Feeding rabbits question

[Squirtle]

Ever since about March of 2012, I've been feeding my Albino Burmese Python 2 pound chickens until now. I don't know how big he is but I'm guessing around 7-8 feet and he's about to be 2 years old on December 20th. The butcher shop around my house is now starting to sell rabbits any size for $10, and I was wondering if they're better than chickens? Can I feed him these every 3 weeks? And last but not least, will the rabbits make him grow better than the chickens? He's also for some having difficulties eating the chicken.. I think it's hard for him to find the head and sometimes he tries to start in other places like the legs, wings etc..

[Lankyrob]

Dont know of any reason why he shouldnt eat rabbits, coming from a butcher shop make sure they are whole rabbits tho otherwise the snake can miss required nutrients :)

[dinosaurdammit]

If you get live rabbits the best way to kill them, as rabbits can thump things with their feet awfully hard, grab them by the back legs- hold them up- place your thumb and index finger behind the skull- holding the legs firmly pull the head down until you hear a distinct pop- it may or may not twitch but it separates the spinal chord and insta death. It is then safe dead prey for your snake.

[Squirtle]

Dont know of any reason why he shouldnt eat rabbits, coming from a butcher shop make sure they are whole rabbits tho otherwise the snake can miss required nutrients :)

Yes, they're whole, live rabbits. I will have to stun them before feeding or something, they look like they'll do some serious damage if they bite him!

[dinosaurdammit]

Yes, they're whole, live rabbits. I will have to stun them before feeding or something, they look like they'll do some serious damage if they bite him!

alternatively you could whack them on the head with a club, just hit behind the head or you may not sever the brainstem

[Squirtle]

Will they make him grow bigger? If I feed him every 3 weeks that is. I know they grow throughout their lives, but I'd want him to max out at atleast 13-14 feet.

[Lankyrob]

Controlling a snakes size by how you feed it is imo immoral. Feed it what it needs and it sill grow to the sizeit is meant to be.

[Philmul]

I agree power feeding or underfeeding just leads to health problems. Just feed it what it needs

[Aaron_S]

Feed it on a proper schedule, 10 days. I feel bad for the snake as it's already undersized.

[Squirtle]

Feed it on a proper schedule, 10 days. I feel bad for the snake as it's already undersized.

He's about to be 2 years old, is 8 feet long MALE and he's undersized? And youre suggesting I give him 3 pound rabbits every 10 days? If that's not power feeding, then I don't know what is. I feed my snakes how they're supposed to be fed.. Never power feed or under feed.

[Metalserpent]

I know a couple breeders. I will ask them about your berm's size and feeding schedule. Seems fine to me but I will get with them. Rabbits are excellent snake food. Try f/t it you can. Fetal pigs are good too when your berm is big enough.

[Squirtle]

I know a couple breeders. I will ask them about your berm's size and feeding schedule. Seems fine to me but I will get with them. Rabbits are excellent snake food. Try f/t it you can. Fetal pigs are good too when your berm is big enough.

Yeah, exactly haha. I've read a ton before getting my burm and mostly everything said that they'll grow the most during their first year... Then after that, their growth slows down a bit.

[Rogue628]

From what I read from a couple of burm breeders from a burm site I belong to (Tom Reagan is one if you've heard of him...he's doing some amazing work with hypos) that although burms get their biggest growth in the first year, it's not uncommon for them to be on the smaller end of average size in the first year. While the average for males can be around 6', they have completely normal healthy males only reach about 4-5' the first year. As long as they're being fed properly and husbandry requirements are met, it's ok. I guess even in the snake world, there's the occasional runt in the litter so to speak.

[Philmul]

I don't no much about Burma but I've read feeding the a rabbit every 2 weeks is fine. Not power feeding. If feeding rabit every 3 weeks. Try giving it a large rat in between as a snack to keep it going

[Aaron_S]

He's about to be 2 years old, is 8 feet long MALE and he's undersized? And youre suggesting I give him 3 pound rabbits every 10 days? If that's not power feeding, then I don't know what is. I feed my snakes how they're supposed to be fed.. Never power feed or under feed.

I don't care how long it is. How much does it weigh? You somehow think these animals eating a small percentage of their body weight is POWERFEEDING? Do you need the definition of power?

