Minnows

[Stefan-A]

I'm curious how long people have been feeding frozen fish fillets? This seems like a relatively new occurrence that most people have not heard of before coming to this forum. I'm not saying it's bad... I'm assuming we really don't know what kind of nutrition is truly optimal for a garter or how to get that nutrition into them. We're all just doing the best we can with the information we have.

Let's put it this way: It's easier to add calcium, than to subtract thiaminase.

[Garter_Gertie]

1. I said I felt I was lucky to find feeder guppies as it did take me sometime and I only did find them in a dedicated reptile store. I never mentioned they were common and could be found everywhere.

2. I agree bait shops offer for sale many other kinds of minnows. I acknowledged that but did warn if someone does not know their minnows from a dace or have a good handle on which minnows would be best, it could be tough.

3. I never condemmend feeding minnows - or condemned anyone that does - and even acknowledged rosie reds may have their use when needed. I stated my opinion that I was more comfortable with guppies and very happy I found them.

4. Actually, here in MN Dace are the preferred fish of the Easterns. Not minnows (same family, different fish). The majority of (if not all) the minnows in our waters are those that have been released by fishermen and are not native.

5. We've neighborhood bait stores. However, I'm not well versed in good vs. bad minnows/shiners/chubbs, etc., and don't really wish to become so since I found feeder guppies. I'm fairly sure there are no Dace in the bait stores here - not positive though - as they are a native fish, but not protected as they're not considered game fish.

Feeder guppies are not EVERYWHERE>.. but a good number of stores have them. Also, many bait shops and fish stores offer for sale many other kinds of minnow... they are not that hard to find, you just have to look maybe where you are, everyone has rosies, but in many parts of the country, such os not the case, so it is defintely a bad idea to condemn feeding minnows. Minnows are in fact... one of the biggest make ups of a wild garter's diet!

you could also order boxes of already frozen bait minnows such as shiners, dace... offline..

[jitami]

Let's put it this way: It's easier to add calcium, than to subtract thiaminase.

Good point... as usual

Ok, I'm on a mission to find feeder guppies... as I really do love watching the snakes fish for their food and live fish is the one food they all seem to go nuts for...