From Rats to Rabbits.

[Dragon]

Hi all

I'm becoming increasingly frustrated when trying to wean my Burm off Rats. He's approaching 11 feet now and really really needs to be eating Rabbits. Trouble is, every time I've tried him he just ignores them completely and at £5 ($8.50) a shot it's becoming an expensive waste of bunnies.

I've tried all the usual tricks, scenting, superheating, I've even put a scented rabbit in his viv with a Rat hidden underneath it for additional scent and the little monkey snuffled around until he found the Rat, ate it then completely ignored the Rabbit

I was thinking about attaching a smallish Rat to the nose of a Rabbit and trying to get him on them this way, but I can't think of a safe way of attaching the Rat firmly enough so that his feeding response doesn't dislodge the Rabbit.

Does anybody have any other suggestions?

Paul

[Ed_r]

Thats a tough one. I had the same issue that never was resolved. Mine actually cowered away from even the smallest of rabbits. I tried soaking in chicken broth, scenting you name it.

Good luck to you. Well at least hes pounding rats, they get expensive, but at leastt hey arent going to waste.

[ReticMan!]

Have you tried letting him go without food for a little while?

[thetupak]

i dont know if you could shove a small rat in the mouth of the bunny might have to do a little modification with a knife

[Diablo]

Originally Posted by thetupak

i dont know if you could shove a small rat in the mouth of the bunny might have to do a little modification with a knife

modification, LOL. your nuts Woody

[thetupak]

ROFLMAO but that all i could think of calling it

[Diablo]

Dr Woody......Calling Dr Woody...... You are needed for the rat/rabbit head transplant.

[bensnacks]

What about sewing the rat to the rabbit??
I don't think a little bit of cotton would affect the
burm's digestive tract.

[thetupak]

its done but dont really match lol

[herp_chick]

NO sewing thread. However small, could be very dangerous. I would suggest holding off for a feeding, then at the next scheduled feed, offer the rabbit. It's OK to even leave it in overnight. A burm won't go very long without eating, even a picky one.

[Dragon]

I've tried not feeding him for a month (which doesn't sound long, but he's usually ravenous after about 8 days!), then leaving him with the Rabbit overnight and he still doesn't want to know. He really just does not recognize a Rabbit as food at all at the moment. I've also tried him with large (4lb) Guienea Pigs and he won't eat those either.

Paul

[Wrasse]

Originally Posted by bensnacks

What about sewing the rat to the rabbit??
I don't think a little bit of cotton would affect the
burm's digestive tract.

Neat idea, but rather than cotton, you could pop into your local vet clinic and ask for a couple of metres of 'catgut'. After a few days in the stomach that stuff would be dissolved away to nothing.

[snakemann6]

I have the same problem with my burm. She won't eat rabbits but loves the #$%^&#$%^&#$%^&#$%^& out rats.

[JonnyArmani41]

I have delt with a problem similar My Retic Loves the smell Guniea Pigs but he eats rabbits now before I go to the pet store Rob just throws the rabbit in with the Guniea pigs the old bait and swap trick the snake nails the rabbit every time but it sounds like you have already tried that good luck with it.
John

[snakemann6]

that is a great idea....i