silversides ok?

[aquamentus_11]

Just wondering whether silversides are a good mainstay for garters considering that they're marine fish. No probs with NaCl or iodine?

[chris-uk]

"Silverside" is a common name that is sometimes used for different species - pond smelt (Hypomesus olidus) is on the safe list as far as thiaminase is concerned.
I'm not sure that sodium or iodine is a problem, do salt water fish have a higher level of either in their flesh? I was under the impression that salt water fish constantly excrete the salt that they absorb through osmosis, meaning that internally their salty content is the same as freshwater fish or in fact the snake that eats them.

[guidofatherof5]

Variety is best.

[BLUESIRTALIS]

agreed!
Variety is best.

[mb90078]

I use them as the majority of the diet for mine, but as others have stated, mixing in other foods to the diet is a great way to make sure they have a balanced diet.

[guidofatherof5]

I use them as the majority of the diet for mine, but as others have stated, mixing in other foods to the diet is a great way to make sure they have a balanced diet.

A varied diet is a good thing.

[aquamentus_11]

A varied diet is a good thing.


Thanks. I'm right with you guys there. Half the fun for me of keeping herps is feeding different prey items. I'd just rather offer something with a skeleton as a staple and personally feel happier with fish more often than rodents for these guys. So as long as the pond smelt are safe, that's what I'll use with nightcrawlers and the occasional mouse.
Now the real question is which type of garter should I get? Options are melanistic eastern, parietalis, blue infernalis or anery parietalis. Going to be female regardless

[aquamentus_11]

Or puget

[guidofatherof5]

Red Sided garter are great snakes. Never found a picky eater or bad attitude.

[aquamentus_11]

How about pugets?

[guidofatherof5]

I've never had any so I couldn't say.

[chris-uk]

Infernalis seem to have an aggressive attitude.
My WC female parietalis is a sweet girl, a real character.
I don't keep the other species you mentioned.

[ConcinusMan]

...or bad attitude.

Ha! I have something to say about that...
http://i42.tinypic.com/2mziqlx.jpg

That normal you sent me launches himself into orbit if I go anywhere near him and if I pick him up I get musked and sometimes bit repeatedly. At the very least he flails around with his mouth open lunging at my face. If that's not a bad attitude I'd hate to see a red sided that actually does have one. :D

Truth is, silversides in a grocery store could be anything. Usually true smelt. I wouldn't use those, or use sparingly.

I use Sally's from the pet store though, but I wouldn't say as a staple. I use these and tilapia fillet but I be sure to include rodents and occasionally night crawlers too. Main thing is to not try to raise garters on just one food source unless that food source is rodents.

These are OK. Snakes love 'em and they have no thiaminase. Never had any apparent problems using these. And as far as sodium/salt goes, all fish have it. Fish don't drink water so they do have to keep salt balance with the surrounding water. If they didn't, they would either take too much in and their cells would explode (that's what happens when you put a saltwater fish in freshwater) or the saltwater they're in would suck all the water out of their cells (which is what happens when you put a frog or goldfish in the sea). The salt in these silversides isn't enough to hurt your garters (their kidneys can keep up with it and eliminate it) and freshwater fish have significantly less, true.

These are OK. Good garter food, but not exactly cheap.
http://pet.imageg.net/graphics/product_images/pPETS-9657482dt.jpg