Feeding rosie reds once?

[Starling96]

if i feed them rosie reds once just to watch them hunt?
i plan on deworming here soon so worms arent a big deal

[jitami]

I don't think it would be an issue, but you're going to have to make your own judgement call on this one. If you can find guppies they will hunt those, too. I've used both and wouldn't hesitate to give a once in a great while snack of rosies... but I'm willing to take that risk (I don't think there's much of one, but I'm NOT an expert nor a veterinarian).

[guidofatherof5]

Once or even more often for a short period of time probably isn't an issue.
(In my opinion) Long term feeding and only feeding rosies is a problem.

They will hunt the same way if you use guppies;)

[Starling96]

yea
i cant find guppies
but i just want to see if u guys think its a bad ideas

[Starling96]

i know they'll hunt the sam but i cant find any at any of the sshops

[guidofatherof5]

i know they'll hunt the sam but i cant find any at any of the sshops

I understand.

[RedSidedSPR]

Parasites would be the only concern. But no. It won't hurt thiamnaise-wise.;)

[Starling96]

Cool i bought 15 they love them... too much ;)

[RedSidedSPR]

I love watching them catch fish!

[Starling96]

i know!!
so fun

[katach]

I love watching them catch fish!

Me too, so fun!

[infernalis]

Rosie reds would have to be the staple diet for a prolonged period before any health issues arise... so a few is no big deal.

[RedSidedSPR]

i know!!
so fun


Me too, so fun!

Wow.

[guidofatherof5]

They are really good little fisher snakes.:D

[Starling96]

yea
i wish there were was no such thing as parasites ;D

[RedSidedSPR]

My snake has downed 17 rosies at once when I fed them!!!! He's the master at fishing! He takes a different route to the bowl every time, stays low and stealthy, and then quickly nails one after the other!! Swallows 'em FAST!!!

[Starling96]

lol my big snake likes fillet better but baby LOVES them

[RedSidedSPR]

I have a video of him eating a bunch, but I went and edited it, making it all epic, sycing it with epic classical music! It worked out great!! I've made quite a few "epic snake videos." One took a week, cutting and trimming to go perfectly with music etc.. but I lost that one web our computer crashed.:(

[Starling96]

I have a video of him eating a bunch, but I went and edited it, making it all epic, sycing it with epic classical music! It worked out great!! I've made quite a few "epic snake videos." One took a week, cutting and trimming to go perfectly with music etc.. but I lost that one web our computer crashed.:(

thats a bummer
whats the other vid's name

[d_virginiana]

I give mine silver minnows, which don't have the thiaminase but most bait shops around here have those as well as rosies. But the occasional rosy won't hurt anything.. Most of the posts I've seen that looked like thiaminase poisoning were ribbons that had eaten only rosy reds for a long time.

It's so fun to watch them hunt!

[Starling96]

are the silver minnows silver sides?

[RedSidedSPR]

thats a bummer
whats the other vid's name

I don't have a YouTube yet, if that's what you mean...

[Starling96]

oh i see

[RedSidedSPR]

I need to fix that.:D

[Starling96]

I know! lol

[ConcinusMan]

Once or even more often for a short period of time probably isn't an issue.
(In my opinion) Long term feeding and only feeding rosies is a problem.


Agreed. Before I knew any better, I fed concinnus' feeder goldfish quite often but they also got a wide variety of other foods and occasional reptile supplements. They got huge and lived long healthy lives. Some snakes seem to be all but immune to the thiaminase problem anyway. It's just that you greatly increase the chances of running into a problem, the more you feed them thiaminase laden fish so it's best not to take the chance and avoid them.


are the silver minnows silver sides?

If I were you, I would try to verify the Latin (scientific) species name to be sure of what you are getting.

Frozen silversides from the pet store(sold as food for carnivorous fish) are Arctic pond smelt. They lack the little fin found on the back, near the tail. True smelt have two fins on their backs. Two common brands of frozen silversides are "San Fransisco Bay Brand" by Ocean Nutrition and my favorite (packed better, in water to avoid freezer burn/drying, and bigger fish) is "Sally's" silversides flat.

Lots of small fish, mainly for human consumption, can be called "silversides" or "smelt" but they have that little fin near the tail and contain thiaminase.

True "minnows" some of which can be called "silversides" also have that little fin and are loaded with thiaminase. The problem with "minnows" or "silversides" is that those common names are often applied to any small silvery fish or juvenile fish. Be sure of the species you are using.

Pet store frozen silversides do not contain thiaminase and are a great food for your garters as just part of their diet. They are always Arctic Pond "smelt" which are quite high in fat so I don't recommend using them as a main food source but they're perfect for preparing your snake for brumation or egg production, or for putting weight on a thin snake that is picky and wants to eat just fish. They are whole, intact fish, including the guts, which is good, and they are thiaminase-free.

[Starling96]

Thanks for all the info
he is currently on "San Fransisco Bay Brand" silversides, fuzzie mice, fillet and on occasion he'll tak a worm

[ConcinusMan]

Sounds like an excellent diet. I'm sure a few rosies every now and then will not cause B1 deficiency with a well rounded diet like that but why do it if you don't have to.

[RedSidedSPR]

Won't hurt thiamnaise-wise, but there IS a parasite concern in rosies from petstores.

[d_virginiana]

I love watching mine hunt fish too.. If you are worried about thiaminase, then if you can find silver bait minnows where you live, those won't have thiaminase in them.

Once in awhile with rosy reds probably isn't a problem though.

[ConcinusMan]

Won't hurt thiamnaise-wise, but there IS a parasite concern in rosies from petstores.

Any live fish for that matter. Also, do not use any supplements with that diet. If you'll read the label, you'll see that the silversides are already supplemented so go easy on them. That's one of the reasons I prefer Sally's. No vitamins added. Oh, speaking of which, your silversides will stay fresher longer and not dry out if you freeze them in a little bit of water. SF bay brand doesn't do that.

[RedSidedSPR]

True, but rosies especially.

[Starling96]

I plan to deworm eventually, but rosy's wont be fed anymore

[ConcinusMan]

Good enough

[RedSidedSPR]

I wasn't saying not to, you can some if you want

[Starling96]

haha yea once i deworm there will be no possible parasite ridden food :D

[RedSidedSPR]

Same here, I'm done with minnows the day he's dewormed. (this week)