Reptile & Amphibian Forums

I have a rabbit that lives under my porch...somehow has been able to not get eaten by my dogs...well now there are babies and they just hang out on my porch... would there be any consequences healthwise to catching these bunnies and feeding them to my snakes?
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2.3 Columbian Boas (TH moonglow, Dh Ghost, DH Snow, two normals)
1.1 Central American Boas
1.1 Argentine Boas
1.1 Bredli Carpet Pythons
0.4 Leopard Geckos
0.0.1 Tokay Gecko
0.0.1 Nile Monitor
1.0 Savannah Monitor
0.0.1 Hermanni Tortoise
2.3 RES

...horses, cats, dogs...and many rats!

wild prey can come with wild parasites. You can minimize the exposure with long term freezing to kill them off but you can't be 100% certain they are safe. Then again all live prey items can contain lil nasties so........
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Thanks,

Dave Colling

www.rainbows-r-us-reptiles.com

0.1 Wife (WC and still very fiesty)
0.2 kids (CBB, a big part of our selective breeding program)

LOL, to many snakes to list, last count:
26.49 BRB
20.21 BCI
And those are only the breeders

lots.lots.lots feeder mice and rats

okay thanks Dave i dont think i want to take the chance
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2.3 Columbian Boas (TH moonglow, Dh Ghost, DH Snow, two normals)
1.1 Central American Boas
1.1 Argentine Boas
1.1 Bredli Carpet Pythons
0.4 Leopard Geckos
0.0.1 Tokay Gecko
0.0.1 Nile Monitor
1.0 Savannah Monitor
0.0.1 Hermanni Tortoise
2.3 RES

...horses, cats, dogs...and many rats!

Rabbits eat vegetation like dandelions and people poison dandelions, plus what is in the water they drink...too many risk's to feed wild prey. Good choice to avoid.

Joel
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Don't tread on me!

I've talked to a vet about this. Most parasites can be eliminated by a good freeze. Collecting from an area with no pesticide use would also be advised but the reason he gave me for not using wild rabbits as feeders was something called Tulareitis. He said this could not be eliminated by freezing and could potetially be transmitted to snakes or humans.

yup i understand thaank u everyone! i was just curious.. and there are no pesticides where i live.. i live in a desert area where people are happy to have weeds because they are green lol!!
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2.3 Columbian Boas (TH moonglow, Dh Ghost, DH Snow, two normals)
1.1 Central American Boas
1.1 Argentine Boas
1.1 Bredli Carpet Pythons
0.4 Leopard Geckos
0.0.1 Tokay Gecko
0.0.1 Nile Monitor
1.0 Savannah Monitor
0.0.1 Hermanni Tortoise
2.3 RES

...horses, cats, dogs...and many rats!