Keeping mice warm

[Snipes]

To thaw mice out, i put them in a ziplock and in warm water for fifteen minutes. However, within a minute or two of getting out of the water, it is cold. Any suggestions on how to keep it warm for a longer time?

 

[mybabyhasfangs]

Warm it up under a light bulb for a few minutes before feeding, just make sure not to do it too long or you'll end up with a fried mouse. Make sure it's not too hot for the snake.
Christina

 

[Dom]

Leave the mouse in the bag an put into another cup of hot water. If it is cooling down fast it's probably because the core of the mouse hasn't warmed up. I don't like putting them under a bulb because if something happens and you get distracted you could end up with a stinking mess (had it happen before). Also the water will heat all around and through the mouse.

 

[Bigboy]

If you are feeding thawed out mice there is no reason to worry if they begin to cool. Corpses do that and the feeding response you are going to trigger will be from movement (you teasing) and smell, not heat. Also, its best to just let the body cool. If your animal doesn''t eat it then you may want to freeze it again and warming up a corpse is only speeding up the process of decay. I've had bad experiences with lightbulbs. The kind where I walk away and come back into the room and can't figure out what smells so darn good. and then with stomach growling and mouth salivating I see the bubbling and desicated body of an overdone rodent. That's about when lunch comes up.

 

[nightbreed]

With some snakes - pythons etc - the heat emanating from a thawed rodent is a major trigger for the feeding response, they don't have those heat sensing pits for nothing
When I feed my snakes, if I don't gently warm their prey they get all excited by the smell and the movement but don't seem to know quite where their food is and they seem hesitant to strike, bless em.
Warm prey is a whole different ball game, BANG no hesitation

Snipes, what snakes/animals are you feeding?

 

[Snipes]

im feeding a baby corn. It hasnt eaten for a few months now.

 

[nightbreed]

In that case I doubt the temp of the prey is a real problem, it might be the temps your keeping the snake at.
I have to say, I don't have and have never had a cornsnake so I can't really offer any advice.
There are plenty of people on the boards who can help you though.

Good luck

 

[Dom]

Many colubrids will instinctively go off their food during the winter time. If the snake is healthy and it's last "poos" looked healthy you may want to cool it down for a couple of months instead of trying to fight nature. You can keep it in the 50F range and it will be fine. This will allow it to maintain body weight also instead of burning up all its reserves at a high temp. When you warm it up again it should be ravenous. I have raised and bred cornsnakes in the past.

 

[Snipes]

when should i bring the temps up again?

 

[Dom]

In a couple of months. Make sure the snake has a water bowl. They can still be quite active at that temp. Just make sure it hasn't eaten for about 4-6 weeks before you cool it down so that it has flushed it's digestive system of feces.

 

[Snipes]

If the snake is healthy and it's last "poos" looked healthy

He seems pretty healthy. I found this in the water bowl just now when i cleaned it out. Does it look healthy?

 

[snakeheaven89]

try to let your mice defrost at room temperature for an hour minimum, but longer if possible, make sure ur mouse is not cold at all and do not defrost in microwave(cost u a new microwave lol), in water(mice ssplit/explode on impact or wen constricted). as i sed try and let them defrost naturally at room temp for an hour + this is best for the mouse and snake(s)



Jonathan

 

[ingas866]

Finely some good advice. I have had the best feedings on mice that have deen left out at room temp. Yes you need some heat for corns that have not eatten dead before but if they are feed that from the start then on need to go over room temp.