Can these be fed to my snake?

[-MARWOLAETH-]

Can these be fed to my marcianus?Smelts Medium (5 per pk) .The website says they are called cucumber smelt.

[guidofatherof5]

I would say NO as they are in the Osmeridae family which is on the list of Thiaminase carrying fish.

This info. was taken from the list of safe and unsafe fish on the care sheet.

Not safe fish list: Smelt (freshwater) (Osmerus mordax)

Safe fish list: Smelt or "silversides" (Hypomesus olidus)(arctic pond. Also known as silversides, usually frozen available in pet stores)

[-MARWOLAETH-]

Thanks for the heads up.I guess I'll stick with Trout.

[Stefan-A]

Osmerus eperlanus is an exception.

[guidofatherof5]

Osmerus eperlanus is an exception.

Thanks for that info. I'll make a note of that.

[EasternGirl]

William...do you have the caresheet with the safe fish list on it? Just in case: Garter Snake Forum - Garter Caresheet

[-MARWOLAETH-]

The website saysthat Pollan is in the Salmon family,does that mean they don't contain Thiaminase?Pollan Bulk (6-9 per packet)

[guidofatherof5]

I don't know. I simply use the list as a guideline. If a fish isn't listed by name I assume it is not safe.
Since there is many other fish available that are safe I don't leave it to chance.

[RedGex]

I just wanted to resurrect this thread as I ordered some smelt from this site this week. I have e-mailed them and confirmed that they have no preservatives, they are vacuum packed and flash frozen, and they are Cucumber smelt, (Osmerus eperlanus), which from research on here I believe is safe for garters. (I would love to have that confirmed again though..!)

Hope this is helpful for others in the UK, as their service/delivery was great so I will certainly be using them again.

[chris-uk]

If Stefan said that Osmerus eperlanus is a safe fish it's probably based on some good scientific information. I don't remember Stefan posting something as fact without having a good source.