Silversides per feeding

[ProXimuS]

Hello all!
I have an approx. 18 inch ribbon snake, and was wondering if yall can help me with a feeding question. I know each snake(and any animal) is their own indivual but about how many silversides per feeding and how often should I give them? And also can he survive on those alone or does he need a variety or do i need to add supplements?


P.S. I just joined(this is my first post), but have already had alot of questions answered by this forum, so thank you for all your knoweledge and answering everyone's questions. This is where I learned about thiamiase in some fish and safe silversides

[kibakiba]

I would feed him until he has a slight bulge in his stomach. I would feed other food items, such as earthworms/night crawlers and pinkies, if possible. They may beed to be scented with the silversides, or cut up into a dish with each other to trick the snake into eating it.

[guidofatherof5]

I have a T.proximus orarius (Gulf Coast Ribbon) who at first only want to eat tilapia. Now she eats tilapia scented night crawlers, tilapia scented pinkies and of course tilapia. Good variety for an awesome snake.

[mb90078]

The silversides also come in different sizes. To answer your question, when my snakes were smaller, they'd get about 4 each per serving, now I give them more...7 or so, sometimes more.

The good thing about silversides is that they are a complete body, where as tilapia or salmon filets do not contain the eyes, scales, brains, etc. Still, it would be preferable to add some variety to the diet (or supplement).

[ConcinusMan]

Some brands of silversides sold in pet stores as carnivorous fish food are already supplemented. Check the ingredients label.

[Light of Dae]

Hello all!
I have an approx. 18 inch ribbon snake, and was wondering if yall can help me with a feeding question. I know each snake(and any animal) is their own indivual but about how many silversides per feeding and how often should I give them? And also can he survive on those alone or does he need a variety or do i need to add supplements?


P.S. I just joined(this is my first post), but have already had alot of questions answered by this forum, so thank you for all your knoweledge and answering everyone's questions. This is where I learned about thiamiase in some fish and safe silversides

How many silversides... General rule of thumb is until you can see a bulge. So it really depends on the size of silversides you get.
How often... Depends how fast the bulge goes away. I normally feed 2 big meals plus a small one in a week. So 2-3 times a week.
He could probably survive on those alone.. But I don't think he'd thrive. A lot of people find variety is best, as do I. Supplements I don't use... Some members do, some members don't. I think If you only feed silversides supplementing may be a good idea... but I'd go with a variety of foods over supplementing any day, Personally.


I'm happy to hear you looked around this site n found a lot of your answers! That is awesome! Glad you joined. Awesome job on reading up on thiamiase too.
You seem like a smart caring owner so far

[ProXimuS]

Thanks yall for all the info! This forum has really been very helpful!

I'm going to look into finding somewhere to get some earthworms/nightcrawlers, and maybe some pinkie mice, but I'm so sad to think about those little tiny baby mice! But if its good for my proximus then I can try it I will also need to check the ingredients of my silversides, I didn't think to do that.

P.S. guidofatherof5- Mine is a t.proximus orarius too (I named him Proximus, I think it sounds cool)

[guidofatherof5]

I started a thread for Ribbon snake and would love to have Proximus included.
http://www.thamnophis.com/forum/gene...to-thread.html

[ahhainteresting]

I know this is a really old thread, but I was wondering how using silversides with supplements worked? What did you use and to what amount? Did you incorporate pinkies/fuzzies or earthworms in the diet as well, or do so and forego the supplements? Thank you so much to anyone that responds!

[ConcinusMan]

Most garters and ribbons do fine and can live on whole silversides their entire lives if need be. if using whole fish like that, a light supplementation using reptivite or other supplement formulated for reptiles once every few months is plenty. Don't overdo it on the supplements. Ocean Nutrition brand are already supplemented, but San Fransisco Bay Brand "Sally's sliversides" are packed in water and much higher quality. There's no hard and fast rule about how much to feed. Just feed until they have a significant bulge and feed again when it's gone, or about twice a week. It's hard to feed them too much fish. They tend to get obese if you overfeed them on rodents though. If they're getting a variety of whole foods that includes rodents, you can skip the supplements altogether.