PDA

View Full Version : Advice for Feeding a Ribbon


DecapitatedStacie
04-14-2008, 10:38 PM
Hi all,

I've had my garter snake for about 5 months, he was either a baby or a "teen" when I bought him, about 12 inches.

For the past 2 months, I've been feeding him about 5-7 minnows/goldfish per week.

My questions are...

1) do I need to worry about over-feeding him?
2) at what point in age (or length, easier to measure) do I change his eating habits?

Thank you!
adamanteus
04-15-2008, 02:15 AM
Hi Carolyn, and welcome to the forum.:)
I think it might be a good idea if you change his diet straight away. Goldfish are toxic and can make your snake ill, or even kill it over a period of time. Have a read through this-
http://www.thamnophis.com/caresheets/index.php?title=Thiamin,#THIAMIN.2C_THIAMINASE.2C_ .26_GOLDFISH
Your snake needs a more varied diet, ideally you should use 'safe' fish (trout or salmon, cut into bite sized portions is very good), nightcrawlers and pinky mice, again cut into managable sizes.
Lori P
04-15-2008, 05:48 AM
Welcome Carolyn!! James is right on with his advice. And send pics of your little guy, we love pics!!! :-)
anji1971
04-15-2008, 07:02 AM
Hello and welcome!:)
You must put up pics as soon as possible!
Stefan-A
04-15-2008, 07:03 AM
Welcome aboard, Carolyn. :)
Snaky
04-15-2008, 08:01 AM
Welcome to the forum and have fun here :)
ssssnakeluvr
04-15-2008, 11:05 AM
welcome to the forum! As james said, stop feeding goldfish....trout and salmon are good for them.
Purplegrrl666
04-15-2008, 10:03 PM
Well I mostly feed him minnows, trout and salmon are not exactly within my budget.
EdgyExoticReptiles
04-15-2008, 10:34 PM
for me its cheaper i buy a pound and 1/6 of salmon for $8 then cut it up into 250 minnows sized pieces, each being 3 cents rather than the 10 cents minnows are each

Well I mostly feed him minnows, trout and salmon are not exactly within my budget.
bulrush
04-16-2008, 07:49 AM
Someone replied to me today on this same forum, that minnows should not be fed to snakes because they contain some thiaminase. Are minnows ok or not?

It was in this thread:
http://www.thamnophis.com/forum/husbandry/2899-garter-snake-foods-question.html
EdgyExoticReptiles
04-16-2008, 05:45 PM
they contain less than goldfish but as an only food item over time it will still have the same effects, just ask kitkat

Someone replied to me today on this same forum, that minnows should not be fed to snakes because they contain some thiaminase. Are minnows ok or not?

It was in this thread:
http://www.thamnophis.com/forum/husbandry/2899-garter-snake-foods-question.html