F/T questions

[sapphire_moon]

I was thinking about leaving a f/t mouse in Prana's (my new baby female bp) cage to see if she will eat. I was wondering if it was ok to leave it in there for about 8 hours (time of sleeping), And refreeze it afterward(sp?) if not eaten.....Thank you in advance for your info!

[BoidKeeper]

Some people do it, leave it in over night and then if it's not gone they re-freeze it and try again at the next feeding. Some say that it can increase the risk of causing internal paracites. I don't know the excate sience behind it but I do know this, I don't re-freeze the meat I eat so I don't re-freeze the meat my snakes eat.
My two cents on the topic,
Trevor

[Linds]

Yup. Like Trevor said, refreezing isn't a great idea. It breaks down the prey item more and more. Ask anyone who has refrozen a prey item only to have it explode the next feeding how bad it smells! You can leave a prekilled item for 8 hours and then freeze it if not eaten in 8 hours. It will still be a bit stinky, but safer nonetheless.

[sapphire_moon]

So the only thing with refreezing a f/t is that it stinks? But would it be ok to do to see if the smell would induce a feed responce????

[Andy_G]

I also believe that it is more bacteria ridden if you decide to refreeze it, but I am unsure.

[Linds]

Exactly as Andy said, bacteria and more bacteria. This is what causes the smell, and breaks down the item.

[sapphire_moon]

But would it be harmful to my snake? Or is it just smelly?

[Mike177]

it could be harmfull. but i would just go to the pet store, buy one, kill it, leave it in there, and then refreze if you BP didnt eat, that would be a much better idea. personaly i never refreze preay items, i just dont think it is worth the risk.

[sapphire_moon]

Well I'm about 50-70 mi away from the nearest pet store, so thats not really an idea. And I do not buy live. I buy frozen.

[lilyskip]

I also think that most snakes won't go for a refrozen prey item, anyway. It's not that it smells more like a rat, but it smells more like a dead rat.

[Invictus]

Rigor mortis can set in in 2 hours on a mouse. This can cause such a pungent odour that even a snake won't recognize it as a mouse anymore. I wouldn't recommend it.

[sapphire_moon]

Well I left it overnight......And threw it away this morning. She still didn't eat. I'm going to try a live pinky this thursday.........I am hoping that will work.

[Linds]

Originally posted by Invictus
Rigor mortis can set in in 2 hours on a mouse. This can cause such a pungent odour that even a snake won't recognize it as a mouse anymore. I wouldn't recommend it.

Originally posted by lilyskip
I also think that most snakes won't go for a refrozen prey item, anyway. It's not that it smells more like a rat, but it smells more like a dead rat.

Actually the more dead the rat smells, sometimes stimulates feeding in stubborn feeders. My male BCC would refuse fresh killed and fresh frozen. He used to feed ok on fresher items, but for about a year he decided he would only want to take the rat if it was old and stinky I would have to leave it out for 12 hours, then freeze it for a few days, then thaw it out and let it sit overnight in his cage. Sometimes the more they smell, the more the snake wants it. I still strongly discourage refreezing though. By breaking down the rodent repeatedly, not only do you have the issues of bacteria but also loss nutrients.

[sapphire_moon]

But would you recomend to see if it would atleast start a feeding response?

[Linds]

I won't recommend refreezing - ever. Leaving a freshkilled item out and then freezing it is fine however, but after it is thawed if not eaten it gets tossed. :flick: