rats vs rabbits & other feeding question.

[nitram]

ive been reading here n there that nutritionally (less fat / more protein) rabbits are better than rats as food.
my largest girls are all on jumbo rats every 2 weeks.... these rats are pretty monstrous sized. i think she may very well go onto rabbits. but is a small rabbit better than a jumbo (id say oversized) rat?
also one of my girls has 0 feeding response. i can dangle a rat it front of her and she will not take it, she hides. i have to leave it in front of her hide and moments later i can see that she housed it (while no one looks, of course). ive seen her come out of the hide and inspect it, she checks out the head, down to the tail a few times... sometimes she will go back into her hide (probably cause im lookin). do you think she will be a problem to switch out? being that i dont really entice her or anything, she just kinda takes it after she inspects and approves (she has left it there before, and ive had to throw away). i wanna try rabbits on all of them anyway, if it is better for them that is. my rodent dude wont sell me rabbits as he says he only sells large rabbits, larger being too big i presume. theyd have to be little rabbits, at a pound and a half to 2 pounds. any advice on good rabbit providers?

[Sakara]

where do you live? have you googles any rabbitrues in your area? that's where I get mine from. $1.50/lb

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[Stigma]

Wow. I was just gonna make a thread about this exact topic. Great minds think a like.


I am also wondering about rabbits. My female bci is about 6ft and I am wondering if she is ready to be stepped up to rabbits. I have a local breeder that I can get them really cheap from.

	Boa Constrictor Imperator Boa Constrictor (Boa constrictor imperator). Most common is the Colombian Boa.

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[Sakara]

any snake that can eat a small rat can eat rabbits if y'all were closer to me I'd hook y'all up lol. shipping is expensive as heck depending on how much you get weight wise

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[nitram]

yea shipping is killer for any provider of 'frodents' i've seen. i drive 25 mins to pick up my rats. i pickup 16 jumbo rats which is a 2 month supply for my 4 large females. i got lazy once and told the dude "yea just ship it" and never again. the dude was cool and threw in a bunch of pups and pinks which i used for my 09s and my king.... but still he wont sell me rabbits. he does em at like 5-6 bucks a piece (im not sure) for big ones. last time i was there i saw some babies n smaller ones and i was like "lemme get a few of those to try out" but he said nope! only adults for giant snakes n such. so far online i see rodentpro and bigappleherp but i dunno..... dont really wanna go through them.... ive heard horror stories for both which included broken rats (rat pieces or limbless), rats covered in urine, and sickly lookin rats. so id like to go through someone else, preferably a rabbit only provider. only rabbit only breeder i know sells em as pets and i assume wont be too keen on selling to me as feeders.

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[Sakara]

I use rodent pro for my rats. never had a problem... but their rabbits are expensive compared to what I pay... I'm buying $153 worth of rabbits this weekend and that is like 40 rabbits from 1/2lb - 4lbs each lol

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[Icicle]

Nutrient Composition of Whole Vertebrate Prey - RodentPro.com

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[Stigma]

So basically as long as I get the appropriate sized rabbit I am good?

U think a 6ft boa would eat like a 1lb? or 2 - 3 lb rabbit?

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[Sakara]

1-2lb... depends on if it's a thick 6ft or a thinner 6ft boa lol.

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[Stigma]

She isnt really a fatty. I try to feed her only when she needs it.

I think prolly like a 2 lb would do.

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[nitram]

im just going to get rabbits that weigh the same as the rats my girls are taking weigh... which are in the 2lb+ range... now im just on a quest for suppliers.

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[AGActaeonia]

Googling meat-rabbit breeders is a good idea.

I located a breeder hereabouts that produces show and meat-rabbits, but her meat-rabbits are sold for $4.50 per lb (for consumption by dogs, etc.). She thought it was reasonable that she offer me the same.

Alternatively, I can buy a Jumbo Rabbit from RodentPro (picked up at their monthly show 20 minutes from here: no shipping) for the same price as a 2lber from her.

Once all of my Boas and my Retic(s) are taking rabbits, I'll breed them the same as I did rats, selling the extra to locals for their own use.

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[nitram]

it would be best to breed them probably. my girl wont take too lightly to slaughter-fest in the bunny ranch though.

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[AGActaeonia]

You'll end up with a lot quick, that's why I'm waiting. I've one Boa going on rabbits this year, and he'll probably wait until next spring anyway. It'll be a couple years before I've need to begin a colony, though it wouldn't surprise me if my Retic managed to take down entire litters by himself.

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