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Cutting pinkies

SmokinAFuente

SmokinAFuente

This space for rent.
I read on here a few months ago about cutting (back before I joined) and I've been trying it ever since. I just want to make sure I'm doing it right. Here's a couple pictures of me working my culinary magic on some of rodent pro's finest.

cut 1

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cut 2

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cut 3

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cut 4

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dinner is prepared.

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Any tips or suggests, let me know. Thanks.
 
I've tried cutting the fuzzies as well, although I just use a razor blade and make one straight cut down the back. I don't know if it is really needed but I figure it increases the scent of the mouse a little more and maybe makes my snakes more interested in feeding.
 
Looks about right to me. You certainly get enough practice, eh?

I cut my fuzzies, too, because of the percieved aid in digestion it provides...FWIW.
 
Looks like you're doing well. I cut ALL age mice, personally. You might need something sharper if you plan to cut adult mice, though.
 
ok now umm.. is it better to cut them above the head or where you are cutting them, and is it good to do that everytime, does that just help with scent?
 
tyflier said:
Looks about right to me. You certainly get enough practice, eh?

I cut my fuzzies, too, because of the percieved aid in digestion it provides...FWIW.
Click to expand...

Some times it seems like too much. LOL


Plissken said:
Looks like you're doing well. I cut ALL age mice, personally. You might need something sharper if you plan to cut adult mice, though.
Click to expand...

The shears are from a local beauty shop and do ok on the fuzzes. If they don't work out on the adults, I'll go back to the razor blade (and hope I don't lose a finger - LOL).


spoolin83 said:
ok now umm.. is it better to cut them above the head or where you are cutting them, and is it good to do that everytime, does that just help with scent?
Click to expand...

Here is the short answer. From what I've read here, cutting helps with digestion which lets the snake grow faster. I do it every time. Now, when there hit adult size I'll more than likely stop. Here are a few threads that get deeper into how/why it works. Hope it helps.

 
The shears are from a local beauty shop and do ok on the fuzzes. If they don't work out on the adults, I'll go back to the razor blade (and hope I don't lose a finger - LOL).
Click to expand...

I use those curved fingernail/embroidery scissors. You can pick them up in the health and beauty section of the local Wal-Mart or in the crafting section. Cheap, sharp, and safe...
 
Looks like exactly how I do it. Man, you're feeding an army!! I slit everything, adults, too. I use a pair of suture scissors after my gold-plated manicure scissors started to rust...

Nanci
 
Thanks tyflier & Nanci for the ideas!



When mine get dull, maybe I'll just brake down and get this set .......








allheart_1930_49889527


:roflmao:
 
Does it make a difference if you cut before or after thawing? I've always cut mine before thawing as it's less messy.
 
I do mine after- otherwise they'd be "leaking" into the thawing water! I wouldn't call it messy at all.

Nanci
 
Nanci said:
I do mine after- otherwise they'd be "leaking" into the thawing water! I wouldn't call it messy at all.

Nanci
Click to expand...

I thaw mine in a bag, not directly in the water, so it ends up being less messy for me.
 
Shade said:
I thaw mine in a bag, not directly in the water, so it ends up being less messy for me.
Click to expand...

same here, i heat up the water put the mice in a bag and then put the bag in the water
 
I don't bother with the water. I'll pull what the snakes need from the freezer and let them set a little (~ 1/2 hour or so) then cut them. To me (the way I cut) it seems easier to get under the skin with out hitting the guts when there thawed. After there cut, they get put under a lamp (75 watt bulb and ~8" of space) that slowly heats them up with out cooking them. This also will keep the last ones to be feed out just as warm as the first!
 
After last night, I am going to be a _little_ more careful about how deep the cuts are...I fed my Eastern Hoggy two white pinks. (Weird fuzzies that I got that are 3 grams, but fully-furred) I'd slit them like usual. Addy has to be assist-fed- I press the pink up against her nose, she opens her mouth, I stuff it in and poke it down and hold her mouth closed until she swallows. Well, the last pink exploded and guts and liver were coming out, and oozing out the sides of her mouth. It was so gross. :puke01: I washed my hands, a lot, and even washed Addy because it was all over her, but it still seemed like my hands smelled like mouse guts all night. :puke01:

Nanci
 
Shade said:
Does it make a difference if you cut before or after thawing? I've always cut mine before thawing as it's less messy.
Click to expand...

I cut after. I take the mouse out of the hot water, dry it, snip snip, and off to the snake it goes. :) Never found any problems doing it like that.
 
As a cook by profession i know that thawing any type of meat by means other then a fridge or cold water is not a good thing.

I also keep in mind that a snake is a cold blooded animal thus cold food probably isn't a good thing for it. With that in mind, is it a bad thing to feed a snake cold food? If it were cold would it even eat it and if so would it maybe regurg. it? Does it have to be warm?

Maybe im looking into this too far but "better safe then sorry" as they say.
 
I thought about cutting pinks for my snake, but i have a couple concerns-

i read on a post somewhere (search function- no idea how long ago it was)
that once you start cutting the mice, if you stop you might get regurges?


I'm wary of this because I may have to leave my snake with a friend for a couple months next year....
My friend is currently watching and learning how to take care of my snake and no doubt will take good care of her if need be,
but i doubt cutting slits up dead mice will happen if i leave Tolmie with him.

I have no problem doing it, but i don't want to put my friend in a situation he's uncomfortable with..?


also, does cutting mean that the eat/digest/poop cycle happens faster, or does it only aid in growth rates?

right now Tolmie takes about 3 days to become somewhat active again and poops on the 4th or 5th day. Would that be lessened with cutting?
 
maverick_8teen said:
I also keep in mind that a snake is a cold blooded animal thus cold food probably isn't a good thing for it. With that in mind, is it a bad thing to feed a snake cold food? If it were cold would it even eat it and if so would it maybe regurg. it? Does it have to be warm?
Click to expand...

I think it's less to do with the prey "warming up" the snake and more to do with getting the snake to eat in the first place. The mouse appears more "living" when it's nice and warm, as a mammal should be.

As for regurges caused by cold prey - I know that if the snake itself is too cold it can regurge as it can't digest adequately. But I don't know if the temperature of the eaten mouse counts for much. Inside the body of the snake, I would think that however warm the snake is, the food would be the same by default.
 
maverick_8teen said:
As a cook by profession i know that thawing any type of meat by means other then a fridge or cold water is not a good thing..
Click to expand...

I've been wondering about this ever since I started keeping corn snakes. Warm water thawing seems to be the approved method for thawing mice but I remember my mom drilling it into my head as a kid to NEVER thaw meat with warm water due to bacteria growth.
Are snakes not affected by these bacteria perhaps?
 
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