An unfortunate situation

[kibakiba]

We don't really shop at fred meyers too much, it's really far away from us... And usually extremely expensive on our food card... They always have my favourite fruits and veggies in stock, but at a higher price.

[katach]

Yeah, they are more expensive for a lot, but they have great prices on chicken and chicken hearts. I love me some lightly floured and seasoned pan fried chicken hearts, yummy! Last time we bought some it was $1.88 for about 30 hearts. I didn't think to try giving the snakes any though. They were pretty happy with the worms and fish at the time.

[chris-uk]

There's an awful lot of offel that is usually thrown away when butchers trim meat to leave the cuts that sell. Just wondering if you were buying some chicken thighs if it's worth asking if they can throw in some of the throwaway stuff for free? It's the sort of thing that a local butcher shop here would do, if we're talking about supermarkets it will more than likely depend on the person serving you bending the rules and applying some common sense.

[EasternGirl]

Do they eat salmon and trout? My food stamps cover the fresh salmon and trout that I buy at the seafood counter at the supermarket...they just won't cover any cooked food. Selena and Cee Cee love cut up pieces of salmon and trout...just make sure it's steel-head and Alaskan...from America. I guess the fish is pretty expensive though...but it is covered by food stamps and a little piece lasts a while for my girls...your snakes may have to eat less...but something is better than nothing, right? Money is tight here too, so I'm with you, Chantel...you are in my prayers.

[kibakiba]

They do eat salmon, but it's extremely expensive right now. We normally buy it as a little treat for them because of the cost.

[EasternGirl]

Ahhh...sorry then...I'm not sure what else to suggest because that is all that Cee Cee and Selena will eat...fish and worms.

[kibakiba]

Yeah, they all love the fish but to me it's not a healthy thing to eat every feeding time. They will be getting the little bit of it we have left, plus some garden worms if we find any.

You'd think that with how Washington is, I'd find tons of worms by digging a hole in the yard... But we've only found 3 this week. Hah.

[kimbosaur]

Tilapia seems to be fairly inexpensive - a lot cheaper than salmon at least.

[chris-uk]

The variation in fish price is astounding, the most expensive fish we could buy at our supermarket fish counter is talapia. Whilst an all fish diet isn't ideal, if it is for a short time it wouldn't hurt too much. Personally, I'd extend the feed intervals, maybe reduce the amount fed to each, and if I was group feeding I would be careful to ensure that one wasn't pigging out and others getting nothing.
You mentioned that you couldn't turn your heaters down much. You have thermometers to monitor the temps, right? Could you turn them off for periods to drop the temp and slow down their metabolism? Obviously you'd need to monitor the temps yourself rather than relying on the heater thermostat. Just a thought.

[Light of Dae]

I found silver-sided minnows frozen little tub at 'The Fishin Hole' for less then 3 bucks. there is lots in there. I'd try a fishing / bait store for something like that, it's also where I get my worms, cheap as well

Praying too, I know how tough it is to be shy on the money, been there lots. Everything always works out though, Some where along the line maybe someone found that 200 bucks who really really needed it to feed their kids or something. That's how my momma always taught me to think. Everything happens for a reason. and you n your snakes will survive n be just fine