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Need to cut up mouse

JWilliams

JWilliams

New member
My Snow stripe is on hoppers, but the only thing the store had was adult mice. Its huge! So I was wondering what would be the best way/size to cut up the mouse.
Thanks in advance :)
 
I believe most if not all suggest cutting while the mouse is still frozen. As for size.. cut it into pieces that would match the current size the snake is on, I would guess.

Maybe someone else can chime in with better instructions. =P
 
my guess is what Nook said , cut the mouse in it's frozen state . But I imagine that after you thaw it ,it's gonna be messy to feed your snake .
 
I'd skip this weeks feeding and wait til next week, and when they have hoppers buy a few extra's for when your store runs out...Your snake will be fine and you'll thank me...especially if you do decide to cut one in half ;)
 
Unforunately we have no other option :( The store said they have a hard time getting hoppers, and another store only stocks on pinkies, fuzzies, and adults.
 
You could always go down a size and feed the smaller meals. Personally I would rather do that than cut up one. e.e .. I know some feed multiple smaller meals to make up for the one larger meal.
 
Nook said:
You could always go down a size and feed the smaller meals. Personally I would rather do that than cut up one. e.e .. I know some feed multiple smaller meals to make up for the one larger meal.
Click to expand...

Once again ....I agree with Nook .
 
A hopper mouse isn't all that big of a size difference from adults from what I can figure out.

I'd do what the above poster said with cutting the head off, the front legs and torso together, and the hips and tail. I'm unsure if you'd need to cut it all lengthwise though.


Perhaps you should invest in buying in bulk, buying smaller items, or raising your own.
 
I have delt with halves of mice to just never had to do the cutting. I would cut while frozen as all ready said then put it on a paper towel to thaw then set the whole paper towel where even you feed it so its not bad messy having to touch the mouse. or you can cut it then just drop it in the feeding tub if you use one and your put your mouse in first. Nitelion
 
JWilliams said:
Unforunately we have no other option :( The store said they have a hard time getting hoppers, and another store only stocks on pinkies, fuzzies, and adults.
Click to expand...
Order online?

Nook said:
You could always go down a size and feed the smaller meals. Personally I would rather do that than cut up one. e.e .. I know some feed multiple smaller meals to make up for the one larger meal.
Click to expand...

Could do this with appropriate size..rather than cutting. Check the Munson Plan. I think two fuzzies would equal one hopper.
http://www.cornsnakes.com/forums/showthread.php?t=50106
 
You could try weighing your mice. If the snake is eating one hopper = 12 grams, feed two fuzzies = 6 x 2 = 12 grams.

:santa:
 
Or just cut it,lol you'll be fine. I cut in half instead of lengthwise because it's easier when your using a bigger mouse. You can feed the other half next week so no wasting and look into ordering online or purchasing feeders from a show. Much cheaper and if you buy a lot you get great deals. They keep frozen easily for a year and will save you a ton of time and money:)
 
Thanks for all the help. We can't order online, we don't have a credit card nor will we be getting one. There aren't any reptile shows here, and I don't think my husband would let me go even if there was, I'm a sucker for reptiles and we wouldn't have the means to care for more with already having two and having two daughters. We did cut the mouse in half, then that half was cut length wise. That piece weighted as much as one of the hoppers did last week, so it worked out.

Again, Thanks for the advice :)
 
I have a central plains milk snake that is too small for hoppers and not going to grow much longer. I feed him 2 pinkies at one feeding and he is plump as a Thanksgiving turkey!

All my guys missed one feeding because of turkey day. But the majority of them are kinda chunky anyway so I didn't feel I was being that cruel to skip a feeding until the next week.

Devon
 
Pal-O-Mine said:
I have a central plains milk snake that is too small for hoppers and not going to grow much longer. I feed him 2 pinkies at one feeding and he is plump as a Thanksgiving turkey!

All my guys missed one feeding because of turkey day. But the majority of them are kinda chunky anyway so I didn't feel I was being that cruel to skip a feeding until the next week.

Devon
Click to expand...


I wouldn't worry about one missed feeding. Snakes are adapted to going without for periods of time when prey are scarce. You could always turn the heat off too for the period of time you won't be able to feed and reduce their metabolism.

Your Central Plains milk might be too small for hoppers, but big enough for fuzzies. I'd rather feed fuzzies than pinkies, because they're more nutritious. I only feed pinkies, if they can't take anything else...

;)
 
I dont know if im a little late but once you cut it while its frozen throw it back in the freezer get a hot plate and i mean HOT take the mouse and press the cut end up against it for about 4-5 minutes this will stop the bleeding for the most part. then throw it back in the freezer for about an hour then whola its a little less messy on feeding time.
 
The only local pet store here is always running out of fuzzies and hoppers. They don't carry weanlings and their adult mice are like XL adult mice (usually breeders). Anyway when they were out I would just get a few pinkies to feed instead. Then when they would get more in I would buy at least 5 at a time so I didn't have to go back for a few weeks. After my snakes got bigger I got fed up with the pet store and just bought mice in bulk online. I'll have extra but it's better than not having any at all.

Anyway next time don't be afraid to feed a few pinkies or fuzzies instead. You can even mix them.
 
I had to do this once myself. Cut off the head and forlegs with rib cage, feed that as one feeding and give 2-3 extra days between feeds and at least an extra day before handling after feeding. It will be a bit more than a hopper but not as much as a weanling. Then take the rest of the body and cut lengthwise, I removed the tail and tossed it, that is up to you. When I fed the body and back legs I set on a hot plate (heated in hot tap water) and put really hot water in a zip baggie then set the baggie on top the mouse reheating as needed to defrost. Then fed off the plate. (be sure to use a desert plate not a dinner plate) Some of the frozen mouse places take paypal, if you have a bank account you can have a paypal account.
 
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