[Frozen/Thawed] Disinfecting food prior to thaw

[MLynch]

Anyone else disinfect thier snakes' food before thawing? Somehow I've gotten in to the habit of spraying down my rats with Chlorhexidine, and then rinsing thoroughly prior to thawing. I realize it's not entirely necessary, but it's just something I do now. ...have for the past few months.

[dapozer]

Re: Disinfecting food prior to thaw

theory behind this? I though the freezing process almost kills everything and why the spray down. I am always into learning new tricks.
shawn

[jhsulliv]

Re: Disinfecting food prior to thaw

Ehhhh I wouldn't do that. There is no way you are rinsing that stuff off. It sticks extremely well and will actually last on skin for up to 2 days. It's quite irritating to mucous membranes and not something that should be ingested. We need some bacteria! As long as you handle the rats with common sense and don't let them sit out at room temp too long you are fine.

[MLynch]

Re: Disinfecting food prior to thaw

I found a rat with poop on its feet before thawing a while back, and gave it a spraying... The practice kind of stuck after that.

[MLynch]

Re: Disinfecting food prior to thaw

Ehhhh I wouldn't do that. There is no way you are rinsing that stuff off. It sticks extremely well and will actually last on skin for up to 2 days. It's quite irritating to mucous membranes and not something that should be ingested. We need some bacteria! As long as you handle the rats with common sense and don't let them sit out at room temp too long you are fine.

Thanks Joley!

[dapozer]

Re: Disinfecting food prior to thaw

i know when i use it to clean cages it is hard for me to breath in, i don't like the snakes to be anywhere close to it until it has dried of wiped off.

[jhsulliv]

Re: Disinfecting food prior to thaw

It's hard for us humans to think about, but think how much poop is inside that rat anyway that the snake is eating. It's icky to us, but we try to be a rather sterile species and that isn't always a good thing. If you handle your rats appropriately and thaw them quickly and feed them promptly I think you have little to worry about.

[bterrill]

Re: Disinfecting food prior to thaw

I've never done it. I don't do frozen much though except rabbits I usually prekill (thanks to lack of co2 chamber :O).

Even with the frozen I have bought here and there I just thaw it out.

[MLynch]

Re: Disinfecting food prior to thaw

It's hard for us humans to think about, but think how much poop is inside that rat anyway that the snake is eating. It's icky to us, but we try to be a rather sterile species and that isn't always a good thing.

Very good point! Thanks again, Joley.