Mouse Snapped in Half...?

[Brylee1233]

I fed my BRB today with two fuzzy mice and I've had the F/T mice since February. I warmed both of them up on the Warm on my stove in water for 20-30 mins. I fed him the first one and I don't know if he it it with such force that the mouse split in half or if the mice are old (the legs and some guts are not attached to the body) I also laid the other mouse in the cage with him, to where he can get it.

Are the mice too old? or was it just this one time?

[millertime89]

It happens from time to time. If you thaw them in water directly rather than in a sealed bag the water weakens their skin and can increase the likelihood of this happening. Happens less often with older prey items as they develop fur and tougher skin. I get tails and other limbs ripped off from time to time if I'm holding the prey by that and the snake hits with enough force.

[EL Ziggy]

I gave up thawing in warm/hot water after a few messy situations. Now I let the feeders thaw naturally and then dip them in hot water or warm them up with a blow dryer before serving. No more exploding mice!

[Brylee1233]

Hahahaha!! Exploding mice!! Okay, the bag wouldn't melt if I put it in hot water?

[CosmicOwl]

I wouldn't use water hot enough to melt a plastic bag.

Personally, I like putting the mice on a a plastic take out lid and then setting that on an electric heating pad. The kind that you'd put under your back while you're sleeping, not one for an enclosure. It thaws the mice quickly without getting them wet.

[toddnbecka]

I set the thawed feeders close to the ceramic heat bulb on the screen top for 20-30 minutes, warms them up nicely.

[Obsidian_Dragon]

I put my mice in bags and warm them up in hot water. I'm only dealing with pinks/fuzzies at the moment, though.

I do let the fuzzies thaw by setting them on top of the cage for awhile first. I've lost limbs off it a few times, but no explosions yet.

[NewHerp293]

I usually just put my pinkies in a cup of water...i used to use super hot water cause they thawed really fast but i had one rip apart so i started taking a little longer in a cup at room temp and haven't had problems since.

[Brylee1233]

hahah okay thank you guys!! :)

[mrgrimm]

I set the thawed feeders close to the ceramic heat bulb on the screen top for 20-30 minutes, warms them up nicely.

I also do this...A midway flip then check temp both sides until about 100 F. My snake seems to pick up on the scent as well and usually strikes the rat within a few seconds of dangling it in there.