mosquito fish for puget sound???? please help

[A#reptiles]

Hey guys,

So I should be getting my puget in a few weeks! So happy!!!

I have a friend that had kept eastern garters (I am in North Carolina) for a while and he fed his mosquito fish he would catch in a stream. He is going to be bring me some of the fish for my Puget, but would that be okay to feed the little guy? As long as I freeze them for at least a week before giving it to him? I am also going to use pinky parts. Just need your thoughts.

Thanks guys as always!

[guidofatherof5]

My local pet shop used to stock them in place of guppies. They are another one of those failed ecosystem helpers brought in to help in one area but created a host of new problems.
Are you planning on them as a main food source?
Mosquitofish - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

[A#reptiles]

No... not really. ... mostly pinky parts but like a fish or two once every other weeks or so.

[guidofatherof5]

Since the ones you are getting are wild caught my only concern would be parasites.
Not sure if it's a big or small risk but it is a risk. Why not use some fresh tilapia?

[A#reptiles]

Good point... I was just thinking whole fish would be better but I don't want parisites.

[guidofatherof5]

You can always dust the fillet with Rep-Cal.

Amazon.com: Rep-Cal Reptile Calcium Powder with D3: Pet Supplies

[BLUESIRTALIS]

I have a friend who uses them for his garters with great success! He catches them and freezes them for a few weeks first with great success! You can buy a pack of frozen sally's silversides from petsmart! Tilapia is great, but like steve said make sure it is fresh with no additives because a lot of frozen fish fillet is treated with trisodium phosphate which is lethal to snakes!