Feeder goldfish

[JLDomestics]

Did you know that feeder goldfish are farmed outside and that they harbour just as many parasites as wild caught feeders would?

[adamanteus]

Did you know that feeder goldfish are farmed outside and that they harbour just as many parasites as wild caught feeders would?

Goldfish are not recommended as feeder fish anyway, Jeremy, because they contain Thiaminase.

[Lee]

I'm about to embark on a journey to a local bait shop that sells minnows/suckers/shiners/waterdogs etc to try and find something more natural and healthy for my snake. Much better than goldfish and I don't think they are that expensive.

[adamanteus]

I'm about to embark on a journey to a local bait shop that sells minnows/suckers/shiners/waterdogs etc to try and find something more natural and healthy for my snake. Much better than goldfish and I don't think they are that expensive.

Lee, Won't your snake take scented pinks?

[Lee]

My snake eats worms, fish, pinkies, adult mice, rat pups. Everything, however I'm going to switch off with mice/fish to vary the diet and he likes to catch the fish because hes WC. He is probably 28-30" right now, and he eats like a pig ha.

[adamanteus]

Hey, good for you. I'm all for a more varied diet, as some of my previous threads will show!

http://www.thamnophis.com/forum/husb...ht=Rodent+diet

[Lee]

Oh, I just read in that thread that Vagans is the only one to eat rodents regularly in their diet. What luck I have a Vagans!

[ScimitarX]

I think a varied diet is best, in the wild they could eat what they fancy. ive give mine mainly mice but i do give them the occassional white bait. I prefer garter grub as a main alternative as it has all the nutrients in it.

[adamanteus]

I may be wrong Claire, but I think whitebait contains Thiaminase. I use trout as the staple fish for my snakes, I know trout is safe.

[ScimitarX]

I'm not sure, i had heard if you thaw it out at a certain temperature it destoys the thiaminase. I never had problems with it. But i dont give it that often anymore unless they wont eat mice or the garter grub.