Feeding with Xenopus

[hjelte]

Ok well we all seem to agree on that this shouldn´t mean any serious hazard for my snakes so I think I´m going to go for it as previously stated. I´ll be sure to keep ypu updated and I will film it as well to show you how it went down! (no oun intended)

[Stefan-A]

I also had to use the dwarfs for the hognose as well and didn't see any real difference....they both went down and stayed down with out any worries. As far as Bombina...these guys are REALLY toxic, even to the point where I've heard of people who've handled them having a reaction to there secreations.....think the same can go for the (Cynops...think that's the species...not as good with newts)newts as well. Don't know if I'd risk it.
Roy

I wouldn't risk it either, but I hadn't heard of anybody getting reactions. I certainly didn't get any. People also say that you shouldn't keep Cynops with fish, because the secretions will kill them, but back in the day when I kept them together (didn't know any better), that certainly didn't happen.

I guess you really are supposed to avoid everything in nature that's red & black.

[sschind]

Since most of us here are into more than just snakes, why not set up an aquarium and breed your own xenopus. I have not looked into it but I think they are fairly easy to breed. Seems all they need is a temperature fluctuation to start the mating ritual. They you would have access to tadpoles and young frogs and you could probably sell off a few youngsters to the pet shops here and there. I have been given a half dozen adults and if I have a pair I am thinking about trying it myself. If anything comes of it I will keep you posted.

Steve

[hjelte]

Great idea! I´m so happy that this turned out to be a good idea, seeing as frogs make up such a big part of wild garters diet.

[KITKAT]

When you dump the water from your Xenopus tanks, PLEASE dump it first into a bucket and add bleach, then discard it.

Xenopus carry a virus which will attack and kill tree frogs and other native frogs in your waterways.

[sschind]

Thanks for the reminder KITKAT.

the chrytid fungus is the main culprit in the deaths of 1000s of amphibians around the world. Clawed frogs are carriers of this fungus but are immune to the effects.

[hjelte]

really? I had no idea...hmm...I have to check this with some frogowners on a swedish forum to see if this is something necessary here in this country. I have no idea but we could have different watersystems (hope you understand what I´m saying) thanks for the pointer!

[Stefan-A]

I'm not sure, but I think sewage treatment usually includes chemical disinfection.

[hjelte]

yeah I´m guessing we have the same system in Sweden as you guys in Finland Stefan, so I don´t think that this should be an issue really.

[adamanteus]

I'm sure this is also the case in the UK.