Finally She ate a Guinea Pig!

TailsW/Scales · 07-08-07, 10:32 AM

I have a female burm that is 8 years old and 11' long. She has been a die hard rat eater all her life. Snubbing her scaley nose at everything else offered. She will put down 6-7 jumbo rats in a sitting. All my snakes are fed every seven days so that'll give you an idea as to how much money she is costing me in rats. Oddly enough it's cheaper for me to feed her one bunny or guinea pig per feeding compared to seven jumbo rats. All my other snakes swithced over without issues.

I decided to give her another shot at trying something larger. I starved her for two weeks in the hopes this might help to boost her appetite. Y'all now what food mongers burms are. lol
So yesterday I thawed out the G'pig and waited to make sure she knew her feeding time had come. I tossed it in and waited. She nuzzled it and then ....................... mmmmmmmmm g'pigs are yummy.

Hopefully she'll switch to rabbits this fall.

RIBBIT · 07-08-07, 10:49 AM

you feed her 7 JUMBO rats I can see how one g pig or even a rabbit is cheaper.

The Snake Guru · 07-08-07, 11:04 AM

Congrats on getting her to switch over! Certainly is a beautiful burm!

~B~

ToddBecker · 07-08-07, 11:14 AM

I have had a few burms in the past that were problematic when it came to switching to rabbits. One method I have been pretty successfull with is to "chase" a small rat with a rabbit. What I men by this is two feed the snake a rat (or whatever it is it is eating regularly) and as it is making the last big gulps sucking the tail down and moving the rat into its stomache I place the head of a f/t small rabbit into its mouth ontop of the tail of the rat. With a little guidance the snake will usually just continue on with the swallowing, taking hte rabbit as well. Usually after two or three times of this the snake has gotten used to the rabbits and will take them on their own. Hope this helps anyone with problematic switchers. Todd

juggalo · 07-08-07, 02:23 PM

i have also had problem switchers and well i have used many methods some don't sound real nice when typed out so i will leave those alone but they do work(right guru)
another trick that has worked for me is..trying a live rabbit for one feeding i know everyone is normally against live prey but hey i am telling you if it will get my snakes on rabbits i will do it.i had one of the pickyest eaters on the planet and well even she made the switch and after one live rabbit is now eating frozen thawed rabbits.just an idea..
hey guru if you want to explain the winged rabbits you feel free you helped me out and that one worked for daisy...

TailsW/Scales · 07-08-07, 02:40 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ToddBecker

I have had a few burms in the past that were problematic when it came to switching to rabbits. One method I have been pretty successfull with is to "chase" a small rat with a rabbit. What I men by this is two feed the snake a rat (or whatever it is it is eating regularly) and as it is making the last big gulps sucking the tail down and moving the rat into its stomache I place the head of a f/t small rabbit into its mouth ontop of the tail of the rat. With a little guidance the snake will usually just continue on with the swallowing, taking hte rabbit as well. Usually after two or three times of this the snake has gotten used to the rabbits and will take them on their own. Hope this helps anyone with problematic switchers. Todd

Thank you for reminding me of this method Todd. I used to do that with a female tiger Retic I once had. Only she would have a mixed meal of rats and small bunnies. It was the only way I could get her to take a rabbit was to lead of with a couple of rats first.

Ribbit - Yes she eats 7 jumbo rats. She's my little heifer, hence her name being "Bessie"

Juggalo - Ugh I hate feeding live rabbits. It's not because of the safety issue as I am a very watchful mom. I hover! lol I hate it because mercy they are LOUD when they are getting wrapped. Hopefully she'll change over without issue.

The Snake Guru · 07-08-07, 02:53 PM

LOL, yeah there certainly are mant ways to switch over snakes...some definitely less of a pain than others.

I believe we got Juggalo's Big girl switched from chickens to rabbits by sewing a chicken wing to the rabbit with cotton thread....she's been on rabbits ever since. Neat trick if you ever run into real picky eaters.

And I really agree with the screaming rabbits! LOL My neighbors would have heart attacks....luckily I haven't run into that issue very often....mine have taken to F/T rabbits without any issues.

~B~

ffollett · 07-08-07, 03:49 PM

Both of my burms and my boas have all switched prey items with no problem. But I will defrost the rabbit or g-pig in the same stew as the rats so they pick up the scent.