Reptile & Amphibian Forums

I figured I would put this in here because anacondas seem to be the worst when it comes to eating problems. But I have this retic that is deff ready to start on 1 to 1 1/2 pound rabbits, but it's not taking them, I have tried thawing them out alone, and then I have tried with other rats to see if it would take the smell, but it didn't work. I'm going to a pet store tomorrow and see if they have anything I can use, so if you have anything that maybe I should pick up, just say it The people there might help too, it's actually the only pet store I know of around here that actually take good care of their pets. They have room sized enclosures for all their huge snakes (20' Retics) and everything. But anything would be helpful

~Ben

Sorry i don't know what to say other than trying to rub rats on the rabbit. But my question is why not feed it jumbo rats since it will take those with no prob. I have seen plenty of rats over 1.5 lbs so I guess I would just feed them until you can cleanly make the switch. I had luck getting my green switched from chicks to rats by first tieing a mouse or rat to a baby chick and then I got her switched by rubbing ft chicks all over the rats (sometimes she wouldnt go for it but if I danged the chick in front of her she would go for it and I was even able to let her strike and i would have the rat behind it and I would quickly switch them before she hit. I dont know your snakes feeding response and I dont know how quick you are but that way worked well if you have good control of your nerves and reflexes not to shake and be very focused..my friends that watched me do this were very impressed). Good luck!

I dont know if you are waiting for the snake to grab the rabbit from you, or what, but i have a female tiger who wont coil it from me, but you have to leave it in with her and then she will go about eating it herself, also she usually likes it when its warm too..hopefully you can get yours switched over, i have heard of people rubbing the rats on them, or even in bedding rats were in to make them smell like the rats, i don't know how well that works though as i have never done it, well hopefully it comes around for you.

I hadn't seen you for a long time. Clinton Twshp. was on the news and I was thinking 'I havent seen here in a long time'

Good to hear from you.

Arik

I have switched from rats to other items by smuching brains of rats on the rabbits. Snakes just love the smell of it. they also seem to respond to just blood from rats but more so with brains. I am currently still swithcing my 7 1/2' albino burmt o rabbits doing this. Using smaller and smaller amounts fo brain each time. Soon I will not be braining at all.
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Justin

And that made me sick to my stomach lol. Whatever works.

` I agree with eunectes4. I feed colossal, or jumbo rats, even to 14+ foot Boids. I get 1 1/2+ pounders. I'd rather feed a Boid several items, anyway. Feeding time is more fun, that way.
` I get rats so much cheaper than rabbits when I buy 300 to 500 pounds of them. I have them shipped by Greyhound, during the winter when you don't have to worry as much about thawing during shipment. Shipping is also cheaper on maxed out boxes.
` I got tired of worrying about food. I bought a large freezer, and now, I buy food once a year. You often get better prices, and service when you're spending large amounts of money, at one or two places. Hell, it's even cheaper to keep frozen food that way. I only open that freezer a couple of times a month, so it uses very little juice.
` I used to fool with rabbits, and baby pigs. Now, food is the last of my worries.
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