hi i was wondering, how do you tell the difference between a good and bad mice? like are there any smell or anything that i should look out for in a bad rotten mouse? so far 2 of my snakes on pinkie regurge and one on hoppers kept hers in. was wondering if my pinkie went bad or what. any advice?
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How to tell between good or bad mice?
- Thread starter blackdice
- Start date
MysticExotics
(formerly NWHeather)
I've never encountered "bad mice", but I would think that there would maybe be some discoloration, &/or smell.
How long did the pinkies sit out before they ate them?
How long did the pinkies sit out before they ate them?
MysticExotics
(formerly NWHeather)
I wouldn't think they would go bad, but I don't leave mine in the water that long. I'm usually thawing out about 13 (ranging from small pinkies to hoppers), I use hot tap water, & it's usually about 12-15 minutes before they're thawed & a little warm.
How old are the snakes eating the pinkies?
How old are the snakes eating the pinkies?
Susan
Go Ahead, Make My Day!
A pinky thaws in hot water in just a matter of a minute or two. If it sat in the water for 30-40 minutes, it may have gone a little off, but still should not be the cause of a regurge. How many meals have your 2 hatchlings eaten so far? Were the pinkies too large for them? What temps are they kept at? Did the hatchlings come from the same source?
Dorgrim
Science nerd, Art nerd
some times new hatchlings have trouble keeping their food down. A technique friends and i do for any iffy situations is taking a sharp razor or scissors ( i have a pair just for my snakes 
) and cutting open the back of the pinky or even adult mouse. this helps the juices get in past that peach fuzz if they have any and the skin, which can make digestion of the interior slow and difficult, and maybe even allow for the food to swell a bit, causing the snake to regurg. ):
give that a try and see if it helps. I dont think a dead mouse thawed out for even an hour AFTER it has been warmed is really going to hurt anything, their stomach acid im sure can take care of it if it can take care of bones and teeth!
) and cutting open the back of the pinky or even adult mouse. this helps the juices get in past that peach fuzz if they have any and the skin, which can make digestion of the interior slow and difficult, and maybe even allow for the food to swell a bit, causing the snake to regurg. ): give that a try and see if it helps. I dont think a dead mouse thawed out for even an hour AFTER it has been warmed is really going to hurt anything, their stomach acid im sure can take care of it if it can take care of bones and teeth!
Dorgrim
Science nerd, Art nerd
im not sure how that works but i assume if it goes into the belly (the injection) you shouldnt have any problem. I split the back because nothing comes out on that side when the snakes get hold of the mouse and give it a good squeeze lol
Oh, let me tell you about bad pinkies... I had several bags of different-sized mice out, taking out what I needed and putting the rest back in the freezer. I put the bag of smallest pinkies down on the counter and forgot to put them back. Some Wal-Mart plastic bags got placed on top of them, and they got scooped up and stored with my spare plastic bags in my laundry room. I cannot even begin to describe the smell after a couple of hot Texas days. And when I found them?? BLACK and SQUISHY. Turns my stomach to even think about it now! I feed my snakes at night - if a pinkie doesn't get eaten within a few hours, I try giving it to someone else. If it's still there in the morning, out it goes.
The back? which part? from the back of the head and follow down the spine?
they just turned a year old this month! and yes sadly they are still on pinkies. and they are really small compare to my other butter who is always one year old. the butter is like twice their size!
well they just turned a year old this month so by right they a yearling but they are kinda small i have another butter who is the same age as these guys and she is twice the size.
they are kept between 84-88F on a rack. they are small the smallest i could find! yes same source.
the funny thing is this, when i first got them back both of them ate and only the male regurge after 4 days. The feeding session was 6 days after the male didnt eat but the female eat and after a day the female regurge.
danielle
New member
Your temps are waaaaay too hot for a corn try 80-85 at the warmest- hot temps can easily cause a regurge so do get those down a bit. Feeding to soon too large a meal after a regurge can also cause more regurging so only feed half a pink for the next few meals and roll the half a pink in the nutribac- it's sticky but helps a lot
MysticExotics
(formerly NWHeather)
I don't refreeze mice...ever.
If someone won't eat, & the mouse hasn't been out too long, I see if another snake wants it. If none of my snakes will eat it, I have ferrets that will. If no one wanted it, I'd toss it, not refreeze it. Just my thoughts on that.
ComoxCorn
Pssst...Got Corn??
I was surprised to hear from you that these corns are from a June 2009 clutch and were sold to you by the breeder at about 16 grams each. Awefully small for corn snakes that age. Some of my 2010 hatchlings are already at 12 grams. Turn the heat down a bit, as the temps are too high. 85F max. on the warm side, and room temp (72F - 75F) on the cool side. Follow the instructions we talked about on the phone and they'll be fine. Let me know if you still have problems.
Dorgrim
Science nerd, Art nerd
If i cant get one snake to eat, i usually refreeze and next feeding time, give it to the one i know will eat it
My anery is like a garbage disposal, she will eat anything and give you an attitude about it too! Rips the things out of the tongs and stares me down till i leave the room. But then a sweet heart when you hold her
that black gross pinky story made my stomach churn too! lol
grooosss
carnivorouszoo
Crazy Critter Lady
Refreezing raw meat can make it go bad. There was at least one study done on that. If my snakes do not eat within 2 hours it gets tossed and they have to wait to the next feeding not the next day. Trying again the next day can condition them to not eat, especially if it goes on for more than just one or two days.
Your temps are waaaaay too hot for a corn try 80-85 at the warmest- hot temps can easily cause a regurge so do get those down a bit. Feeding to soon too large a meal after a regurge can also cause more regurging so only feed half a pink for the next few meals and roll the half a pink in the nutribac- it's sticky but helps a lot
my nutribac came today and i'll try it on their next feeding session! hopefully it will work!! =) yep temp lowerd down to 80-85.
yep its around 80-85 on the warmer side. but i have one question how do you warm up the pinkie with it half in half? i use to dip mine in warm water but can i still do that if i would to cut it in half? wouldnt like the inside stuff get all over? oh and the nutribac is in! thanks! =)