What is the best way to thaw out rodents for feeding?
I prefer to let the rodents thaw to room temperature either overnight if I plan on feeding in the morning, or during the day if I’m going to feed at night. It is important to break the vacuum seal on the bag before thawing as the vacuum will pull blood out of the noses of the thawing rodents, which can be messy. When I’m ready to feed, I place the pre-thawed rodents in front of a space heater, or under a heat lamp, until they are warm to the touch. Another method is to submerse the rodents in a bucket of warm water. This can be done while they are still in the bag or out of the bag. If you are thawing multiple feeders, you may need to re-warm the water several times. If your feeders get wet during this process, dry them off gently using paper towels. Be careful not to soak them for too long — it is easy to “over-heat” your feeders using this method, which leads to a weakening of the belly skin. A third method used by some keepers is to defrost rodents or warm pre-thawed rodents in a m
