Where do you buy fillet?

[kibakiba]

I get my fish from Fred Meyer or Safeway. Honestly, don't buy it prepackaged in the plastic wrap, it's usually salted. If any grocery stores in your area have a seafood section with fresh fish, buy from there. Tilapia and Alaskan salmon are good choices, and trout. Sockeye is also safe, but I'm mostly mentioning it because its delicious...

[Mommy2many]

Fresh fish at my supermarket.

[snakeman]

Don't trust any of it.You never know how it was handled.

[RedSidedSPR]

Thanks.

I just chopped up silversides they loved it, (well, my flame did) that'll proab;y work. I may still get fillet if i can find it, but there isn't really any point...

Oh, just saw Shannons post. Yup i used sliversides!! silversides!! silversides!! i just have to chop them cause they're huge.

[Spankenstyne]

Be careful with "silversides", they aren't all the good ones. There are many that are commonly called "silversides" that are actually smelt & contain thiaminase. I haven't been able to find any actual proper silversides here yet that aren't smelt... but my search continues

[Mix]

I was actually beginning to wonder whether this had something to do with my snake losses. I buy mine filleted or whole (and fillet myself) from the fish market counter at a supermarket - not pre-packed - as I don't have a local fishmonger. I always check to see the fish have clear eyes etc, and the origin (most are British farmed).
Perhaps I need to start making trips into the city, where we have a large market; but I don't know whether the supply there would be any different.

[ConcinusMan]

I was actually beginning to wonder whether this had something to do with my snake losses.

Doubtful. Any problems associated with feeding your snakes "bad fish" will either cause your snakes (all of them that ate the fish) to immediately become ill or die, or else feeding the wrong kind of fish, or contaminated fish, long term and exclusively, will cause neurological symptoms such as trembling, seizures, vomiting, etc. long before it causes actual death.

[chris-uk]

I was actually beginning to wonder whether this had something to do with my snake losses. I buy mine filleted or whole (and fillet myself) from the fish market counter at a supermarket - not pre-packed - as I don't have a local fishmonger. I always check to see the fish have clear eyes etc, and the origin (most are British farmed).
Perhaps I need to start making trips into the city, where we have a large market; but I don't know whether the supply there would be any different.

Heya Mix.
We've tried our Binky on salmon and today hake from Sainsbury's fish counter. The salmon is Scottish and the hake fresh from the NE Atlantic, if I was back home in Plymouth I'd probably stop by the harbour to get fish, but I don't think we have the same issues with supermarket supply chains that our friends have with Walmart. The fish should have been landed within the last 2 days if it's on the counter. Morrisons have very good fish counters in most stores, but I don't think it makes a lot of difference. I'd avoid fish from the chilled section, but that's because you can't ask the staff when it came in.
I don't think you'd gain anything travelling to a fish market in the Midlands, it's all still transported from the ports.

Chris

[RedSidedSPR]

I'm pretty sure it's silversides... how do you tell them apart?

San Francisco Bay Brand® Sally's Frozen Silversides™ Tropical Fish Food - Tropical Food - Fish Food - PetSmart

[ConcinusMan]

silversides!!! silversides!!! silversides!!!

Shannon's right. Silversides, sold frozen as aquarium fish food, are the best IMO. However, they are quite expensive.

I'm pretty sure it's silversides... how do you tell them apart?

San Francisco Bay Brand® Sally's Frozen Silversides™ Tropical Fish Food - Tropical Food - Fish Food - PetSmart

Sally's are the best. Perfect whole-fish food for your snakes. perfect food for your fish eating snakes. It doesn't get much better than these.

How do you tell them apart?

Silversides (Arctic pond smelt, the safe kind, good for snakes) do not have an adipose fin. Google "adipose fin" for details.


Ocean Nutrition brand are OK too, but more expensive and not packed as well.

"Silversides" sold for human consumption are not always thiaminase-free, and not always just one species of fish. Best to stick with the brands mentioned above, sold as fish food.



In addition to the "safe fish" list found in the forum care sheets, you should look at this and keep it under consideration if you are going to use fresh grocery store fish intended for human consumption: List of Seafood Health Alerts - Seafood Selector - Environmental Defense Fund

Tilapia - Seafood Selector - Environmental Defense Fund

Salmon - Seafood Selector - Environmental Defense Fund

Trout - Seafood Selector - Environmental Defense Fund

Many grocery stores also sell these same "fresh" fish in their frozen section, at a discount. If you're going to freeze the fresh fish anyway, this cheaper pre-frozen fish is just as good. Just make sure to read the ingredients. Only fish ("and", if applicable), water should be listed. No colors, salt, or preservatives. It is often the same fish they offer fresh daily, except that it has been frozen and is much cheaper. Nothing wrong with that.