{"product_id":"rats-pinkies","title":"Rats Pinkies","description":"\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eThe safest first whole-prey meal for hatchling snakes.\u003c\/strong\u003e 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.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eKey features\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eHumanely pre-killed and snap-frozen\u003c\/strong\u003e — no live feeding, no risk of a rodent injuring your reptile, and none of the welfare concerns of confining live prey.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003ePinkie grade\u003c\/strong\u003e — the smallest rat size available, for reptiles not yet ready for a hopper mouse or small rat.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eMilk-fed, unfurred\u003c\/strong\u003e — soft-bodied and easily digested as a first whole-prey item.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eSold individually\u003c\/strong\u003e — no minimum pack size to buy through.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eWhich rat size do I need?\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eMatch 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.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ctable\u003e\n\u003cthead\u003e\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003cth\u003eSize\u003c\/th\u003e\n\u003cth\u003eTypical weight\u003c\/th\u003e\n\u003cth\u003eBest suited to\u003c\/th\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\u003c\/thead\u003e\n\u003ctbody\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003ePinkies\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eApprox. 5–10 g, unfurred\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eHatchling snakes and very small juvenile pythons\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eWeaners\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eApprox. 30–70 g, furred\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eGrowing juvenile pythons and similarly sized snakes\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eSmall adult\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eApprox. 120–180 g\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eSub-adult to smaller adult pythons and monitors\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eXL Jumbo\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eApprox. 250 g and up\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eLarge adult pythons and large monitors\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003c\/tbody\u003e\n\u003c\/table\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThese 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.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eIngredients and guaranteed analysis\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eIngredients:\u003c\/strong\u003e whole rat (100%). No additives, preservatives, colours or fillers.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eA 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.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eThawing and storage\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eStore frozen\u003c\/strong\u003e at or below −18 °C until needed.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eThaw in the fridge\u003c\/strong\u003e overnight, or in a sealed bag submerged in cool water for 1–2 hours. Never microwave.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eWarm before offering\u003c\/strong\u003e — many reptiles respond better to prey close to body temperature. A few minutes in warm, not hot, water after fridge-thawing works well.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eNever refreeze\u003c\/strong\u003e a thawed rat.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eOffer with tongs\u003c\/strong\u003e, not fingers, to avoid a feeding-response bite.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eSuitable for, and not suitable for\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eSuitable 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.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eDelivery and cold chain\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThis is a frozen product. We recommend local pickup from our North Lakes store, or contact us before ordering to confirm a suitable cold-chain delivery option for your area — frozen prey is not sent through standard parcel delivery.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eWarranty and delivery\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eAs 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.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eGoes well with\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eFeeding tongs make offering pre-killed prey easier and safer for both keeper and reptile — see our \u003ca href=\"\/products\/zoo-med-stainless-steel-feeding-tongs-10\"\u003eZoo Med Stainless Steel Feeding Tongs\u003c\/a\u003e.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eCommon questions\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003ch4\u003eWhy frozen instead of live?\u003c\/h4\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eRSPCA 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.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch4\u003eHow do I get my snake to take a pinkie?\u003c\/h4\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThaw 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.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch4\u003eCan I refreeze a rat I thawed but didn't use?\u003c\/h4\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eNo. Once thawed, use it or discard it. Refreezing raises the risk of bacterial spoilage.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch4\u003eMy snake won't take pinkies — what's wrong?\u003c\/h4\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eCheck 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.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Frozen Food","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":55242284630307,"sku":"AA2319","price":21.0,"currency_code":"AUD","in_stock":true}],"url":"https:\/\/nicksaquariumoceanariumterrarium.com.au\/products\/rats-pinkies","provider":"Nicks Aquarium Oceanarium Terrarium","version":"1.0","type":"link"}