Description

Frozen Rats – Pups to Extra Large

Frozen Rats provide a convenient whole-prey food for suitable snakes, reptiles and other carnivorous exotic animals. Available in a range of sizes from rat pups through to extra large rats, they allow the prey size to be matched appropriately as your animal grows.

Rats are commonly fed to medium and large snakes, particularly once an animal has outgrown mice or requires a larger prey item. As whole prey, they provide muscle, bone, organs and other tissues within a single food item.

At Shirley Aquatics, we use PLT for our frozen rats, mice and feeder birds, providing a consistent range of frozen prey for our reptile customers.

Choosing the Right Size Rat

Choosing an appropriately sized prey item is important. The correct size will depend on the species, size, age and body condition of the animal being fed.

Smaller rat pups can provide a useful transition for snakes moving on from frozen mice(opens in new tab), while progressively larger rats are available for bigger animals.

If you’re unsure which size to choose, our reptile team will be happy to advise.

Feeding Frozen Rats

Frozen rats should be fully defrosted before feeding. Never offer prey while it is still frozen or partially frozen internally.

Use clean utensils where practical, wash your hands and any surfaces that come into contact with the prey, and remove uneaten food promptly.

Do not refreeze prey once it has been fully defrosted.

Are Rats Only for Snakes?

No. Although rats are particularly popular as snake food, appropriately sized whole rodents may also form part of the diet of some other carnivorous and omnivorous reptiles and exotic animals.

Suitability and feeding frequency vary considerably between species, so rats shouldn’t automatically be treated as an appropriate staple for every reptile simply because the animal will eat them.

Frozen Rats Reptile Food Frequently Asked Questions

When should I move my snake from mice to rats?
There’s no universal point at which a snake must change from mice to rats. Rats can become a practical option when appropriately sized mice no longer provide a suitable meal or when rats better suit the feeding requirements of the species.

Are frozen rats a complete prey item?
Yes. A whole rat contains muscle, organs, bones and other tissues rather than being a single isolated ingredient. Whether rats should form the entire diet, however, depends upon the species being kept.

How do I choose the right size frozen rat?
Choose prey appropriate to your animal’s species and current size. Avoid assuming that a larger meal is necessarily better. If you’re uncertain, contact us and we can help you select an appropriate size.

Do frozen rats need to be defrosted before feeding?
Yes. Always defrost frozen rats thoroughly before feeding and ensure the centre of the prey is completely thawed.

Can I refreeze a defrosted rat?
We don’t recommend refreezing feeder rats after they have been fully defrosted. Only thaw the number required for that feeding.

Collection Only

Our frozen reptile foods are currently available for collection from Shirley Aquatics only.

If you need advice on this food and whether it’s suitable for your exotic pet, please contact us and a member of our friendly store team will be more than happy to answer all of your questions.

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