Yet another F/T prey question from me. : (

[Kilhd]

Ok.. I have asked many questions about this and tried many of the things replied to me but still nothing is working. My Burmese (roughly 4.5 feet now) will eat live AND pre-killed prey with no problems at all. When I try F/T small rats though, NO GO WHAT-SO-EVER! It is getting very frustrating and I am about 97% positive the reason he wont go for the F/T is because of the temp. level of the prey isn't equal to that of a pre-killed rodent. Now the actual question.. How do I get the temp. of the thawed rat to about the same as if I had just killed it? I want to switch from pre-killed to F/T b/c I don't like to kill the rats myself and I get F/T MUCH cheaper. So anyone has tips for getting the temp just right? I have tried hot water, scenting from live, chicken broth, let the rat sit in open air for 6-8hrs, then warm with lamp.. I have had to toss out about 17 of 20 frozen rats. : ( TIA

(also posted on kingsnake burm forum)

[redtails]

After thaw, you can put in micro for about 5 secs, no longer than that or it will burst. That basically warms it right up to about 90* or so

[Kilhd]

Hi redtails.. please forgive my ignorance but are you serious? out of like 100 posts about this you are the 1st and only person I have seen use a microwave. I am weary about people telling me info on i-net but I figure NERD forum is trustworthy.. but dont want rat guts on my micro. either. lol :)

[redtails]

Well, let me give you my experience with this. I read that stuff somewhere and it kinda made sense so I figured I'd try it. I put the mouse(adult) in the micro for 30 secs thinking that wasn't long, but about 15 secs into it I heard a popping noise and found out that the guts blew out the stomach into the napkin and the thing was boiling hot! Basically the theory is that the micro cooks by sending the water molecule bouncing around inside the thing creating heat(that's why meat comes out dry), so if you defrost the thing in hot water then nuke for 2-5 secs, it's skin should be as warm as if you put it under the lamp for 20 minutes after defrost.

[Kilhd]

K, I will try that then.. 3 secs 1st probably. Thanks!

[jordanm]

Just let it sit out overnight to thaw, heat your water up to the appropiate temp and THEN put the rat in there. Thus it will get the right temperature and wont blow up all over your microwave.

[Hennek]

Microwaves can be tricky because they heat things up from the inside out...so the animal may feel cool on the outside yet be BOILING HOT on the inside...just be VERY careful.

If I'm in a hurry I use the microwave to start to defrost rats before putting them in hot water (in a plastic bag of course)...only bad thing is their tails will start too cook after only ~10 sec and smell pretty bad.

[baxterr1]

I have similar problems with 2 of my burms, one has made the switch and the other Im still trying with, just be patient and keep trying, you can use the microwave but it unevenly heats the rat and the tail or feet might be scalding hot and the whole belly opening up can be an issue....but I must admit it has worked for me on several occasion, however it is a real fine art, if you can call heating up rodents in the mic a fine art

[grunt]

how long has it been since last feed? it took me 3 months of one of mine refusing f/t before it was hungry enough to finally take it.

[Kilhd]

I waited 5-6months once. and he still didnt want it = /

[BoaMan Jon]

Just use hot water. The micro can do nasty things to a rat and can make them too hot. My friend uses the micro and he had a snake go off feed for some time because the rat was far too hot and the time he went to eat. He got it down, but it hurt and it didn't feed for a month or so after. I've never had a problem with a freezer bag and a HUGE plastic cup of hot water.

[JERICO]

Use a hair dryer to warm the prey, a lot of people have success with that.;)