Species
Rat
Size grade
Pinkie
Pack size
Sold individually
Delivery
Pickup only
Rats Pinkies
The safest first whole-prey meal for hatchling snakes. Frozen pinkie rats are humanely pre-killed, days-old, unfurred rats that have fed only on their mother's milk, then snap-frozen whole. They suit reptiles too small to safely take a mouse hopper or larger prey, and are sold individually so you can buy exactly what a feed needs.
Key features
- Humanely pre-killed and snap-frozen – no live feeding, no risk of a rodent injuring your reptile, and none of the welfare concerns of confining live prey.
- Pinkie grade – the smallest rat size available, for reptiles not yet ready for a hopper mouse or small rat.
- Milk-fed, unfurred – soft-bodied and easily digested as a first whole-prey item.
- Sold individually – no minimum pack size to buy through.
Which rat size do I need?
Match the rat to the thickest part of your snake's body, not its length. A rat noticeably wider than your snake's girth risks regurgitation; a rat noticeably narrower wastes a feed. If in doubt, size down.
| Size | Typical weight | Best suited to |
|---|---|---|
| Pinkies | Approx. 5–10 g, unfurred | Hatchling snakes and very small juvenile pythons |
| Weaners | Approx. 30–70 g, furred | Growing juvenile pythons and similarly sized snakes |
| Small adult | Approx. 120–180 g | Sub-adult to smaller adult pythons and monitors |
| XL Jumbo | Approx. 250 g and up | Large adult pythons and large monitors |
These are typical weight bands used across the Australian frozen-rodent trade. Individual rats vary, and pinkies especially are graded by age and size rather than a guaranteed weight.
Ingredients and guaranteed analysis
Ingredients: whole rat (100%). No additives, preservatives, colours or fillers.
A formal guaranteed analysis – crude protein, crude fat, crude fibre, moisture, ash – is not published for whole-prey feeders, since they are not a manufactured food with a nutrition panel. If your reptile needs a supplemented diet, dust or gut-load as your vet or herpetological society recommends.
Thawing and storage
- Store frozen at or below −18 °C until needed.
- Thaw in the fridge overnight, or in a sealed bag submerged in cool water for 1–2 hours. Never microwave.
- Warm before offering – many reptiles respond better to prey close to body temperature. A few minutes in warm, not hot, water after fridge-thawing works well.
- Never refreeze a thawed rat.
- Offer with tongs, not fingers, to avoid a feeding-response bite.
Suitable for, and not suitable for
Suitable for hatchling and small juvenile snakes that take whole rodent prey, sized to the animal's girth. Not suitable as a sole diet for species with different nutritional needs – check what your particular reptile is meant to eat before switching prey type.
Delivery and cold chain
This is a frozen product.
Frozen food is pick up only from our North Lakes store, because a pack that thaws on the way cannot be refrozen.
Warranty and delivery
As a perishable frozen item, this product is excluded from change-of-mind returns once purchased, consistent with our standard returns policy. Your rights under Australian Consumer Law for goods that are not of acceptable quality on arrival are unaffected.
Goes well with
Feeding tongs make offering pre-killed prey easier and safer for both keeper and reptile – see our Zoo Med Stainless Steel Feeding Tongs.
Common questions
Why frozen instead of live?
RSPCA Australia recommends pre-killed prey over live feeding on welfare grounds, and live rodent feeding is restricted or discouraged under reptile-keeping codes in several states, including NSW and Victoria. Frozen prey also removes the risk of a rodent biting or injuring your reptile.
How do I get my snake to take a pinkie?
Thaw fully, warm to close to body temperature, offer with tongs in a quiet, dimly lit space, and remove it if it isn't taken within 15–20 minutes rather than leaving it in the enclosure.
Can I refreeze a rat I thawed but didn't use?
No. Once thawed, use it or discard it. Refreezing raises the risk of bacterial spoilage.
My snake won't take pinkies – what's wrong?
Check the size against your snake's girth first, then temperature and scent. Some snakes refuse cold prey but readily take warmed prey. Persistent refusal over several attempts is worth a vet check.