Feeding Problems

[finaldecember]

I've had Maja for a few months now (since March, I believe) and since I bought her, I was told that she had only ever been fed rosy red minnows. That's all she's had since then, except for the rare occasion when I cannot get any minnows that are big enough for her (majorly picky eater, size wise) and I have to get goldfish.

I know that this is not a good thing for her to have, but I feel like I'm stuck. I've tried live pinkies, f/t pinkies, and if I could get them around here, I'd try worms. The pinkies were scented, of course, but no matter what I do with them after that (including leaving the f/t pinkies floating in the water with a few minnows, or leaving the live ones in her tank for a while), Maja won't eat anything but fish.

I guess the point of my post is this: What am I doing wrong? I know that she should be eating more than just minnows. Every site I've checked has said that, and a few have even said that she shouldn't eat fish at all, but I can't figure out how to get her to eat pinkies or worms. I'd try sticking the pinkie in her mouth as she's eating something else (posting, I think it's called?), but she refuses to eat while I'm in the room. Any advice on what else I could try?

[adamanteus]

It sounds as though you're trying all the right things, Aiden. Sometimes it takes a HUGE amount of patience to get them to eat what's good for them. You're right, the diet needs to be more varied, but don't panic too much, the effects of Thaminase are slow.... you have some more time yet.

[Lori P]

When you said you couldn't get worms.... do you mean you literally don't have a yard? If you don't, could you try a local bait store for nightcrawlers? Just an idea... altho some won't even take worms! You might also try chopped up salmon, tiliapia or rainbow trout in with the live minnows... if she dives for a minnow and grabs the other piece of fish, she might just accept that. Just some ideas!! Good luck! :-)

[crzy_kevo]

have you tried salmon sliced into worm sized strips? or frogs one of mine will only eat frogs and the other will eat anything so i keep her on salmon

[Garter_Gertie]

have you tried salmon sliced into worm sized strips?

Thass my Kevie! :)

Or tilapia? Or trout? Or even cod or whatever you can cabbage onto at the grocery store?

HANG IN THERE! We should be able to get you through this.

[finaldecember]

When you said you couldn't get worms.... do you mean you literally don't have a yard? If you don't, could you try a local bait store for nightcrawlers? Just an idea... altho some won't even take worms! You might also try chopped up salmon, tiliapia or rainbow trout in with the live minnows... if she dives for a minnow and grabs the other piece of fish, she might just accept that. Just some ideas!! Good luck! :-)

I do have a yard, but the soil is really poor around my house. There's a lot of lead and other chemicals that means, even if I did manage to get some worms, they wouldn't be fit for Maja to eat. I'm thinking I might have to try the fish strips if I can get a small-ish piece of salmon or trout the next time I go down that way.

[finaldecember]

have you tried salmon sliced into worm sized strips? or frogs one of mine will only eat frogs and the other will eat anything so i keep her on salmon

Haven't tried salmon yet, but if I can get some fresh, I'll have to see if that works. When you say worm-sized, how big would you suggest? I'm guessing the size of your average earthworm maybe?

[finaldecember]

Thass my Kevie! :)

Or tilapia? Or trout? Or even cod or whatever you can cabbage onto at the grocery store?

HANG IN THERE! We should be able to get you through this.

This might sound like a really odd question, but would all cod be the same basic thing? Rock cod is really easy to get fresh around here and it's not too expensive, so I might try that first since salmon can get pricey with the one place I've found it fresh.

[Garter_Gertie]

Well, final, on that you've got me. The pros, I'm sure, will give you an answer.

What about catfish? At least it's plentful around here...

[count dewclaw]

I believe catfish has been mentioned as being high in thiaminase, so no good to feed garters. Don't know about cod...

[jitami]

Sounds like you're doing everything right, just wanted to add that the fish doesn't have to be fresh. It can be frozen and then thawed out for feeding. Good luck!

[crzy_kevo]

ill go check on the cod and the link to see is
Nutrient Requirements of Mink and Foxes, Second Revised Edition, 1982 (http://books.nap.edu/openbook.php?isbn=030903325X&page=64)

[crzy_kevo]

ok cod looks to be good for the snakes so go for it

[drache]

I'd like to mention that it's actually better to freeze the fish first, so as to reduce the danger of parasites - so it can be frozen
I get a little piece of frozen salmon fillet and chop pieces off as I need them - it's not that thick and a decent knife can just take off a slice and cut it into strips frozen - serve them with some calcium supplement once they're thawed
there's a piece in the freezer that's just the garters' - it lasts 2-3 months

[crzy_kevo]

worm sized pieces would be like 2 inches long and almost 1/4 inch thick

[finaldecember]

Awesome. I'd read somewhere that it had to be fresh, but this is even better. Thanks for checking on the cod! I never would have known where to start looking for that kind of info. :)