Reptile & Amphibian Forums

Hi Everyone, quick question. Is there any problem with feeding multiple rats as opposed to one rabbit? Only reason I ask is I currently breed rats and have MANY huge rats, and rabbits are pricey around here.

Thanks

The main thing that I seem to have read are big rats are generally very fatty and rabbits are alot more lean especially the smaller ones making them healthier to feed the snake

something to keep in mind also, is that the sooner you convert a snake to its "permanent" food, the easier it is. its not very healthy to feed a 16 foot retic, 15 or 20 rats per feeding. i am usually on top of converting my retics to rabbit pinkies as soon as i can. my two holdback breeder, i slacked and did rats, because its easier to get rats that small rabbits. and now, i am having a hell of a time getting them two on rabbits. luckily my female has taken a liking to guinea pigs, so hopefully the next step is to get her on rabbits.
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retic is king of kings

1.0 Tiger Retic
1.0 Albino Tiger Retic
0.1 Striped Tiger Retic (het albino)
0.1 Salmon Boa
1.0 Albino Boa
0.1 False Water Cobra

So do you just feed a $20, or $30 rabbit each time? Or does everyone feed frozen? Does anyone breed their own rabbits? Any experience with this?

I also meant to ask about other food items. Chickens? very young goats? (friend owns a ranch). Rabbits are just costly around here as they are all for the pet trade. Also Have a hard time with frozen becasue this is the only snake I will have eating anything that size.

thanks all!

I would get her switched to rabbits vs. keeping her on big rats. I have a 12 footer that will only eat live rats. Nothing else works for her. I also breed rats and no matter how many leftover jumbo's I have it still is not enough to keep her big. Granted I am trying to breed her therefore I probably feed her more than you do with yours. You said it is your only snake that size so I am assuming your not trying to breed it, therefore you can get away with not feeding it as much as some of us do. Besides a good sized rabbit will stay in the girl a lot longer than a bunch rats.

If you have the space for "many large rats," you should try a 1.1 or 1.2 rabbits. They breed like...rabbits. If you go with New Zealand Whites you can get a litter of 8 up to about five pounds each in eight weeks.

I would be interested in this for sure. The only reason I havent is I wasnt sure what I need to do. My rats I just throw 3 females and a male together, with a little food and an auto watering system. The research I did on rabbits was more intimidating.. I was told I have to keep them all separate until I want them to breed, the females cant get pregnant until the babies are weaned which could take up to 3 months. Most of the reading I did was not for feeders... Are feeders any easier?

Thanks

First off stick with what ever is the cheapest. Feeding multiple rats is not unhealthy. In the wild they take what is readily available. If 7 or 8 rats are cheaper then say one 9 pound rabbit stick with the rabbits. In my case rats are way too expensive to even think about it. Rabbits are only $5 top for the old breeders and at times cheaper for smaller ones.

Another idea would be Ginnie pigs. They are smaller then rabbits but larger then rats. I usually pay $3 for adults. I just returned home from picking up 30 large rabbits and 30 misc. sized Ginnie pigs. Man I love my rabbit breeder.

Good luck,

Jim

Thanks Jim! since I have my rats breeding quite well. I would stick with them until it is impracticle. Rabbits and Guinie pigs are only in the pet trade around here. I have checked every feed store for breeders but came up dry. Do to the easy breeding of rats the small amount of space. I will stick with them until (if ever it is no longer practicle. I am purchasing my first retic from Mike Wilbanks in a week. Its a male purple albino. from what he said and what I have been told he can pound rats for at least the firts two to three years.

Thanks