Rosy reds ok to feed?

[HazAnga]

Hey I'm just wondering if it's ok to feed rosy red feeders to garters, they are like a small minnow. I know guppies are ok to feed them and gold fish arn't. So I'm just wondering if it's ok or not, before i go ahead and risk the chance of parasites.

[guidofatherof5]

No, Rosie's contain thiaminaze.
They would be ok for scenting purposes.
Fathead minnow - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

[mb90078]

Once or twice, sure. As a regular staple, no.

As said above they contain something that is harmful to their digestion/nutrient absorption process.

As far as the parasites go, guppies can carry them as well. Not saying you absolutely shouldn't use them either, but it's something to be aware of.

[infernalis]

Once you can get them eating thawed out frozen fish from the grocery store, it's best to just stick with it.

$6 will get you a really big package of Tilapia.

Not to mention it's a whole lot easier to keep on hand.

[HazAnga]

ok thanks guys, I'll stay away from them and keep with the guppies/ frozen fish/ shopped up pinkies/ and worm. lol

[ConcinusMan]

I hear they're not OK and yet every snake I ever got from Don was fed rosies and nothing else until I got them. As far as I know, all his babies are on them.

[snakeman]

All of mine as well.I use roseys stuffed with reptomin until the can eat small pinks.rodents from then on.

I hear they're not OK and yet every snake I ever got from Don was fed rosies and nothing else until I got them. As far as I know, all his babies are on them.

[ConcinusMan]

Why use the rosies at all?

[KITKAT]

Rosey Reds are the same species as minnows, and contain thiaminase. They are generally not safe to feed.

The following fish species are safe (among others):

Bluegill strips
salmon strips
trout strips

I purchase trout filets and cut them into strips, which I freeze on a cookie tray in our chest freezer. Once they are frozen hard, I knock them off the tray into ziplock bags.

[ConcinusMan]

I must also add that not just any salmon or trout is safe due to PCB's and mercury contamination. Depends on species and origin. Alaskan wild salmon and farmed steelhead/rainbow trout have the lowest levels of contaminants for trout and salmon. All others are considered unsafe for a human to eat more than 1 -3 6oz servings per month so you can imagine that very little if any would be considered safe for garters.

Tilapia and silversides(arctic pond smelt) don't have the contaminant issues that trout, salmon, and many other fish have and they are thiaminase free. Those two fish are safe to use as a major part of the diet.

You really need to pay attention to what species and where it comes from. you say you buy "trout" but more important is the species and where it was caught. I would feed my snakes goldfish before I would feed them salmon or rainbow trout from the west coast of the continental U.S. It's that bad.

Health Alerts - Seafood Selector - Environmental Defense Fund