Scenting Views

[aSnakeLovinBabe]

Odd, I was JUST thinking about that today!!! Fish is definitely the strongest, stinkiest, and easiest to use to scent anything with. But I find that worms when chopped up put a coating on anything that, while it doesn't stink to us, the snakes certainly have been fooled. I never have scented anything else with pinky fluids before because usually you are trying to convince a snake to eat pinkies, not the other way around. I don't think that it would be easy to scent a fish or a worm with pinky juices, I think the snake would still be able to smell that it is a fish or a worm. You can wash the odor from a pinky, but no matter what you do to fish, it still stinks like fish!

I have also used salamanders. They are one notch right under fish in terms of scenting power, maybe even the same. Very strong odor, very strong feeding response! Frogs are a little less enticing as opposed to the salamanders for some reason but if I had to put my own list together: my stink-o-meter would go:

1. Fish (especially rosy reds and bluegills)
2. salamanders
3. frogs
4. worms
5. pinkies

[RedSidedSPR]

There we go, see?

Worms have a very strong smell...

I've never tried salamanders but I know how well amphibians in general work.

[Mrs N1ntndo]

I have some toads in the area that i have seen garters eat, now when I had a bunch of garters I would feed them those when Icaught them. Since i know they eat them here can I feed them to the babies. i of course would cut them up. I would use for scenting too for when its winter and i wouldnt be able to find them. I asked the hubby to see if he can find some today when hes out. I wanted ur alls opinion.

[guidofatherof5]

Watch the parasites. Especially if you are feeding the babies the toads.
Better to get them switched to a safe food source.
Of course, if the toads are frozen for a length of time the threat of parasites is less. But not zero.

[RedSidedSPR]

I wouldn't. I'd keep those babies parasite-free and stay away from anything wild other than worms.

[Mrs N1ntndo]

how about for scenting. like cut a leg off and use it. I understand not giving to babies but wat about pheobe cause im assuming she ate the when she was wild.How long would I freeze them before using thm. when could be mainly safe.

[RedSidedSPR]

Freezing for 3 weeks should kill most...

It's really pointless in my opinion, there's a parasite risk, and it's not like she doesn't eat other things...

Your choice though.

[Mrs N1ntndo]

ok but even just for scenting... is that ok

[RedSidedSPR]

I don't know for sure, but i think it's fine. Why do you need it?

[Mrs N1ntndo]

i told hubby not to get them. i was wondering cause 2 babies arent eating yet. i hope 2day they will. there isnt skim folding but i just wan thm to eat. hubby went to get crawlers so itll be feedin time soon.