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Can we reuse pinky?

C

ChristinaH

New member
Doof refused to eat tonight. Warmed the pinky up in hot water for a few minutes twice after initially thawing in hot water for around 20 minutes. It's been out of the freezer for over 3 hours now. Can we refreeze this pinky and try one more time with it or do we need a new pinky each time? Hate to waste the poor thing.
 
Once you thaw a mouse, the decomposition starts happening. DO NOT refreeze it. What you can do is either leave Doof in his feeding box over-night with the pinky. If you don't wanna do that, offer it to another snake or animal if you have one. If you don't have one, just throw it out.
 
Have you tried any of the "scenting" techniques that folks have talked about on this site? Sometimes making the pinky smell more appetizing helps. I have to put drops of canned tunafish oil/water on pinkies for one of my snakes. Might be worth a try before you throw it out.
 
I wouldn`t recommend that. Or would you refreeze an already thawed and warmed pizza? Throw it away. Better save than sorry.

Maybe Doof doesn`t like it because the mouse is cooked. 20min in hot water would thaw an adult rat, I think. The pinky must be pretty much done. In nature, the snakes doesn`t get cooked meals either.

Or maybe it was simply too hot. Everything over normal mouse body temperature isn`t necessary and the snake can possibly burn its mouth.
See here:
http://www.cornsnakes.com/forums/showthread.php?t=95731

I take the mice out of the freezer 2 hours bevore feeding and let them thaw at room temperature. Then they get a warm (about 40°C; 104F) water for about 10min.

I hope that helps.
Greetings,
Marike
 
Here is the skinny on this. I'm going to use my training in safe food handling to help. I also hold a food safety certificate. Even though this is a snake, you should handle and prepare its food with the same safety and care you would give your own.

As far as your pinkie mouse, everything is going to depend on how you handled the defrost and how long it has been defrosted and in the danger zone. When I say danger zone, I mean that temperature the is ideal for growing bacteria. The FSIS sets those temperatures in between 41F - 140F for a period of four hours. If your food item remains in that temp longer than four hours, then you need to cook it or discard it. You cannot refreeze it.

The only acceptable method of thawing raw food and then refreezing it is if you do it in the fridge or by using a method that ensures the food item doesn't exceed 41F or you cook it and then you can refreeze it. However, if you have thawed out a pinkie and your snake refuses to eat it and you have not exceeded your four hour time limit, you can put it in the fridge and keep it safely, for a period of one to three days. Bear in mind that before you use it again, you will need to use your nose and judgment to determine if it is still good. Just like any other meat, you can tell by look, touch and smell if it is still good. When in doubt throw it out!

Here is the break down
1. Properly thaw out the pinkie
2. Remember the four hour rule
3. The danger zone for the four hour rule is 41F-140F
4. You can save the food item, if your four hour rule has not been exceeded and you can get it out of the danger zone.
5. When in doubt throw it out!

Here is a link to the USDA FSIS website so you can check it out for your self:

http://www.fsis.usda.gov/FactSheets/Focus_On_Freezing/index.asp#top

Good luck and I hope I helped

Wayne
 
Sounds like a lot of trouble. If you have dozens of snakes, perhaps frugality is something that may benefit you. If you have a few snakes, then saving a pinky for later may be a risk with little reward.

When in doubt, TOSS THE PINKY!
 
Nroc said:
Sounds like a lot of trouble. If you have dozens of snakes, perhaps frugality is something that may benefit you. If you have a few snakes, then saving a pinky for later may be a risk with little reward.

When in doubt, TOSS THE PINKY!
Click to expand...

That may be the case. It sounds more complicated than it is and that's why I also added the, "When in doubt, throw it out" thingy. I have 50 snakes and if I have a pinkie or fuzzie that is refused, I can just pass it along to another animal. I haven't had to throw out anything yet.

Wayne
 
Thanks everyone. I was pretty sure it had to be thrown out, but my husband thought it could be reused. Always nice to be proven right! ;)
Next question is if we should try again tonight or wait a couple of days. Maybe he didn't want to eat last night because he had just pooped during feeding time?
 
ChristinaH said:
Thanks everyone. I was pretty sure it had to be thrown out, but my husband thought it could be reused. Always nice to be proven right! ;)
Next question is if we should try again tonight or wait a couple of days. Maybe he didn't want to eat last night because he had just pooped during feeding time?
Click to expand...

Wait till your next regular feeding day. It won't hurt your snake and that way you don't stress him out.

Good Luck

Wayne
 
I personally do not think .10 to .12 cents is worth the trouble it may cause. Like said if you do not have someone else to feed it to throw it away and try again tomarrow with a fresh one.
 
ordering them online you can get them pretty cheap. Downside is you have to order A LOT for it to be worth the shipping cost. 3 pinkies for $5 isnt to bad for a localy owned store. Average for petsmart in my area is 6 pinkies for 11$ or I can go to one of the smaller stores and get them for 1.39 each. There is almost always a banner ad over on the right side of the page for ordering mice online.
 
That deal is at our Petco. I think it's our best bet, because I really don't want a bunch of mousicles taking up all my freezer space. ;) We've only got the one little snake right now.
Glad to know I'm getting a pretty good deal!
 
ChristinaH said:
That deal is at our Petco. I think it's our best bet, because I really don't want a bunch of mousicles taking up all my freezer space. ;) We've only got the one little snake right now.
Glad to know I'm getting a pretty good deal!
Click to expand...
Ehh... wouldn't say it's a "good" deal. Just that you're not being fleeced as badly as you could be. Check your area for exotic or reptile specialty stores; you can usually find frozen pinks by the dozen or individually for ~$.90. Checking craigslist for mouse breeders can score some good deals too, and you can buy as many or as few as you need.

Also; a vaccuum-packed bag of frozen pinks from most online stores will take up less space than an individual human frozen meal.
 
Oh, I'm so thankful I live where I do... Repticon comes so often I can get my fill of frozens without paying shipping. (though I went in with a couple of people on my last order of pinkies and mail ordered)
 
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