Made (and tried) the fish gelatin....

[BChambers]

Well, we have a couple of finicky wild-collected female E. Black-Necked Garters that have consistently refused fish and frog scented mice. They have accepted whole small sunfish, so I broke down and decided to make up a batch of the fish gelatin concoction.

I substituted a pound and a half of channel catfish filet, mixed with a little sunfish filet for scent. I cut the fish into 1-inch chunks, then liquidized it in the blender, along with a little water and a couple tablespoons of vionate and osteoform. This step wasn't easy, because there was too little water and the fish wouldn't chop beyond a certain point. So I went ahead and mixed four packets of gelatin in a half-cup of VERY hot water-once I added this the mixing proceeded nicely. Then I poured it into a shallow 8 inch pan, sealed the top with saran wrap, and placed it in the fridge.

After it set up, I cut it into meal-sized strips, wrapped those individually, and froze the lot.

All, that is, but two six-inch X one inch strips, which I offered to each of the big female blacknecks. To my surprise they both ate them greedily!

I'm a happy camper-not only is this food convenient to feed, but also economical-two substantial meals a week will cost less than the equivalent amount of mice.

Just for grins I offered it to a group of newly-born Hypo checkereds-no interest whatsoever! Go figure....

[guidofatherof5]

Great news. Glad to hear they are eating.
Thanks for going the extra mile for those snakes.

[paclc1]

Im interested in making some of this fish jelatin, however what fish is ok to use besides catfish, salmon and sunfish? thanks guys.

[count dewclaw]

Actually, I think catfish is a bad fish (it contains thiaminase). Salmon, trout, and tilapia are known to be safe.

[paclc1]

thanks for the warning!! salmon, trout, and tilapia... here we go

[BChambers]

Hmm-catfish wasn't on the list of fish I saw that contain Thiaminase. Can you tell me where you found this info?

I do know that sunfish, bass and crappie will also work fine.

[count dewclaw]

Here's a link to the page I saw Nutrient Requirements of Mink and Foxes, Second Revised Edition, 1982 (this is the same link that is in the article on thiaminase in the "article" section of the forum). The catfish is listed part way down in the section of fish containing thiaminase.

[aSnakeLovinBabe]

Catfish is a negative, i wanted to use it cause it's cheap, but I cant!! I do have a freezer stocked full of sunfish though!

[BChambers]

LOL-I guess I'm projecting, because I love catfish so much!

Seriously though-I've seen field studies in which catfish supposedly made up 90% of the diet of some populations of Nerodia. Seems strange if they are such a bad fish for them?

[MichaelSmith]

Hmm-catfish wasn't on the list of fish I saw that contain Thiaminase. Can you tell me where you found this info?

I do know that sunfish, bass and crappie will also work fine.

I've seen the same info - that catfish have problem levels of thiaminase. I think it was on an aquarist website. If you google "thiaminase" you'll find it.