average dethawing time

[mudflats]

I was dethawing the rat in warm/really warm water and it took a good 15-20 minutes to dethaw. Is this the normal time or does anyone dethaw there rodents other then putting them in warm water in a bag? thanks, jon

[justinO]

depends on how big the rat is..... i don't really time it so i have no idea how long it takes anyone else.
I also replace the warm water once it gets cold so it goes a bit faster....... you can't really use boiling water cuz the rats will probably split....

looks like the watched rat never thaws..... heh

[jim mcallister]

I think you gotta be careful that the water is not too hot as you may cook the rat. I just put my feeders in luke warm water for quite a long time while i'm doing something then feed later when i know for sure they are nice and thawed.....

[Pontus]

i just toss them in a bag overnight and feed in the morning

[lostwithin]

I just toss all my rats into a bucket and will it with hot water, nothing horrible just out of the tap; I mean if it doesn’t burn my skin it shouldn’t cook the rat. I fill the bucket watch tv for about an hour then go back they are normally thawed I normally toss in a few smalls a few jumbos and a medium or two, they are normally all thawed out, I always give then a squeeze to make sure they aren’t cold in the middle.

Devon

[reptile boi]

Hey,

Whats wrong with feeding snakes cooked rats? I always thaw my rats out by throwing them in a bucket with boiling water and leave them there for 30 mins, they dont split for me but shed a litte, i found that if i do the same with mice they will start balding.



Thanks,
Ben

[ydnic]

yeah I always use a bowl and then I just replace the water a couple times to make sure it is warm when I feed

[RepTylE]

dethaw? thaw means to heat up so if you dethaw then you are freezing it again.

[wetlander]

I always put the rodents in a ziplock with most of the air removed the toss the bag into a tub of hot tap water. If you weigh the bag down it works better. THis keeps the rat dry and I find it reduces the smell. I just can't stand the smell of wet rats defrosted in hot water.

If you have loose substrate, the dry fur doesn't stick to the material so you won't have that problem of your snake injesting substrate.,

Doug

[lostwithin]

The smell of rats thawing in water can be repelling, but it drives the snakes nuts , you let them thaw for an hour in water in the center of the snake room and you are sure to have every snake in that room just begging for a meal.

[jim mcallister]

I thought i read that it was not good for snakes to eat cooked rodents? Could someone verify this for me? I believe the raw meat is much more nutritional for them than cooked. Is it something with the way they absorb the calcium and digestion is easier also? :)

[AshleyL]

Originally posted by lostwithin
The smell of rats thawing in water can be repelling, but it drives the snakes nuts , you let them thaw for an hour in water in the center of the snake room and you are sure to have every snake in that room just begging for a meal.

I find the same thing happens when i feed my girl. As soon as I bring the rat in hot water into the room she's right out of her hide.
I guess the combo of tons of smell and heat close to her enclosure does the trick!
not the greatest for me, but meh, I'm not the one who has to eat it:D

[Shad0w]

Talking bout rodents that "split open"

Ugggg.. nothing more stinky!!!!

[justinO]

Originally posted by lostwithin
The smell of rats thawing in water can be repelling, but it drives the snakes nuts , you let them thaw for an hour in water in the center of the snake room and you are sure to have every snake in that room just begging for a meal.

Yeah, exactly....... and then there's the people who raise rats right in the room with snakes....
most think it drives the snakes crazy 24/7, others (who do it) say it's fine and the snakes don't act any different..... hmmmmmmmm.