Shiela ate her first bunny.

[Terranaut]

650 gram bunny. So just a bit bigger than her usual jumbo rat. I picked up a single bunny at the expo today to see if she wanted it. Well she hit it like a freight train. This was a test. So now I can order more knowing she will take them and I wanna get my Boas onto rabbits as well. Kinda cool!!

http://i76.photobucket.com/albums/j9/terranaut0/photo-181.jpg
http://i76.photobucket.com/albums/j9/terranaut0/photo-180.jpg
http://i76.photobucket.com/albums/j9/terranaut0/photo-179.jpg
http://i76.photobucket.com/albums/j9/terranaut0/photo-178.jpg

[exwizard]

There ya go! Now you put some size on them for sure. :)

[jaleely]

awesome!!! i love that you're doing f/t too. great to see!!

[Terranaut]

There ya go! Now you put some size on them for sure. :)

I think my JCP is close to done. Bunnies are more for reduced fat for her but my Boas should crank on the size.




awesome!!! i love that you're doing f/t too. great to see!!

Always frozen. Its the law in our house. Only thing fed live is superworms to out gecko and beardie.

[alessia55]

Congrats :D It's always a relief when they eat whatever you want them to :p

[Terranaut]

Congrats :D It's always a relief when they eat whatever you want them to :p

She is an eater just never tried her with rabbits yet. I am a firm believer in giving them the biggest meal possible and adjusting the feeding schedule accordingly. I hate reading " I fed my Boa 4 medium rats yesterday and..." 1 big prey item is better IMHO. Plus the rabbit is like cool to say you can do! Might be a guy thing :)

[Strutter769]

650 gram bunny. So just a bit bigger than her usual jumbo rat. I picked up a single bunny at the expo today to see if she wanted it. Well she hit it like a freight train. This was a test. So now I can order more knowing she will take them and I wanna get my Boas onto rabbits as well. Kinda cool!!
]

What's the benefit of feeding rabbits? Putting on weight more quickly?

Found this site recently: MonsterFeeders.com (http://monsterfeeders.com/)

[Terranaut]

Less fat more calcium.

[Strutter769]

Good to know. Equally beneficial to all snakes then, I'd imagine?

[Rogue628]

It's not just a guy thing. I got excited when I found out that one of my burms and my two dumerils would eat rabbits. I got some rabbit pinks from a guy I know and tested the water. So next time I order I have more variety to buy as I know most of my animals will eat chicks as well. Plus it means my burm's gonna grow more :D

Anyway, congrats! It's always nice to know that they'll eat something different :D

[millertime89]

Congrats! I don't think I've ever heard of a carpet taking rabbits before, but it doesn't surprise me that one on Jumbos could do it.

[shaunyboy]

She is an eater just never tried her with rabbits yet. I am a firm believer in giving them the biggest meal possible and adjusting the feeding schedule accordingly. I hate reading " I fed my Boa 4 medium rats yesterday and..." 1 big prey item is better IMHO. Plus the rabbit is like cool to say you can do! Might be a guy thing :)

^^^^^
thats my feed philosophy as well mate

she hammered that rabbit no problem,imo she would take a larger one

cheers shaun

[Terranaut]

^^^^^
thats my feed philosophy as well mate

she hammered that rabbit no problem,imo she would take a larger one

cheers shaun

Yup I think when I order them I will order 1kilo bunnies. I am sure my Boas could eat those as well. I just had to make sure at least 1 of my snakes would take them so I didnt get stuck with a freezer full of rabbit.

[shaunyboy]

Yup I think when I order them I will order 1kilo bunnies. I am sure my Boas could eat those as well. I just had to make sure at least 1 of my snakes would take them so I didnt get stuck with a freezer full of rabbit.

if they didn't eat them....

theres NOTHING wrong with a rabbit casserole mate ;)

cheers shaun:D

[Terranaut]

if they didn't eat them....

theres NOTHING wrong with a rabbit casserole mate ;)

cheers shaun:D

Actually its funny you say that.
After reading all o the nutritional info about rabbit I picked up 2 at a local rabbitry. Pre butchered and packaged just like chicken at the supermarket.
Gonna BBQ it Saturday for supper. Can't wait!

[Ikester1981]

do you breed said jcp? Is it a female?

[Terranaut]

Yes. She laid 21 eggs. 16 were slugs. 2 went a funky colour so I am down to 3. Should hatch about the 23 of May. I was pretty down about the slugs but have been told this can happen on her first clutch. Try again next year.

[Ikester1981]

good luck. The reason I asked and I say this in the kindest way possible, is that she seems to be growing wider rather than longer. quite frankly I was shocked to see such a large jcp. I don't think I would ever want mine to get that big. I feel they should be kept sender and vigorous. However, with the intent to breed. bigger is always better as to produce large clutches. sorry bout the slugs. best of luck!

