noob question...

[mako0248]

ok, i've never fed a snake before and i have a question. when feeding a snake a frozen mouse (specifically a pinkie) should i let it sit out for a little to "de-thaw" or just let it go from freezer to terrarium?

[diamondlil]

Thaw it in hot water, then pat it dry before feeding it to your snake with some kitchen roll. You can tell if it's thawed enough when it is floppy instead of stiff. My snakes prefer the thawed mouse quite warm, so if I'm feeding several snakes I'll pop the cooler mice back into hot water to warm through before feeding

[Dave123]

Well 2 things, Yes, you should thaw it out. I put it in a zip lock baggie and put it under warm water for about 30 minutes.

After that it is best to put the mouse in a separate container and then put the snake in there. If you put the mouse in the cage then there is a chance that the snake could ingest substrate.

[Flagg]

Definitely thaw first, and use hot tap water, not heated or microwaved water. You just want to thaw the mouse, not cook it.

[moonwalker]

i thaw and then gut load and dust in vitamin's, and then i brain them so the snakes will eat them faster

[ssmith_1187]

Moonwalker,

What do you gut load your mice with???

Regards,
Steve

[snakemom1961]

Moonwalker,

What do you gut load your mice with???

Regards,
Steve

Yeah what he asked. How do you gut load a dead mouse?

[Jcapicy]

I could see force feeding a dead mouse, but with what, some form of calcium or vitamins?

I am going to start the switch from live fuzzies to f/t today with my Anery so definately an interesting thread to see up today.

[moonwalker]

long nose syringe...fill it with gut load and stick in the butt and give it a little squeeze

long nose syringe= what you use to give human babies liquid vitamins

remember dont put to much and if you load from the mouth and not the butt you have to brain the mouse

[snakemom1961]

That is something I've never heard of being done before. Can I ask why you do that? And isn't gutload something you feed to crickets that will be fed to lizards and other insect feeding animals? I"m asking since I've never heard of anyone doing that before. Thanks for any information you can give us and maybe enlighten us on.

[ssmith_1187]

"m asking since I've never heard of anyone doing that before.

My turn...yeah...what she said :D

What is your formulation? This is the only type of gutload I'm familiar with...Cricket Food (http://www.cricketfood.com/product_info.php?cPath=21&products_id=38)

Regards,
Steve

[moonwalker]

i normally do it when i first get the snakes and plus they need D3... i have 2 charlamain lizards so i already have the gut load,,,,,you dont really have to gut load i think it makes them stronger and healthier

[diamondlil]

Where did you get the info that snakes need extra D3?

[ssmith_1187]

From the "Proceedings of the North American Veterinary Conference Volume 20”

“pets fed whole prey are less likely to develop nutritional problems as long as
the prey they consume have been adequately fed balanced diets.”

It pays to know what the rodent breeder if feeding their breeding stock.

Regards,
Steve

[ssmith_1187]

As a follow-up from the same cited source...

"Species that are most likely to develop nutritional problems are those which are true herbivores (greeniguanas) or omnivores (bearded dragons, waterdragons, box turtles)."

Regards,
Steve

P.S. "breeder if feeding"...should be "breeder is feeding"

[diamondlil]

From the "Proceedings of the North American Veterinary Conference Volume 20”

“pets fed whole prey are less likely to develop nutritional problems as long as
the prey they consume have been adequately fed balanced diets.”

It pays to know what the rodent breeder if feeding their breeding stock.

Regards,
Steve
But an appropriately sized mouse is whole prey :shrugs:

[ssmith_1187]

Diamond...I agree. This is the first I have heard about snakes needing Vitamin D3 :shrugs:

Everything I have read has stated they didn't need it given the fact they were indeed consuming whole prey items.

Regards,
Steve