Feeder Pigs

[Strutter769]

I found this site and wondered how many would choose to feed pigs over other large prey items, like Guinea Pigs, rabbits, XXL rats, chickens etc..

MonsterFeeders.com

How did you come to that decision?

Thanks,

Roy

[Terranaut]

Well rabbit has less fat ,less cholesterol, a third the calories and higher protein than pork so I doubt I would. I just read all the comparisons on the net and hell I might start eating rabbit. I had no idea it was so healthy. Always putting whats best over whats cheapest for my snakes is why I want to switch everyone possible over. And yes seriously I am going to buy some for the family too. Just not from the same place

[Strutter769]

How small a rabbit can you get? In other words, what's the smallest snake you'd put on a rabbit diet?

[KORBIN5895]

Snakefood feeds some of her corns rabbits.

[Terranaut]

Smallest I have seen is 1/2 lb but I am sure you can get from pinkys up. Same as rats. I will keep my king and my gopher on rats for a while and my jumbo rat supply for my 2 Boas(6ft male 7ft female) and my JCPs(5.5 ft male 7.5 ft female) is high so they will all still get rats off and on. One thing I need to find out is how mature the rabbit needs to be before its calcium is higher than a similar sized rat. So does a 500gram rabbit have more calcium than a 500 gram mature rat? I'm not sure. Yet

[Strutter769]

@ Terranaut ~ Please post your findings.

Thanks!

[Terranaut]

This is more geared at human consumption so its just the meat.
29 True Facts about Meat Rabbits

I can post more if you need. Just on my phone now.

[Fredricks]

It's definitely a good question. I just recently have seen people feeding pigs to retics. I've always seen rabbits

[Strutter769]

I see the smallest available is half-pound (8 oz.). That's a very tiny pig!

[Strutter769]

The size is equivalent to a large rat. Any ibeas on researching the nutritional differences?

[Strutter769]

Compliments of monsterfeeder.com:

"The higher bone density and body mass in Monster Feeder pigs mean extra calcium, more nutrients, and rapid growth for your reptiles."

Is this really healthy for any snake?

I am under the impression that raising them slowly would best prepare them for breeding. Is it?

[KORBIN5895]

I think there would be a huge difference between feeding a proper sized "nutrient packed" prey item ( pigs) and power feeding with rats.

With power feeding their metabolism never gets a break. If you feed them the pigs on a normal schedule you would give their metabolism a break.

[Strutter769]

Awesome explanation. Thanks Kevin.

[Terranaut]

They must be comparing to rats in that statement. An 8oz pig would not be the same nutritionaly as a 8oz rat. Its all ratios. So much fat meat and bone. 8oz is 8oz. I think the reason things would grow fast would have to do with the higher caloric value of pork per pound than anything else. Its almost tripple that of rabbits. Considering we keep our snakes in cages where the possibility of obesety is there I still think rabbit is a better choice. It may not lead to the biggest snake but IMHO it will be a healthier snake.

[Freebody]

i bet most people that feed pig to their large snakes are pig farmers themselves and are cutting cost, i would stick to rabbits. i actually just orderd 15, 3 pound rabbits for my bella the other day, ill have to tell ya how she switches over from rats, im sure she will care less. sent the money but have recieved no email responce to 3 emails since, this weekend ill see them at the show and ask wtf! they are well respected breeders, and i always stop to say hi and we know each other by name, but over the web im not sure how they treat people. im not happy they did not confirm my payment and what not, as i only did an email tranfer 2x before and cant remember if i get a confirmation when the funds are taken out, as it comes out of my account right away.... hmm few more days till we meet face to face.