Question about Feeding

I have a 9 foot burmese python. I have been feeding him 3 large rats every 2 to 3 weeks. I was recently suggested by a guy a pet shop that I buy the rats at that I start feeding him rabbits. So I decided to take his advice and got a rabbit today. He struck at him twice and now is not interested this was about 3 hours ago. I just tried again and he is showing no interest. I want to prekill the rabbit and try but my burm has never eaten prekilled so i don’t know if he will eat it. My question is what do I do? Should I try again tomorrow live then try it prekilled or what?

anybody have any advice?

Sorry, I've never had a giant. Kara comes on pretty often, so hopefully she or someone else with experience with giants can help you out soon.

If your burm is used to taking rats, and only live rats at that you really ought to make the change over to f/t first... then go to rabbits. Feeding mulitple prey will aid in the change.... try offering f/t rats one week. You may find that it takes them right off, most snakes that I have come across will. If it doesnt take the f/t wait a week then try again. If it still hasnt taken the f/t by the third offering offer a live first then for the second rat toss in a f/t. The live prey should get the snake in to feeding mode at which point pretty much anything will get eating.
Once you get it on f/t rats... then do the bait and switch to get it to take a f/t rabbit. Offer a f/t rat first, slightly smaller than normal. Then for the second prey item toss in the rabbit.
You really should get it to f/t first or stick with multiple rats. A rabbit can do a LOT of damage VERY fast. A rabbits hind feet and claws should be registered as deadly weapons :)!

I am new so what does f/t mean?

f/t = frozen/thawed

How long have you had this 9FT Burmese?

Also - though it would take a good bit of rubbing - you could scent the rabbit a la rat. Agreed on f/t or pre-killed so as to reduce the risk the rabbit might rake up your burm.

I have had him for about a year and a half. i will have to try what stormy said. Also what is the best way to kill a rabit?

I think theres to many ways to kill a rabbit.
You can knock him over the head.
Personally for myself its hard knocking out a rabbit, those little fellows are cute :(

I guess you can always put him in a bag, and put a brick to his head, but that doesn't make it any easier.

I've been pondering the idea of constructing a gas chamber with a heavy-duty garbage bag and basic paintball supplies. Simply place the animal in the bag, get most of the air around it out (but not so you are suffocating it), and then just fill the bag with co2 and hold a seal on the bag for a minute or so. Would the rat or rabbit just go to sleep or would they struggle? Would that work?

They'd struggle, and have very powerful back legs to tear the bag with.

Brad, you may be able to take FourFeather's design and scale it up for bunnies. Maybe a chest cooler?

ok i finally got my berm to eat the rabbit. i just knocked the rabbit in the back of the head and stuck it in his cage and about 5 minutes later he took it. It took him a little while to get it down because he is used to eating large rats and not having to deal with a large head and shoulders.

wow i cringe at the thought of knockin a rabbitt in the head......it wasnt hard for you ??. i guess it saves you the time and effort of buying the suplies for a gas chamber and setting it all up if you can deal with that, i personally cant but i kinda admire you since you can .... i just couldent bring myself to kill such a cute thing, mice and rats are not the best lookin creatures around but bunnies are so darn cute.

you should post some pics of that burm, i love them :)

check out my website i have pics of all my animals http://mysite.verizon.net/vze42bx2/id2.html aslo wasnt to hard to kill the rabit just knocked him on the back of the head to break the neck.

WOW your burm is absolutely B-E-A-U-TIFUL !!!

Thanks. I am hoping to get the BCI that Andariel has up for adoption she is beautiful and i would love to have a BCI