Some freezing info for you

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Posted by markg on August 28, 2001 at 14:10:13:

In Reply to: deformed snake update--euthanize? posted by Schwan on August 27, 2001 at 14:32:12:

To freeze, put the snake in a container with lots of crumpled newspaper. You want the temp to go down gradually, and the crumpled newspaper helps ease the cool down - you don't want the snake sitting on ice; I'm sure that would be painful to the animal.

I had to freeze an adult children's python that was rescued, horribly ill and was not responding to any treatment. The snake was frozen as described. When I took the snake out hours later, the snake was basically coiled just like when he was put in. I am hoping this suggests he didn't writhe in any discomfort but rather fell into a sleeping state.

I would think that freezing on reptiles and amphibians is not quite like mammals. There are some frogs (gray tree frog for example) in the wild that can freeze during winter and thaw out in spring. I doubt these animals are in pain. Frogs aren't snakes, but still snakes aren't warm-blooded. Snakes don't shiver. I guess we'll never know for sure what the snake is sensing.

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: To freeze, put the snake in a container with lots of crumpled newspaper. You want the temp to go down gradually, and the crumpled newspaper helps ease the cool down - you don't want the snake sitting on ice; I'm sure that would be painful to the animal. : I had to freeze an adult children's python that was rescued, horribly ill and was not responding to any treatment. The snake was frozen as described. When I took the snake out hours later, the snake was basically coiled just like when he was put in. I am hoping this suggests he didn't writhe in any discomfort but rather fell into a sleeping state. : I would think that freezing on reptiles and amphibians is not quite like mammals. There are some frogs (gray tree frog for example) in the wild that can freeze during winter and thaw out in spring. I doubt these animals are in pain. Frogs aren't snakes, but still snakes aren't warm-blooded. Snakes don't shiver. I guess we'll never know for sure what the snake is sensing.

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