Feeding Garters Shrimp? Possible?

[J@50n]

Hey everyone I was in the seafood department the other day at Walmart and I saw a bag of raw little shrimps (the size of a quarter total). Anyone ever though of feeding with shrimp? Is it a possibility? If not why not?

Any ideas!?

[Plissken]

i dont know about the meat. but i would imagine that a shrimp exoskeleton would be similar to insects, which snakes cant digest. so you would have to skin all the shrimp prior.

[guidofatherof5]

They might eat it but I would be worried about where it was from(not bought). Chemicals, heavy metals and pesticides.
I also don't know about the make-up of shrimp.
Definitely not in their wild food menu.

[J@50n]

i dont know about the meat. but i would imagine that a shrimp exoskeleton would be similar to insects, which snakes cant digest. so you would have to skin all the shrimp prior.

I'm talking about the ones with just the meat... let me find a picture...

No tail, no skin, nothing.

http://img819.imageshack.us/img819/4837/oceanseafood.jpg (http://imageshack.us/photo/my-images/819/oceanseafood.jpg/)

[J@50n]

They might eat it but I would be worried about where it was from(not bought). Chemicals, heavy metals and pesticides.
I also don't know about the make-up of shrimp.
Definitely not in their wild food menu.

Neither are Pinkies:P

[Plissken]

based on a quick google search, most shrimp has about 150mg of sodium per 3.5oz . I'm not sure, but that may be to high for snakes.

[guidofatherof5]

based on a quick google search, most shrimp has about 150mg of sodium per 3.5oz . I'm not sure, but that may be to high for snakes.

Good info. Thanks for finding it;)
Not sure how much sodium a garter snake gets per meal but I would think it's not much.

[J@50n]

Good info. Thanks for finding it;)
Not sure how much sodium a garter snake gets per meal but I would think it's not much.

BUT 150mg of sodium per 3.5oz... My home scale tells me that one qarter sized piece of shrimp is only .1oz therefor really one meal is only about 4mg of sodium... If I did that math correct?

[J@50n]

This website (http://www.fatsecret.com/calories-nutrition/usda/shrimp?portionid=37348&portionamount=1.000) I found says one small shrimp only contains 7mg of sodium, and shows all the nutrition facts about it...

[Plissken]

That may be fine, but I don't know if 7mg is to much or not. Worms have very low sodium content as sodium dries their skin and kills them. I wouldn't believe that freshwater guppies have any sodium either.

[d_virginiana]

I wouldn't be as worried about the sodium as I would the potential metals..
Also, shrimp is way different than fish (I ran a DNA gel of shrimp vs several types of fish awhile back; it was actually really interesting!) but the protein content and all is way different. It might not be as nutritional for them...
There's so many cheap food options that we know are safe, it'd just be easier to avoid the shrimp IMO...

[J@50n]

I wouldn't be as worried about the sodium as I would the potential metals..
Also, shrimp is way different than fish (I ran a DNA gel of shrimp vs several types of fish awhile back; it was actually really interesting!) but the protein content and all is way different. It might not be as nutritional for them...
There's so many cheap food options that we know are safe, it'd just be easier to avoid the shrimp IMO...

Will do :) Just thought of that today and hadn't ever read anything on it, so I decided whats a better thing to do than ask the forum!!

I talked to my local pet store owner and he said he will sell me pinkys so I'm all good there :D

[ssssnakeluvr]

Neither are Pinkies:P
garters are known to eat rodents in the wild. wanderings especially.

[guidofatherof5]

Neither are Pinkies:P

I've never seen it happen in the wild but I have had wild caught garters(T.radix) take pinkies the second they were offered. Leads me to believe that if they found a nest of them in my shed the pinkies would be a good meal. I've also read in many publications that rodents are on the menu of many species of garter snakes.:)

[d_virginiana]

Will do :) Just thought of that today and hadn't ever read anything on it, so I decided whats a better thing to do than ask the forum!!

I talked to my local pet store owner and he said he will sell me pinkys so I'm all good there :D

This exact same question came up for feeding pacman frogs on another forum not too long ago, and the same concerns for sodium and all came up too, but no one could find a reason that it was a 100% terrible idea either. Apparently it's a pretty common thought, but no one really feels safe enough with it to risk it!

Also, do you get live pinkies from this store?! Lucky...

