Defrost frozen rat?

Question

What's the best way to defrost the rat to feed the python?

Answer 1

*gags*
Well, if it were me...I would put the rat outside if it's fairly warm and wait for it to thaw out...that way you don't have to have a defrosting rat in your house...or the smell.

Answer 2

You can put it in a zip lock bag and defrost it in WARM water , never hot . Hot water tends to disfigure the mouse and is not recommended . The best way is to lay it out on a paper towel and let it defrost on its own them warm it up under a heat lamp or heating pad ( that's what I use ) for a few minutes before feeding . The snake will take it much easier if it is very warm and dry . If the food gets wet ,some time the snake will not eat it . It does not smell as strong as if it is dry .Just make sure that you can roll the mouse between both fingers and all of the internal organs are soft , not hard .If it is not completely thawed out before feeding it will cause gastric upset and the snake will regurgitate it or even die .

It will take about an hour and a half to thaw on a paper towel and about 45 minutes in warm water . ( Depending on the size of prey and room temp.)

Answer 3

Slowly.

You have to be careful not to cook them, so you can't do it in a microwave. If you live somewhere cool so it won't go off leave it out on the bench to thaw, if you live somewhere warm leave it in the fridge overnight.

You have to make sure it is defrosted all the way through, i don't think reptiles cope well with cold, so leave it longer than you seem to have to. Best to go slow than give the snake frozen or cooked food, they only eat every now and then so they can wait another day.

Warm it up in some warm water (warm to hot bath water tempreture) before you feed the snake if your snake is a fussy eater, pythons only eat things they think are alive or at least fresh.

Answer 4

NEVER EVER defrost it in the microwave. It doesn't defrost it evenly. You might not even detect this but it can be warm on one side and really hot on another or the inside. This is NOT healthy for your snake.

I know this takes a little time but rather have it in a plastic packet and put it into hot water to defrost for as long as it takes to feel warm in you hand. By keeping it in the plastic, it wont get soggy and it also wont smell.

Answer 5

Personally I hate mucking around with either wet rodents or wet plastic bags. I just lay my frozen feeders on a human heat pad and turn them after 20 minutes or so. A couple layers of paper towel under them absorbs the condensation. I defrost a couple dozen at a time and have found this to be the most convenient and neatest way.

Answer 6

i have a python and what i do is take a bowl of water and heat it up in the micro wave for about 1 to 2 min. and then i put the rat in the water for about 1 to 2 min or till you can move the rat all over then you can feed it to the python that is what i do i feed mine every week

Answer 7

OK do this get a Tupperware container the size of a shoe box then fill it with COLD water. leave the rat in there for 30 mins the dump out 1/3 of the water and add warm water to the cold leave it for 15 mins then check make sure its getting flexible and dump out half of the water and add hot water. not really really hot though. let sit for about 3 mins long enough to heat it to room temp them then let it drip dry the moister will aid your pet. do not touch it use 9 inch or larger feeder tongs usually available where you get the rats. your hand is warmer then the rat so the snake can get confused and just ignore the rat. good luck because ours is a twat and she only eats pre killed live I find this way to be the best because it ensures the animal i warm enough but not too warm. because once we fed her a frozen thawed gerbil someone recomended we put it under the heat lamp for a few hours well we did and when we fed it to our snake it burst open and burned her and it smelled so bad it was green goo so yea this one works best.

Answer 8

For my baby pinky mice, I put in a bag full of warm water then place it in a large glass of warm water and it works. Try putting your rat in a large bag full of warm water then fill your bathtub up with hot water and by the time the water is cool I would think it would be thawed out.

Answer 9

ok...firstly DO NOT I MEAN DO NOT put frozen mice and rats in the mocrowave. My friend tryed to thaw a pinkie mouse for her baby cornsnake in the microwave. EWWW it popped and splattered all over the inside of the microwave. Man I almost barfed. Anyways moving from that concept,a good way to thaw it is to either put it in warm water for an hour or so or put it under a heat lamp until it is no longer cold or stiff.

Answer 10

If you are in a warm climate, put in a vented container, I use what you buy crickets and roaches in, put in the sun for1hour or so until it is completely thawed. If cold climate, put on heat mat or something warm for a while. You can put them in hot water to speed thawing up, but not recommended. you can also use hair dryer. DO NOT use microwave!

Answer 11

I just put mine in hot water, and change the hot water out constantly until they are warm enough. Then I dry a bit with a paper towel and offer it to the snake with tongs. I tried heating in a plastic bag in hot water, but the mice only thawed out and were luke warm. My snakes had only so-so feeding reactions to them, especially my arboreals that hunt using heat sensors.