and the snake will reject it!!!

Answer 3

Take the frozen mouse and defrost it overnight in the fridge in a ziplock bag. Then when you are ready to feed, put the mouse still in the bag in a bowl of hot (but not scalding hot) water to bring it up to room temperature. Once it is up to room temperature, dump out the now cooler water and add more hot water to bring it up to about 90-100 degrees or so. The idea is to get the mouse warmer than room temp, but not too hot and not wet (some won't take them wet if you take them out of the bag before they get warm, though some don't mind). Remember, if they take a mouse live, the mouse's temperature is ~100 degrees F, so you need to simulate that. The best way to check the temp is with a thermometer gun. They apparently have these at Radio Shack and such. I have never had an issue with any of my snakes not eating frozen/thawed and I've kept snakes about 3 years.

Answer 4

Thaw means that the item has gone from frozen and solid, to ambient and pliable. The water that makes it frozen has melted and the item is no longer frozen.
I am not an expert on snaes, but would think they like their food to be at room temperature, rather than icy cold.
Can you just leave the mouse out on the draining board overnight to allow it to defrost, and see if the snake is tempted then?
Maybe it is tired of mouse and fancies a change, can you get it some chicks as a change?
I think 3-4 weeks is a long time to go without food for any creature, are you sure there isn't another reason the snake is not eating, most animals will eat anything if they are hungry enough.
Good luck.

Answer 5

thaw out the mouse from a frozen state in cool water only takes 20 minutes or until it is soft then drop said mouse into warm water and 1/2 a chicken stock cube most snakes can not resist the taste never use hot water and never nuke em may get to hot and hurt your pet
Is your snake going into shed? Is your snake warm enough? No it is not dangerous for your snake not to eat for 3-4 weeks maybe going into hibernation or just coming out.
Has it's behaviour changed?

Answer 6

If your snake is shedding it's skin or going into hibernation it can go several months without eating, and the bigger it is and more fat it was able to accumulate before starting to hibernate the longer it can go without any major problems. I've heard of snakes going up to 7 months without eating so unless it's been more than 2 months don't worry too much.
As for thawing the best is a few minutes in warm but not hot water.

Answer 7

If it wont eat the already dead mice, maybe if you have a pet store handy just start buying it live mice, they are only a $1 at my local pet store. that way you dont have to worry about unthawing or your snake not eating. this way it can eat it when it wants it and you dont have to coax it to eat.

Answer 8

put it in warm water and let it thaw and get a little warm

Answer 9

I have used a bell type drop light with a 60 watt bulb. Heating it just long enough to thaw the mouse.

Answer 10

just run it under some hot water. and those people might be right your snakemight not eat them if they are thawed but you could ask a petstore or a vet.