best meal for a 8ft bci

venom_king · 01-06-14, 07:49 AM

hi everyone my little bci is a long way of pounding rabbits for a meal but i was just wondering what is more nutritious for him 2 large rats every 2 weeks or a ?? what ever size rabbit a month??

TheZoo · 01-06-14, 11:16 AM

when I had my big girl she was 6 ish ft (she ended up passing from age) I was told xl rats for 3 feedings then a large rabit etc...ive herd you can also do chickens every so ofter (there fatty) and I think piglets... Im not positive though so hopfully a better member will come along

Sublimeballs · 01-06-14, 12:13 PM

From what I've read rabbits are healthier then rats. But it's best to feed a varied diet: rats, rabbits as the main diet, with quails and chickens as an occasional meal. If you can get ahold of other things aswell try them out. I currently feed my jampea retic rabbits, rats, and chickens. Quails are next on my list to aquire.

venom_king · 01-06-14, 12:30 PM

thats what i was going to do rats 1 month than a rabbit next how many qualis would you feed a 6-8ft boa and the chickens what are the chances if you have had any problems with it salmonella??...and you would just chuck the bird(s) straight at them with feathers and all??

kelzerman · 01-06-14, 12:46 PM

A lot of reptiles harbor some salmonella naturally.

Sublimeballs · 01-06-14, 01:07 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by venom_king

thats what i was going to do rats 1 month than a rabbit next how many qualis would you feed a 6-8ft boa and the chickens what are the chances if you have had any problems with it salmonella??...and you would just chuck the bird(s) straight at them with feathers and all??

I wouldn't be so set on alternating months, just switch it up every couple meals(except for the chickens fatty as others said). I wouldn't be able to comment on the quail question without seeing the boa and the size of the quails you can get ahold of. Get the chickens from a reliable feeder source and there should be no worries about salmonella. Yep just feed them the birds as is, no one plucks the birds for them in the wild. Lol.

venom_king · 01-06-14, 03:15 PM

cheers i'll stick with rats and rabbits for him now that nasty disease that affected rabbits has died down myxomatosis..and thinking about it a 8ft bci feeding on quails..thats a LOT of birds to prepare for 1 snake!!

Sublimeballs · 01-06-14, 06:14 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by venom_king

cheers i'll stick with rats and rabbits for him now that nasty disease that affected rabbits has died down myxomatosis..and thinking about it a 8ft bci feeding on quails..thats a LOT of birds to prepare for 1 snake!!

It might be a lot of quails, but the benefits to your animal should be worth it. Idk about the uk, but here rodent pro sells retired breeder quails for $2(just over 1 quid).

KORBIN5895 · 01-06-14, 09:00 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sublimeballs

It might be a lot of quails, but the benefits to your animal should be worth it. Idk about the uk, but here rodent pro sells retired breeder quails for $2(just over 1 quid).

Why would it be worth it?

venom_king · 01-07-14, 05:10 AM

right if i can't get any from a reptile shop/supplier would quails be alright from a butcher or what and does it affect their poop like it does with royals runny and really smelly??...and are they more nutritious than rats and rabbits??

Sublimeballs · 01-07-14, 05:44 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by KORBIN5895

Why would it be worth it?

I would imagine quails have different amouts of various nutrients compared to other prey items, hence the should be worth it. I'm not saying to feed a quail heavy diet.

KORBIN5895 · 01-07-14, 06:14 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sublimeballs

I would imagine quails have different amouts of various nutrients compared to other prey items, hence the should be worth it. I'm not saying to feed a quail heavy diet.

So you really don't have a solid answer to why a varied diet is better other than you imagination?

Sublimeballs · 01-07-14, 06:42 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by KORBIN5895

So you really don't have a solid answer to why a varied diet is better other than you imagination?

Studies on the long term health affects of a varied vs all rat diet in captive snakes are extremely lacking. So there isn't proof that either way(varied diet vs rats) is "better"; atleast not that I've found. Due to varying compositions of each prey item(fat content, protein, etc..) I feel there is something to be had from a varied diet. But until there is solid evidence, yes this is all my opinion and not fact.

Would you care to provide us with facts of why I'm wrong?

KORBIN5895 · 01-07-14, 08:10 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sublimeballs

. But it's best to feed a varied diet:

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sublimeballs

the benefits to your animal should be worth it. .

I'm not the one giving advice like it's the gospel when all I have to back it up is my own opinions and imagination so why do i have to prove you wrong?

lewis13 · 01-07-14, 11:08 AM

Not to jump in the middle of a good ol fashion online disagreement, but is there a down side to a varied diet? It seems to me that in the wild a snakes diet is varied and they seem to be doing fine last I checked. My only reason for sticking to a rat only diet would be because the convenience of getting them locally and the relative low cost. Just my humble opinion.