[J@50n]

This exact same question came up for feeding pacman frogs on another forum not too long ago, and the same concerns for sodium and all came up too, but no one could find a reason that it was a 100% terrible idea either. Apparently it's a pretty common thought, but no one really feels safe enough with it to risk it!

Also, do you get live pinkies from this store?! Lucky...

(I haven't bought anything yet)
Oh no not live ones... Although I'm not sure... I didn't get into a real big conversation with him about them. Are live better then Frozen?

[Mrs N1ntndo]

So how do you prepair a pinkie.Ive never doneit and if it is one was when there live then what do you do when there frozen.

[drache]

I think frozen is better
thaw before feeding - that's the amount of prep required

[d_virginiana]

Frozen is better for garters I think. I have other animals that have a really difficult time taking anything not alive, so I wish there were a place I could go to get live ones when I need them.


So how do you prepair a pinkie.Ive never doneit and if it is one was when there live then what do you do when there frozen.

Depends on the size of the snake. If it's a baby, you cut the pinky into bits while it's still frozen and give it to them in chunks. In adults you just thaw it in a glass of hot water like you would for a frozen shrimp.

[snakeman]

A lot of garters do eat pinks in the wild

[kibakiba]

You aren't supposed to thaw in hot water, you're supposed to thaw them in cool to room temp. water.

Personally, I just set them out on the cutting board to thaw.

[ConcinusMan]

That may be fine, but I don't know if 7mg is to much or not. Worms have very low sodium content as sodium dries their skin and kills them. I wouldn't believe that freshwater guppies have any sodium either.

Tilapia is a freshwater fish and it still has almost as much sodium as many saltwater fish. Shrimp has roughly 3 times the sodium found in tilapia. Seems too high.

And yes, all fish contains sodium. Might sound strange but if they didn't, they would dehydrate by osmosis while living in water since even most freshwater has salt in it.

We already know that snakes can handle up to around 60 mg per 3.5 oz of fish. I wouldn't push it as high as 150.

[J@50n]

Tilapia is a freshwater fish and it still has almost as much sodium as many saltwater fish. Shrimp has roughly 3 times the sodium found in tilapia. Seems too high.

And yes, all fish contains sodium. Might sound strange but if they didn't, they would dehydrate by osmosis while living in water since even most freshwater has salt in it.

We already know that snakes can handle up to around 60 mg per 3.5 oz of fish. I wouldn't push it as high as 150.

I went out and bought some tilapia (Frozen) today from Walmart... How would one go to prepare this for a snake :confused: ?

[kibakiba]

Cut it up in strips and thaw, then feed.

[guidofatherof5]

If I were you I would see were it was caught first. If it's from out of country. I wouldn't use it.
Not safe.
Just my opinion.

[kibakiba]

I have to agree with Steve. I don't trust much from out of country, especially not when it's going to be fed to my snakes. You don't really know how it was caught or where.

[RedSidedSPR]

How about cananda? Ive been looking for se good tilapia, or trout, and I find some, but it's all alsaka and Canada....

[guidofatherof5]

I am rapidly losing faith in any store bought fish in my area.
I have bought Canada salmon without too much trouble.
I still have snakes react in negative ways(convulsions. puking)

[RedSidedSPR]

I'll probably stick with silversides. I keep forgetting about how bad fillet can be...

[J@50n]

I'll probably stick with silversides. I keep forgetting about how bad fillet can be...

OF COURSE!!! I forgot about these! I can pick some up tomorrow at Petsmart :D

[ConcinusMan]

I have to agree with Steve. I don't trust much from out of country, especially not when it's going to be fed to my snakes. You don't really know how it was caught or where.

Most tilapia in stores is from foreign countries, mostly China. And it's not caught, its farmed. Still less of a risk than Salmon, even from Canada or Alaska. Once in a great while one of my snakes will puke up a piece but not so often I feel like it's a significant problem and I don't think it's the fish or anything in it. I don't know where you guys get the idea that it's not safe.

Now salmon is much more likely to give your snakes problems. You have to know what species it is, and exactly where it comes from to assess the risk. "from Canada" doesn't say much. Bottom line is, I wouldn't feed them Salmon unless it specifically says it's wild alaskan.

