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I was wondering if it was a good idea to add variety in the diet of a python. I currently have a Burm x Rock which is an extremely voracious eater and I just bought some quail and small rabbits and was thinking about introducing it into his diet for variety for nutritional reasons as well as to give him a change from the ordinary. His is currently pounding down medium rats. Any thoughts?

Yes, I do certainly think that a wider variety in food items is most likely better or healthier for any animal, reptile or otherwise. I have been seriously wanting to start a pig farm and chicken farm (on relatively smaller scales, of course) so as to have something other than JUST rabbits for my big pythons. I figure that what one animal doesn't provide in the way of nutrition or vitamins,. the others will or should. I don't want to use someone else's frozen or live chickens due to salmonella risk and would only want to raise my own. My dilema with pigs is that I don't think I would be able to kill them for my snakes. Even after 30 years it is still difficult to dispatch rabbits and rats,... and pigs are so much more intelligent and aware. I seriously doubt I could do it.

Anyhoo,.. the short answer,. Yes. I do think that variety is undoubtedly more beneficial, though I have yet to do it myself beyond rats and rabbits.

>>I was wondering if it was a good idea to add variety in the diet of a python. I currently have a Burm x Rock which is an extremely voracious eater and I just bought some quail and small rabbits and was thinking about introducing it into his diet for variety for nutritional reasons as well as to give him a change from the ordinary. His is currently pounding down medium rats. Any thoughts?
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