[Terranaut]

The pics are a little deceiving. She is not "fat" but she is pushing 8ft and a bug girl. Rabbit has less fat and calories than rat so my motivation is 2 fold. 1 : bigger prey less often and 2: less fat better nutrition. No intent to " fatten her up " for breeding. She is big enough :)

[Ikester1981]

Ah... Very good. Lucky to have a JCP get that big as they usually don't. I don't have a hatch date but my best guess for my female JCP is almost 3. shes a little over 6ft. got her on 1 med rat every 2-3 weeks. Not sure I like it though. Moved her up from 2 small rats every 2 weeks. The reason is that she doesn't poop as much as she did when eating the smalls. I know they may not go for weeks but I liked knowing my girlie was "regular" know what I mean

[Terranaut]

Ah... Very good. Lucky to have a JCP get that big as they usually don't. I don't have a hatch date but my best guess for my female JCP is almost 3. shes a little over 6ft. got her on 1 med rat every 2-3 weeks. Not sure I like it though. Moved her up from 2 small rats every 2 weeks. The reason is that she doesn't poop as much as she did when eating the smalls. I know they may not go for weeks but I liked knowing my girlie was "regular" know what I mean


Mine hasn't pooped in 3 months other than a golf ball sized little one 10 min after eating the bunny .lol. She pees just no poop after 4 months off food. My male is in the same boat.

My JCP will be 4 in June or so I was told but I suspect she is a year older.
Tomorrow is her "play day" so maybe I will snap a few good shots if I have time. With something for scale in the shot.

IMHO at 6' yours could eat a large rat. The calcium is higher in adult rats that the smaller ones. IMHO carpets need larger prey. In the wild they are capable of eating HUGE prey and digesting one thing is better for their system that 2. Buy 1 and try it. Mine seems to almost get excited at larger prey. Previous owner had her on med rats. Now its jumbos and rabbits ;)

[Lankyrob]

Our JCP is estimated at around 5ft and eats xl rats the same size as our SD retic :)

[red ink]

Our JCP is estimated at around 5ft and eats xl rats the same size as our SD retic :)


What's the weight of the xl rats Rob?

[Lankyrob]

What's the weight of the xl rats Rob?


HEavier than a mouse lighter than a rabbit?? :)

I dont weigh anything, i go on the size of the prey compared to the animal, sorry :)

[shaunyboy]

What's the weight of the xl rats Rob?

the following are the wieght in grams,of the rats my supplier does.....

small rat weaners are 25gm to 50gm

large rat weaners are 50gm to 95gm

small rats are 100gm to 150gm

medium rats are 155gm to 250gm

large rats are 250gm to 355gm

jumbo rats are 355gm to 450gm

i feed most my carpets,a large rat every 14 to 28 days mate

i preffer to feed big meals less often,carpets will happily take prey,2,3,4 times their girth

cheers shaun

[shaunyboy]

Ah... Very good. Lucky to have a JCP get that big as they usually don't. I don't have a hatch date but my best guess for my female JCP is almost 3. shes a little over 6ft. got her on 1 med rat every 2-3 weeks. Not sure I like it though. Moved her up from 2 small rats every 2 weeks. The reason is that she doesn't poop as much as she did when eating the smalls. I know they may not go for weeks but I liked knowing my girlie was "regular" know what I mean

i'd move her up to,a large rat every 14 to 28 days mate

cheers shaun

[Terranaut]

i'd move her up to,a large rat every 14 to 28 days mate

cheers shaun

They are noticably more satisfied on the larger prey. Plus larger prey helps to stretch the skull.

[hellosugaree]

She's a beast!

[Terranaut]

She's a beast!

Yeah but very tame!!

[Freebody]

i have been feeding my snakes multipal meals because they were growing rather slow, and thus unable to eat larger prey ie the next size up, but are capable of eatting more than one of the smaller rats. I have been feeding Bella 2-3 650 gram rats at a time every 2 weeks only because i was unable to get rabbits, Im not sure why else anyone would want to feed multipal feeders over the biggest thing it can stuff in its face safely, its so much cheeper to buy 1 big item. Im happy tomorow i pick up some 3 pound rabbits, cant wait to see how happy my Bella girl is when she taste one of these babies! :) Grats on the switch! where will you be getting your rabbbits from, do they ship and whats the cost of them? if you dont mind.

[Terranaut]

I found a local rabbit feeder breeder. I doubt they ship but I will ask and pm you the answer. You might want to see if there are any rabbit meat producers as they might be able to help you out.

[Freebody]

Sounds good, i really have not looked around too much, as im still getting the first batch now, but ya thats the idea, going to look into finding a meat breeder and seeing if they will just freeze them whole for me. :)

[Terranaut]

They should cut you a deal seeing as they do not have to butcher them.

[Freebody]

i would think so, but you know murphys law, probly cost more, for the trouble having to rememeber to not do it lol

[red ink]

the following are the wieght in grams,of the rats my supplier does.....

small rat weaners are 25gm to 50gm

large rat weaners are 50gm to 95gm

small rats are 100gm to 150gm

medium rats are 155gm to 250gm

large rats are 250gm to 355gm

jumbo rats are 355gm to 450gm

i feed most my carpets,a large rat every 14 to 28 days mate

i preffer to feed big meals less often,carpets will happily take prey,2,3,4 times their girth

cheers shaun

Thanks mate... I'm a bit pedantic about prey weight Vs specimen weight. It's always good to see how other people do it. The more info the better i reckon :)

[Terranaut]

Well I thought I would get her out for some play time. Had her out 5 min and she pissed all over the floor. Thank god we don't have carpet. Had to be 1/2 a quart of liquid. It was nasty. Stunk up the entire house. Wow!! Had no idea she had such volume!! My wife freaked right out :)