vitamin supplements

[brigitte]

i was just wondering besides sprinkling with calcium what vitamin supplements should you be adding to baby garters food? i am presently feedng nightcrawlers with calcium.

[adamanteus]

A good quality multi-vitamin, especially formulated for reptiles (such as Nutrobal) is a good supplement to use... but avoid over-use. There is a lot more goodness in nightcrawlers than they get credit for.

[brigitte]

so would you not recommend the multi-vitamin then? or how often would i use it?

[adamanteus]

I do recommend it. But don't use it at every feeding... once a month is probably enough.

[brigitte]

thank you very much james

[adamanteus]

You're welcome, Brigitte. But please wait to see what others recommend, so you receive a balanced view.:)

[Sid]

Brigitte, if you are only feeding nightcrawlers, I agree with James a good multi-vitamin monthly.

[drache]

since we're on the subject of vitamins . . .
is there anything that can counteract thiaminase for those snakes that cannot be switched from minnows?
so far I've been able to switch all my snakes, but there are a couple who really prefer minnows and will at times eat nothing else and I keep having to do the entire switching process again at the rate of once or twice a year

[Garter_Gertie]

Rhea, I don't think it can be counteracted. The way I understand it working is that the thiaminase inhibits the absorbion of thiamin. As long as there is thiaminase you could, say, triple the dose of thiamin but it still would not be absorbed by the body.

So, I'm thinking then, that vitamins are wasted when using rosy reds. Or at least the reason they're being given - for the thiamin - is a waste. The other vitamins are still absorbed.

[drache]

that was my understanding too
thankfully it's not a big issue for me

[Garter_Gertie]

Me either. At this point. I do need to get out and get some pinkies for P & J. And some rasboras or guppies or something. Rite now they've just got worms, but have had like four fish this month.

I've been toying with the idea of just buying some guppies and tossing them into a tank. You don't a heater for them, I believe... I would prolly in the winter, though. Then I'd never have to worry about thiaminase.

[infernalis]

Me either. At this point. I do need to get out and get some pinkies for P & J. And some rasboras or guppies or something. Rite now they've just got worms, but have had like four fish this month.

I've been toying with the idea of just buying some guppies and tossing them into a tank. You don't a heater for them, I believe... I would prolly in the winter, though. Then I'd never have to worry about thiaminase.

Thats a great idea MK, I keep a 10 gallon tank, air pump / filter and all, then get feeders in bulk. When I feed snakies, I just dip net what I want.

Fish food is cheap, a big can lasts for months...

[gregmonsta]

I use Reptasol at one drop per 550ml bottle as a constant trace amount :)