[kibakiba]

Well, I get mine "fresh", but they said it was caught in America. I prefer buying salmon, mostly because I eat it, too, and it's cheaper to get a large amount of it and just cut an ounce or two off for the snakes. It's a bit of a treat for all of my snakes.

[RedSidedSPR]

Yeah, I go with Petsmarts fish section. Little freezer. Flat bag of Sallys Frozen Silversides! They work great, and don't worry about cutting any if you need to, (you prolly won't) there's no guts or anything. Its like cutting up the fish on your dinner plate.

EDIT, didn't realize there was another page, I'm answering the last pages last post. Opps:rolleyes:

[ConcinusMan]

Yeah, I go with Petsmarts fish section. Little freezer. Flat bag of Sallys Frozen Silversides! They work great, and don't worry about cutting any if you need to, (you prolly won't) there's no guts or anything. Its like cutting up the fish on your dinner plate.

EDIT, didn't realize there was another page, I'm answering the last pages last post. Opps:rolleyes:

Sally's are great, and safe. Pretty expensive since they jacked up the price recently. It's 10 bucks for that flat but you can rest assured it's quality and safe and nutritious for your snakes. They are whole. The guts are there. They are fatty though, when compared to say, tilapia so I wouldn't feed them too much of them. Don't rely on them as a main food source. They're very high in fat.


Well, I get mine "fresh", but they said it was caught in America. I prefer buying salmon, mostly because I eat it, too, and it's cheaper to get a large amount of it and just cut an ounce or two off for the snakes. It's a bit of a treat for all of my snakes.

That would be WA salmon you're buying. Coho is the cheapest of several salmon species caught in WA but all of them have significant levels of PCB's and Mercury. I try to stay away from it. If I am going to feed them salmon, which I rarely do anyway, it's going to have to be the most expensive kind. Wild Alaskan. It's lowest in contaminants. I don't know if you know this but I've said it before. The lower priced salmon is low for a reason. It's contaminated and it's not safe to eat much of it.

And don't even think about feeding them Atlantic salmon. it's filthy. I wouldn't eat a bite of that myself.

If you're going to feed them fish, the Sally's silversides should be first choice, tilapia fillet second choice, Wild alaskan salmon third choice. I've done a lot of research on this. Those are the best choices. Everything else is risky. It's really better to just wash a frozen pinky in water very well, then scent it with fish. You can get any garter that likes fish, to eat that.

[RedSidedSPR]

It's expensive, but for some of us who only have one or two snakes, it lasts a pretty long time.

[J@50n]

I just bought some of those today :D!!

[Hornets23]

I'm not QUITE certain, but haven't there been a couple people lately who had snakes DIE from walmart tilapia? Wayne?

[Didymus20X6]

Little Dude had been gobbling up Wal-Mart tilapia earlier this summer, and so far, no ill effects from it.

[ConcinusMan]

I don't get mine from walmart but I don't see how that makes any difference. I think what happened is definitely an isolated incident and we have no idea what the true cause was.

My snakes get plenty of tilapia. No apparent issues. Just make sure it's only part of a varied diet. I think you should still give them plenty of pinkies. Tilapia fillet is high in protein and a few other nutrients and rather low in fat but deficient in other areas. I don't like to supplement (use vitamins) but if you're feeding them heavily on fish fillet and not giving them pinkies and/or worms, you're going to need to supplement, especially very young snakes.

[kibakiba]

I was talking about the tilapia, Richard. They said it was caught in America.

I buy sockeye, mainly because, yes I eat it. Alaskan salmonis the cheapest at the store we go to, but the meat on it has an extremely liquid consistancy, and you cant even cut it or pick chunks of it up. The 3 or 4 times I've gotten it, it was like that. I though the first 2 times, I just got a bad batch, but it's not worth wasting my money on when I can't pick it up with the hemostats, and my snakes wont go near it.

[ConcinusMan]

Must have been farmed in America. Tilapia cannot survive here in the wild or in any temperate climate. Water has to be warm and climate tropical. Most of the tilapia we eat is native to tropical Africa.

[kibakiba]

Must be. I just take what I can get, really. Fish is something the snakes get once every couple weeks as a little variety and treat.

