Getting python onto rabbits?

[dannydee]

The first attempt wasn't successful but it could've been due to her coming into her shed cycle. Once she sheds I want to try again, but I don't want to waste another rabbit. She hasn't been a fuzzy feeder, she took a small chicken on the first attempt and went straight to rats from mice without any dramas.

I'm thinking it will be quite hard to scent a rabbit with a rat, as the rabbit has a stronger smell.

Does anyone have any advice, so the next rabbit feeding attempt goes without problems?

Cheers

 

[CaptainRatbag]

What sort of python? What size rabbit are you trying to feed it?

As long as the rabbit is of suitable size for your sanke, I would just make sure it (the wabbit) is warm enough so the snake can identify it? I mean, with most pythons, your chihuahua isnt safe, so I cant imagine why your python didn't smash the rabbit?

I have had trouble with one of my spotteds that was temperature related..... it looked at the rat like was offering it a radioactive dog turd rolled in iron filings to begin with..... then I warmed it up to about 40 degrees c (the rat, not the snake) and the snake smashed it :lol:

 

[dannydee]

She's a coastal and I'm offering small rabbits. Like I said, I think it might be due to her entering her shed cycle. Usually she will smash anything that is offered.
I defrost everything snake food related in warm water, then just before I offer it, I let it sit in hot water for a few moments. I don't think her refusing was temperature related.

On a side note, I watched your youtube video. It made me laugh when you kept dropping the rat! What a snake though to have as a visitor to your shed. I'm very jealous.

 

[Cockney_Red]

They will take It or leave It, most of mine take It!

 

[wokka]

Because rabbits have long fur they seem easier to swallow when wet. I have noticed problems when keepers feed dry rabbits and the snake has problems swallowing as the fur acts like a spring expanding every time the snake tries to move along the carcase.

 

[Tsubakai]

Another option is to feed a small rat first to initiate feeding mode then follow it up with the rabbit.

 

[dannydee]

Cheers folks

 

[serpenttongue]

I've found that rats have a stronger scent than the rabbits I use.

In any case, when your snake is hungry enough it will take a rabbit. Just hold out on feeding for a while.

 

[sacred_DUC]

i just run a knife over the head of rabbit to just to get a touch blood happening

 

[CaptainRatbag]

She's a coastal and I'm offering small rabbits. Like I said, I think it might be due to her entering her shed cycle. Usually she will smash anything that is offered.
I defrost everything snake food related in warm water, then just before I offer it, I let it sit in hot water for a few moments. I don't think her refusing was temperature related.

On a side note, I watched your youtube video. It made me laugh when you kept dropping the rat! What a snake though to have as a visitor to your shed. I'm very jealous.

He is still hanging around and so is another big one..... I take them down the back.... next day they are back again I just check where they are when I go out there.... they just ignore me.... I just walk around them :lol: but I keep an eye on them tho :shock: A nip from one of them wouldnt tickle!

 

[jairusthevirus21]

Yes i also used a rat to start with just to get it into feed mode.... works out good.

 

[Wally]

Because rabbits have long fur they seem easier to swallow when wet. I have noticed problems when keepers feed dry rabbits and the snake has problems swallowing as the fur acts like a spring expanding every time the snake tries to move along the carcase.

I've never had a problem feeding dry rabbits.

 

[dannydee]

I've found that rats have a stronger scent than the rabbits I use.

In any case, when your snake is hungry enough it will take a rabbit. Just hold out on feeding for a while.

That's my plan. She's coming up for a shed, so I'll try again in a couple of weeks. Hopefully she'll take it no bother. If she doesn't I'll try getting her going with a rat.

 

[wokka]

I've never had a problem feeding dry rabbits.

We sell 100s of rabbits each month for reptile feed so i guess we get more varied feed back than someone feeding a few to their own collection. Obviously reptiles manage to eat dry rabbits in the wild so maybe its a result of conditioning animals with years of rats and then introducing rabbits after that.

 

[-Peter]

We sell 100s of rabbits each month for reptile feed so i guess we get more varied feed back than someone feeding a few to their own collection. Obviously reptiles manage to eat dry rabbits in the wild so maybe its a result of conditioning animals with years of rats and then introducing rabbits after that.

I find that farmed rabbits sometimes have longer or thicker fur. In exceptional cases even the olive turned these type down.