Smelly Rat Pups ?!

[CewlCat]

Hi Ya

I need advise on "smelly" tawed/frozen rat pups, I went through the normal process of preparing pebbles rat pup for him to eat (process provided by Clay's fantastic guide), I noticed an abnormal stench of this rat pup. I thought it was me going nuts and fed it to the ever hungry Pebbles, he finished it off quite quick.
Will this one pup cause Pebbles to become sick ???

I bought 12 frozen rat pups, they are frozen (sealed in shrink wrap and a tupperware container) for a month now. Seems that they have gone "bad" in some way.

I am going to through them out and restock, but the main issue is what this rat will have on Pebbles.

Please advise

Best regards

CewlCat

[LORI]

Re: Smelly Rat Pups ?!

Sounds like your pups went bely up on ya. Definately not something I would contemplate feeding to any of my snakes...BUT ya already have done that I see anyways..UGH. NOW as for will it affect your snake ? Hmm.. Could..or could not. A lot of factors take play in the outcome of it all actually. First off, with the pup being rancid like that. It is most likely going to take a lot less for the pup to get to the point that it is really rotten and have any ill affect on your snake..if it does at all even. Basically.. If it does not get digested really fast, then it could go rotten inside of your snake's digestive tract and cause gas among one thing. That could cause bloating for your snake also if it happens. The snake could regurge the pup possibly too. That in itself can lead to other problems for the snake also.
Bottom line.. If the prey does not seem to be "right"..Do NOT feed it to your snake at all..EVER.
You did that, so just watch your snake closely for a few days and hope that the prey gets digested before it causes any type of propblem for the snake.

[clone]

Re: Smelly Rat Pups ?!

I haven't had smelly rats but I've seen discoloration on some rats. One or two had a yellowish tint on a white rat. I don't know if thats a problem or not.

[CewlCat]

Re: Smelly Rat Pups ?!

Thanks alot for the information :-[ I realy appreciate it, I will watch Pebbles very close for the the next few days. I yust prays that he will be OKAY.

Thanks guys.

[Doug]

Re: Smelly Rat Pups ?!

HI,
Had problems with pet store rats in the past, many times they ship large shipments air freight to an airport and wait a bit to long to pick them up, and will find them all thawed in the container so they plop them in the ice chest and refreeze them sour rats. rat pups thaw really fast..
 So here's my adivce go in with a friend and contact a good rodent breeder and order 6mos of food for your boa.  split the cost with your friend ,,They will be frozen hard and very clean from most breeders, you'll save a ton of money if you order online. I like rodent pro, some like cajun mice, there's more.
 My rats that i order  are one size larger than the petsore rats. just weined on line are small at the petstore and small online are usally mediums.. and so on.. the jumbos I feed my guyana are huge they have  clean eye's look like they are asleep no urine or stains on the rats, when they thaw they smell like a clean just killed rat no sour smell.. sour means bad , cause the bacteria are starting to decay the animal..  most snakes can eat pretty nasty stuff, i just don't ask mine too..
I ordered about 98 dollars worth this weeks 30 med 20 small and about 16 jumbo's the shipping was about 40 bucks air freight to my door. 16 jumbo's at the petstore would be 80 bucks and they would proably be only large rats.
but i still save money over them petsore rats...
  psps rodentpro only feeds rat food to their rodents..it shows in their coats and muscle mass.
 doug
      This Jumbo rat cost me 1.89  ...
very clean very fresh.  I barely got out of the cage and she was going for it.she usally waits until i leave the room not today... hehe that rat would be 5.89 at my local petsore and would proably be all smelly.

post lunch  one month later after two,, I feed my sub adults monthly    urpppp!!!!


 

[clone]

Re: Smelly Rat Pups ?!

Doug, does it bother you that rodentpro is not vacuum packed?

[Doug]

Re: Smelly Rat Pups ?!

HI,
I usally only order a couple months worth of rats.
They have on occasion had small amounts of freezer burn.
It would be better to buy vaccumed sealed rodents, it would proably be worth the extra cost.
doug

[LucyABCC]

Re: Smelly Rat Pups ?!

which companies do offer vacuum packed bags? does cajun mice? ???

[clone]

Re: Smelly Rat Pups ?!

I think rodentpro is the only one who doesn't offer vacuum packed but the rest do.