[aSnakeLovinBabe]

10 bucks for a large flat of sally's silversides?!?!! oh heck!!! I pay $5.98!!! :eek: (and I don't get a discount)

[aSnakeLovinBabe]

I have two pet tilapia. They are interesting fish.... one is a Tiger Tilapia, (butterkofferi) and one is a common tilapia that is commonly farmed as food. He came in at a local shop as a tiny baby the size of my pinky nail with some feeder guppies. Nobody knew what he was, so Jim gave him to me to raise. He is now well on his way to being a foot long monster!!! I have thought to myself... what if I chopped you up and fed you to my snakes? That'll teach you to nibble my fingers!!!

[brain]

That'll teach you to nibble my fingers!!!

Wow twisted aren't we :(

[RedSidedSPR]

lol, I thought it was funny. :D (it was)

[aSnakeLovinBabe]

hehehe, it was a joke... I let my fish nibble my fingers all the time... I don't mind! Sometimes the tilapia bites pretty hard though! :D

[RedSidedSPR]

I have (with other fish) a little blue gourami, he's so calm. He's the only little fresh water fish i've seen that doesn't flip out when you touch him. He'll bite anything that is front of him, though, including my fingers. He's awesome. Heck, you can pet him :p

[PINJOHN]

thought i might share an experience that took place about four or five years ago i was in my rep room it was feeding time and i had decided to feed all the creatures at the same time, i feed my prawns to my amphibs about every third feed, i place the prawns on a small plate to cut them down to bite size but on this occasion i could not find were i had placed the said prawns ,after a brief search i happened to glance into kenzo's viv [she's my rescue radix] where she was just polishing off the last of them, she has always been an excellent eater so i don't know if its just her or if prawns would be accepted by other garters.
i was not my normal habit to feed my creatures on the same day, watched kenzo for a few days, no reaction and just normal stools

[brain]

hehehe, it was a joke... I let my fish nibble my fingers all the time... I don't mind! Sometimes the tilapia bites pretty hard though! :D


;) I did figured you meant it check and tongue :D

[snakehill]

I have (with other fish) a little blue gourami, he's so calm. He's the only little fresh water fish i've seen that doesn't flip out when you touch him. He'll bite anything that is front of him, though, including my fingers. He's awesome. Heck, you can pet him :p My male Betta loves to be petted! He begs for it!;) (And no he's not begging for food!)

[J@50n]

I don't think any of my fish would let me pet them :P

I have:
2 Male Betas
1 Female Beta

1 Platy
2 Black Skirt Tetras
1 Fancy Guppy
1 Plecostomus (algae eater)
2 Sword Tails

That's my freshwater fishy collection :D

[RedSidedSPR]

Similar to mine. Throw a gourami in there, they won't disappoint.

[snakehill]

Yeah it will pick on all the other fish!:rolleyes:

[RedSidedSPR]

Nope. He's 3 times their size but is the nicest fish in there. The littles one picks on everyone. (tiger barb, they're freakin mean) the gourami doesn't. His name is Bud. :p

[snakehill]

I had Kissing Gouramis that I had to take out of the tank because they were nasty!!!!:eek: Yes Tiger Barbs are nasty little fish but very pretty! I think we are getting off topic again!:rolleyes:

[ConcinusMan]

My male Betta loves to be petted! He begs for it!;) (And no he's not begging for food!)

It was my understanding that touching and/or rubbing a fish, disturbs/damages their slime coating which isn't a good thing.

[RedSidedSPR]

Yeah, i started thinking about that and i try not to touch him too much..... never do it anymore. It was just cool seeing such a calm fish.

[snakehill]

It was my understanding that touching and/or rubbing a fish, disturbs/damages their slime coating which isn't a good thing. Not saying that I do it just that he likes it!:rolleyes:

[ConcinusMan]

I had betas that would leap out of the water and take brine shrimp off of a stick.

[snakehill]

Damn! I'll have to try that!;)

[J@50n]

Not that it's a bad thing but i enjoy ow people can get so off topic :P from snakes to shrimp to random freshwater fish :D

[snakehill]

Sorry! I have adult ADD!:rolleyes:

[RedSidedSPR]

I have ADHD, a i guess we just make a really good derailing duo.

[snakehill]

:D

[J@50n]

Haha not a problem, It helps people get to know more about you :D Like the newbie (me :rolleyes: )

[DogPaste]

Keep in mind many aquatic snakes can digest crayfish, they have similar exoskeletons.

[SerpentLover]

:D