I think I am not doing this right. This last rat had blood coming out of its nose. I let it defrost at room temperature overnight, then ran it under warm water in a water proof bag. Was it too warm? I read a post today about how you can burn the stomach of the rat. Is the blood a sign? I have seen this before when I left one in Roxy's cage and I am assuming I cooked the rat on her heating pad. Pooh! I saw temperature recommendations for the rat as well, but I suppose that wouldn't matter if the snake is a shy eater and munches well after the rat has been put in the cage. I want what is best for my girl, so I will ask.......how do I take the rat's temperature? EEEWWW. Rectally, I suppose.?!

I sometimes get frozen rats with blood discharge. I always defrost them at room temp for a few hours, rinse off the blood then place them under a heat lamp for a few minutes.
I really don't think my snakes care if they're warm or not, I just make sure they are not still cold prior to feeding. I wouldn't worry about the actual temp of the rat.

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Ken
"Some people spend an entire lifetime wondering if they made a difference in the world. But, the Marines don't have that problem." -- Ronald Reagan

I use a infrared thermometer to check the surface temp. As for the blood, i've seen it on a number of the mice i thaw out at work to feed to the snakes, i may be wrong, but it think it has to do with one of two things, The way the mouse is killed. (Co2 is the most humane, and i beleive is what is usualy used, but some companies still may smack there head with a mallet or such.)

Or, and what i think may be more likely,
blood is 70% plus water, when you freeze water it expands.
Pop goes the blood vessels.

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"Nobody can do Everything, but Everybody can do Something."

I too just put the rats out on a plate in the morning and let them come to room temperature.
I have seen blood on a number of rats, including those I know are done in with CO2.
I think its just one of those things.

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Merlin,
What's Life Without A Little Magic!

Thank you! My day was in bad need of a chuckle, and you hit the spot! Sound like one of my kids! It sounds reasonable.

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Kat

lol. Glad i could help you with that laugh.
Were i to "put my money on it", its what i would go with happening.

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"Nobody can do Everything, but Everybody can do Something."

i soak the rats in hot water and they thaw in no time the snakes take them right away, the boa used to eat only live but she now made the transition

Thank you all. Lots of reasonable advice there. I hope to goodness my poor little rats aren't being pounded on the head. I am trusting that I am paying a fair price (pound for pound I don't pay that much for the meat I feed my family) for clean, healthy and humanely killed rats. Roxy didn't eat last night's offering and that one had blood from the mouth as well, which I wiped clean. She was just about ready and investigating but that was at 5:00 a.m. when my alarm goes off and she is a private eater. She has the eating habits of Nicole Ritchie or Paris Hilton. I tried to tell her the "herione chic" look is out. She is not listening to me.