Reptile & Amphibian Forums

I have a local source for feeder rabbits and was wondering what is healthier, Rats or Rabbits? also for the smaller snakes as well, I'm thinking of feeding Pinky and fuzzy rabbits instead of medium and large rats. Would this still be healthy or do rats have more the nutrients that boas need?

Thanks
Zack
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Zack Greens Reptiles

Rabbits if they're weaned. Otherwise, stick with rats.

You want the fat content as low as possible and baby rodents of any kind have very high fat levels, plus the milk in their bellies is full of fat.

jb
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What's written above is purely my opinion. In fact, MOST of what you read on the internet is someone's opinion. Don't take it too seriously

Jonathan Brady
DeviantConstrictors.com
Deviant Constrictors picturetrail

Thanks Jonathan, thats pretty much exacly what I was looking for.

Zack
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Zack Greens Reptiles

It was actually falconry that taught me this one.I would stick with rats. If you've ever cut open a rabbit and looked at its meat you will see that its very light colored. Now do the same to a rat and you'll find a darker more protein rich meat. I only feed rabbit to my hawks when I want them to loose weight.

This chart shows the crude protein and crude fat composition of many animals, including rats and rabbits. You'll see that rabbits have the highest crude protein % and lowest crude fat % of all of the rodents listed. Hope it's helpful!

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What's written above is purely my opinion. In fact, MOST of what you read on the internet is someone's opinion. Don't take it too seriously

Jonathan Brady
DeviantConstrictors.com
Deviant Constrictors picturetrail

That is an interesting chart for sure. Someone put some work into it.My statement is only based off observation.During the winter months when temps drop the birds shiver more to stay warm. They of course need more food or richer food. Rabbit is just above washed meat for falconers. Rat, squirrel, sparrow,starling, pigeon, crow and then the super rich meat of duck. Meat soaked in water to remove the blood is called washed meat.I'm not comprehending what the n or the numbers under n stand for I also am not comprehending how there is more dry matter in an adult rat compared to a gutted jack rabbit the average black tail jack is 2000 grams. The largest adult rat we usually get are maybe 600 grams.

Ok so this is my question based on my field observation. Kcals are based off of weight not proteins, vitamins and minerals correct? I do know prey items are different when it comes to minerals, protein and overall composition. For example if I feed a sparrow to my hawk it would be like giving it a multivitamin. My question is based off of us feeding whole prey items. Is the whole of a rabbit richer in vitamin, mineral and proteins than a rat?

thats what i was gonna say i know that rabbits are super lean and low fat. early american settlers who where eating nothing but rabbits started dying off due to protein poising
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-Stephen-

0.1 Fiance (Babe)
1.0 rotwiler/chow (Boomer)
1.0 norm corn (Jake)
1.0 col redtail boa (Switch, formally known as Dixie)
0.1 ball python (Bella)
1.1 Brazilian Rainbow Boa (Torpaz & Saphira)

One noted observation in hawks regarding using rabbit as a main food source is lighter cere and feet.This is due to lack of vitamins and minerals in the diet. This is usualy remedied by using vitamin suppliment or giving the animal a variety of foods.

One might consider giving vitamin suppliments to their snakes as well. How much or what kind of multivitamin I could not tell you though. I have also heard of people giving their snakes probiotics usually follwing a regimen of antibiotics.
Link

IMO what's healthiest is a varied diet including both. If you only feed lean prey, you're missing fat content that is vital. If you oknly feed faty prey, too much of a good thing. Each type/size/age prey animal will provide different levels of many nutritional items including protein, fat, vitamins and minerals.

Also, prime healthy feeder animals IMO are WAY better than anything less!!!!
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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 (05/26/2009):
36.51 BRB
29.42 BCI
And those are only the breeders

lots.lots.lots feeder mice and rats