How many of your BCI are on Rabbits?

Vengeance · 09-09-04, 01:15 PM

How many of you guys have your BCI on rabbits?

I've been considering getting one for a few months now, I wanted to get something a little bit larger the 6 ft, but don't want to get into the 15ft range. From what I've read 10 ft is pretty common for a regular red tail which is right around the size I'm looking for. Only thing I'm concerned about is prey size. When they get to that size do they need to be on rabbits or are Jumbo rats still a good prey size? I don't have an abundant avilablity of rabbits, and I also not into having to kill them myself. So I was wondering, how many people actually have their BCI on rabbits and if rats are a suitable prey size for the entire life span of a BCI?

Invictus · 09-09-04, 01:30 PM

First off, 10 feet is not common, even for the true redtails. In fact, it's very rare.

Secondly, rabbits are cheaper than rats, but for example, my 6.5 foot female takes 3 jumbo rats in a meal or a 3lb rabbit. Rats are by far more nutritious, so you don't need to use quite as much weight to get the same value for the snake. I feed whatever I have, but I find the bunnies to be more convenient.

timminsreptiles · 09-09-04, 01:32 PM

Someone correct me if im wrong but red tails usually will not reach sizes of 15ft.....Females are generally larger up to 10-11ft and males around 6-8ft. My male is 7ft and eats medium rabbits...but i dont see any problem in feeding them adult rat thoughout there life.

Vengeance · 09-09-04, 01:37 PM

Sorry my mistake, I thought 10ft was more common for BCI espically for Females.

I'm in the process of starting my own breeding colony of rats, so I'll have rats in abundance, but Rabbits, unless live, I've never been able to find localy to me. But then again, I've also haven't looked very hard, not needing rabbits.

timminsreptiles · 09-09-04, 01:48 PM

rabbits are hard to find pre-killed....and when you do find them pre-killed they cost just about as much as if you were buying to eat it yourself. farmers are not allowed selling them pre-killed unless they are lisenced to sell meat.....due to health mumbo jumbo.

LdyDrgn · 09-09-04, 01:55 PM

Our 7-8 year old female bci is just over 7 feet... I've only had her for just over 2.5 years. I believe she was powerfed when young due to her small head size, too. She gets medium rabbits (about 3.5 pounds) once a month sometimes, otherwise it's a colossal rat every two weeks. On average, female bci only reach 7-8 feet, although there are those with genetics that get over 10.

Linds · 09-09-04, 08:30 PM

In addition to what Invictus and LdyDrgn said, size is also generally predetermined by genetics, not diet. Obviously if the snake is fed improperly it may have a small impact on size, however. If rabbits are not easy to come by, then by no means do you have to track them down. I breed my own rats, so that's generally all my boas get. The only snake that gets rabbits is one of my Bcc girls, and that is because she generally will not eat more than one item per meal per month (well until she became possibly gravid, now she will eat small rats quite often), and one large rat per month is not a sufficient meal for a snake of her size, especially when trying to put on weight. She gets fed 5 lb rabbits. Although they are able to easily take rabbits, boas can do just fine on a diet of rats as adults

bighillreptiles · 09-09-04, 08:43 PM

i feed my bci rat's and ginie pigs gp becouse thay are a natural food for boa's and i have a kid not far from her that breeds way to manny! med gp for three bucks not bad one pig is the same wh as three rats and only feed every two weeks

bistrobob85 · 09-09-04, 08:57 PM

I'll put mine on rabbits next Easter!!!

MouseKilla · 09-09-04, 09:56 PM

Funny you should say that.

I'm thinking about putting together a calendar and maybe taking some of the pictures myself including an Easter themed shot for April.

Pink and yellow fake plastic straw strewn about, a toppled Easter basket, chocolate everywhere. The Easter Bunny's white fluffy tail peeking out from between the coils of a big boa. lol! I'm not sure how I'm gonna get Santa eaten but I'll figure something out... maybe a big burm and a stolen reindeer... hmmm

BOAS_N_PYTHONS · 09-09-04, 11:21 PM

VENGEANCE:

In our collection so far 11 are anywhere between 1 to 3 lbs rabbits as 1 meal every 10 - 15 days, these boas are all 7 plus feet, even my 10 foot Albino Burmese Python eats rabbits 2 at a time every 3 weeks.

Everyone here already convered the information part of your question.

BISTROBOB85:

LOL.............Easter, man its a holy day, let the rabbits gooooo.....LOL.

Cya...

Tony

bistrobob85 · 09-09-04, 11:25 PM

Well, it's a holy day for everyone, including snakes! When you're food, things can get kinda out of control during holidays!!!

Forever · 09-11-04, 04:41 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by MouseKilla
Funny you should say that.

I'm thinking about putting together a calendar and maybe taking some of the pictures myself including an Easter themed shot for April.

Pink and yellow fake plastic straw strewn about, a toppled Easter basket, chocolate everywhere. The Easter Bunny's white fluffy tail peeking out from between the coils of a big boa. lol! I'm not sure how I'm gonna get Santa eaten but I'll figure something out... maybe a big burm and a stolen reindeer... hmmm

I think just having a retic eating one of santas reindeer while he watches would work. Eating santa is a little out there. I'd be interested in this calender if you made it.

bighillreptiles · 09-11-04, 05:01 PM

hay killa i will take a calendar lol

MouseKilla · 09-12-04, 09:49 PM

Thanks guys, I'll definitely post something when I've finished it.

It's definitely going to be a snakes only calendar but I still haven't decided if it's going to be full of images only full time snake junkies can relate to (like the Easter Bunny meeting his doom) or if it would be better to go with a more mainstream pretty snake picture sort of thing. Hmmm...