3 pounds is nothing to a snake of appropriate size to eat them.

No, feeding every 3 weeks will not allow your snake to grow any faster. 10 - 14 days is adequate, generally, depends on the size of the snake.

[Squirtle]

I don't care how long it is. How much does it weigh? You somehow think these animals eating a small percentage of their body weight is POWERFEEDING? Do you need the definition of power?

3 pounds is nothing to a snake of appropriate size to eat them.

No, feeding every 3 weeks will not allow your snake to grow any faster. 10 - 14 days is adequate, generally, depends on the size of the snake.

My burm is a bit smaller than Hockenburyj2's burm on YouTube, but they have the same girth. He feeds his 3-4 pound rabbits every 2-3 weeks and his looks healthy as can be. Do you even own burms or retics? Feeding them 3 pounds of food every 10 days IS power feeding.. Burms can easily turn obese and that is what you're suggesting I do with my burm. I'm gonna go ahead and listen to the other people on my thread about feeding every 2-3 weeks an appropriate sized rabbit to maintain my burms growth..

[KORBIN5895]

Well dollars to donuts says that a chicken has more calories than a rabbit.

[ReticMan123]

Squirtle if ou want a specific answer for prey since your burm is 2 years old I would do between 10 to 15 percent every 2 weeks. That's is an adequate and healthy diet for his age. Example if he's 15 pounds then something like a 2 to 3 pound abbot every 3 weeks wold be old if ou want to feed. I like feeding larger prey with longer time in between. Also jthis is oly my own opinion so please o argument I have had many large snakes and I personally cannot kill a poor bunny or even stun me. Rabbits cannot turn their bodies and flip around like rats an it's safer to feed them lie over rats. Although of course there's always the possibility of an accident but I have never even had a small issue. Ope this helps lets see pics

[Aaron_S]

Squirtle if ou want a specific answer for prey since your burm is 2 years old I would do between 10 to 15 percent every 2 weeks. That's is an adequate and healthy diet for his age. Example if he's 15 pounds then something like a 2 to 3 pound abbot every 3 weeks wold be old if ou want to feed. I like feeding larger prey with longer time in between. Also jthis is oly my own opinion so please o argument I have had many large snakes and I personally cannot kill a poor bunny or even stun me. Rabbits cannot turn their bodies and flip around like rats an it's safer to feed them lie over rats. Although of course there's always the possibility of an accident but I have never even had a small issue. Ope this helps lets see pics


Thanks for making my next post for me :D

I was going to suggest the weight part but the poster has no idea on his snake's weight or they would have answered that question instead of telling me to look up some user on youtube.

Yes, I've owned burms in the past and retics to a lesser extent. I no longer do. I don't speak without experience.

[dinosaurdammit]

Well dollars to donuts says that a chicken has more calories than a rabbit.

Rabbit has 795 calories per lb Chicken has 810 per lb but that isnt accounting for the organs. Although i doubt much more is to be gained there.

[alexknott]

I had a 13 foot male Burmese that was given to me because he was unhealthy, he ate 5-7 jumbo rats a week but wouldn't touch a rabbit. He stayed thin and died from a uri, had him on antibiotics and everything, very said he most likely had it for a while. He didn't grow at all or even fill out any, I don't know if it was because he was sick or what but it seems to me that they all grow at different rates

[jarich]

I cant comment on the prey size/frequency here as I dont own any giants, but rabbits make better nutritional prey than chickens generally. They are higher in key nutrients and much lower in fat.

[cossiecraig]

Under captive conditions, Burmese pythons will grow to sexual maturity at an amazing rate. Growth rates achieved with females by herpetoculturists under optimal feeding conditions typically show the following growth pattern. By the end of 12 months, growth to a length of 6 to 9 1/2 feet. By 18 months, growth to between 9 1/2 to 10 1/2 feet.
Here was mine at about nearly 3 yrs old 13' and weighing 125Ilbs approx ( female ) she was fed every 14 days on ,rabbits , 2 lg rats & 1 guinea pig , 1 whole feathered chicken , 2 rats & a piglet, and this list of food i mentioned was on a rotation system ,she took them all . i'd like to see a picture of your's if thats possible ????

I guess i should add this aswell ,what you don't see in the pic is 3 grown men in the background should things go pearshaped....."snakes around the neck is in another thread " !