How to Thaw Frozen Rodents for Snake Food

Snakes can be fascinating pets, and are relatively easy to care for.

Snakes make fascinating pets and are relatively low-maintenance animals to keep. All snakes are carnivores, and most pet species feed on rodents. Many snake owners choose to feed their pets dead mice or rats rather than live. Prekilled, frozen rodents are available from most pet stores. These work well for feeding snakes, but frozen rodents must be thawed completely and properly in order to provide your pet snake with the proper diet.

Things You'll Need

• Frozen rodents in a zipper-lock plastic bag
• Small bucket
• Hot tap water

Instructions

1. Place the frozen rodents, inside a zipper-lock plastic bag, into the bucket. Be sure the bag is tightly zipped.

2. Fill the bucket approximately half-full with hot tap water. Allow the frozen rodents to sit in the hot water until the water cools to near room temperature.

3. Drain the water from the bucket. Feel the rodents for temperature and softness. Rodents should be warm to the touch and completely thawed (soft) before offering them to your snake. If the rodents are cool or still partially frozen, repeat the hot water step until fully thawed.

References

• Pet Snakes: Feeding Your Pet Snake
• Reptile Knowledge: Corn Snake Feeding