A question about food - thiaminase

[GarterCZ]

Hi guys,

I have a sauritus(eastern ribbon) for a month or so, and I am not sure which fish are OK to feed with?
I heard that all fish from the Cyprinidae family are bad because of the thiaminase, but some people say that it matter only if the fish were freezed.
So, my question is, where is the true?

I feed my snake fish I catch, mostly live roach and other cyprinids, sometimes small bass, if I get some. Tonight I am going to gather some nightcrawlers in the backyard to make the food more diverse.

Thank you very much for any advice.

[Stefan-A]

I heard that all fish from the Cyprinidae family are bad because of the thiaminase, but some people say that it matter only if the fish were freezed.

It matters especially if the fish has been frozen for a long period of time, but it's a problem even when it hasn't been.

[katach]

With fresh, and or live fish, there is a concern about parasites as well.

[Starling96]

my ribbons dont like worms but they it when they get bullfrog legs a treat

[guidofatherof5]

Glad that you are on the forum. Ribbons are awesome
Have you tried any fish scented mice?

[d_virginiana]

Can you get feeder guppies from anywhere? Those are safe.

[GarterCZ]

Thank you a lot for help, I will try fish scented little mice(are these called pinkies?) and I will try to get some more european bass and freeze it for long time to prevent parasites, because its thiaminase safe.
Maybe I could buy some cooled trout and feed pieces of that?
I can obtain a lots of pre-freezed Big-scale sand smelt(Atherina boyeri), do anybody know, if these are safe? These are selled in every supermarket here for human consumption, and are very cheap.

I am building a new, bigger enclosure for my female ribbon now, its going to be ready in few days so then I will post some pictures to the enclosures section and I hope you will like it(and the snake too). Then I will look for some handsome boyfriend for her
Does ribbons need a big water tank or just a bigger bowl is ok?

Thx a lot

[guidofatherof5]

Thank you a lot for help, I will try fish scented little mice(are these called pinkies?) and I will try to get some more european bass and freeze it for long time to prevent parasites, because its thiaminase safe.
Maybe I could buy some cooled trout and feed pieces of that?
I can obtain a lots of pre-freezed Big-scale sand smelt(Atherina boyeri), do anybody know, if these are safe? These are selled in every supermarket here for human consumption, and are very cheap.

I am building a new, bigger enclosure for my female ribbon now, its going to be ready in few days so then I will post some pictures to the enclosures section and I hope you will like it(and the snake too). Then I will look for some handsome boyfriend for her
Does ribbons need a big water tank or just a bigger bowl is ok?

Thx a lot

I was unable to locate Atherina boyeri on the safe or unsafe fish list.
A search of the Internet also did not give me any info. about its relationship to Thiaminase.
Better to not feed them until that question can be answered with some certainty.
http://www.thamnophis.com/forum/husbandry/6654-safe-fish-list.html

I would think a water bowl large enough for them to soak or even do some swimming in would be fine.

[Starling96]

This is a question i need answer to and it might help GarterCZ what are some safe cheap fish from petco or petsmart to feed?
(and i know abou tthe risk of parasites. i plan to freeze them for atleast a month)

[guidofatherof5]

This is a question i need answer to and it might help GarterCZ what are some safe cheap fish from petco or petsmart to feed?
(and i know abou tthe risk of parasites. i plan to freeze them for atleast a month)

Silversides. Pre-frozen.
Ready to thaw and serve.