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What is the best and safest way to thaw frozen mice?

JoeysHerps0105

JoeysHerps0105

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I've looked everywhere online and I seem to find everyone saying atleast 2 different ways to thaw out frozen mice. For the last few feedings I just let cool water run over them as if I'm defrosting meat for myself but I was told on another forum that this wasnt a good way. I just wanted to get an idea of how everyone does it.
 
i just allow mine to thaw with the room temperature, which is around 82-86 in the snake room. it takes about 2-3 hours to fully thaw.
 
I thaw my overnight in the frig & then fill the thaw tub up with hot water. The tub goes on a heat mat while I feed.

I have a decent amount of animals to feed & they're spread through out the house so I need the heat mat to keep them from getting cold again.

From a (human)food safety standpoint, thawing should be done either in the frig or under running cold water.

I also have a hair dryer that I use when I'm switching a stubborn live eater to f/t.
 
I thaw mine in cold water. Once thawed they go into hot water to warm up. The hot water I use is hot but still cool enough that I can stick my hand in and leave it without pain.

I have found that if you thaw them in too hot of water it makes them more likely to burst. The snake will still eat it but it's a mess.
 
In food preparation classes (for restaurants etc) they teach not to thaw any meat in warm water as it can encourage bacterial growth, and increase the risk of food poisoning. Safest way is to thaw in cold (tap temp) water or even in the fridge if you have time.

Personally I thaw inside a zip-lock bag (so as not to remove scent by direct water contact) in a basin of cold tap water, and serve at room temperature. (can never decide on the garnish though....:D).

If I was in a colder place I might put the fully thawed and still bagged animal into warm water for 10 minutes just to warm the outer skin.
 
I put them in the fridge overnight and that works fine.

The worst thing I've ever seen was when I forgot a rat under a heat light and it cooked for a few hours. I picked it up by the tail and the thing sort of rolled out of its skin and onto a bunch of my favorite records ... God, just thinking about it makes me want to gag.
 
i put my frozen feeders in a ziplock bag, then throw them in hot water (like a low/just starting to boil temp) and put a coffee mug on top of them in the bucket to keep them from floating.
 
Thaw mine right in hot water, and then I use a blow dryer to heat up the head (and get off the excess water, most of my guys hate being dripped on :p ) My snakes were more excited than me when I got a new hair dryer for Christmas this year! lol
 
You can also make a defroster out of an old cooler, just like you do incubators.

I've been meaning to try it out but it's pretty far down my to do list.
 
I've done it a couple different ways. I used to stick them all in a ziplock bag and put them in a bowl of water (I've tried a variety of temps) until they thaw, and then I'd stick them under a ceramic heat emitter until warmed up. I've also done the fridge route (though, I normally do that when I suddenly have to leave before they're thawed).

Now, though, I just stick them under a ceramic heat emitter and rotate them every so often so they thaw evenly. The only downside to this is when I forget about them. Yay, splodey rodents! I usually set a timer, now, so I don't forget.
 
Helenthereef said:
Worst splody rodent I ever got was when I experimented with "Rat-in-a-microwave". :ack2:
Not recommended.....
Click to expand...

Gag!! been there, done that....I still can't get the memory of that smell out of my head.

Bucket hot water, refresh hot water as needed. Drop warmed rat onto a towel, dab off excess water and serve with tongs.
 
Some one should invent a 'rodent defroster' that warms them up to a nice 100F, and keeps them there. :rofl:

My ball pythons do not often care to take room temperature rodents--they're only interested if their heat pits can pick them up well.
 
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