What fish are safe to feed with?

[nekura]

Hey, I just caught what I'm fairly sure is a western Ribbon snake two days ago. He's only 5 inches long and very thin so he can't eat large things yet. He did eat a minnow I gave him yesterday, but then it turned out to have been a flathead which I'm now aware can be harmful. Since I live in the south I have a lot of family members that go fishing. Often they catch shrimp, flounders, and other gulf fresh or brine water fish that could probably be cut up into steaks until he gets bigger, but I'm not sure which fish have thiaminase other than catfish, goldfish, and flathead minnows. My local pet store doesn't carry guppies or any other species of minnow, but I currently do have a frozen flounder that I'm never going to eat, so would that be alright to feed him with?

[chris-uk]

A snake owner for less than a week and I can offer some advice .

From what I've read flounder is OK.

There's a good article here:
Thiaminase

Although there are also articles online that suggest that flounder can contain thiaminase, the balance seems to be that it doesn't. From the reading I've done salmon and tilapia are definitely safe fish, but that doesn't help you get rid of the flounder in your freezer.

[guidofatherof5]

In my opinion if there is no evidence that a specific fish is safe it should be consider unsafe.
http://www.thamnophis.com/forum/husb...fish-list.html

[chris-uk]

I should have guessed there'd be a list on this forum. I'd always err on the side of caution too, although isn't that safe fish list based on a book published in 1982 Steve? Having said that, there doesn't seem to be a lot of newer research, it seems that thiaminase in fish isn't of any great scientific interest outside of feeding predatory fish and snakes.
I plan to stick with salmon. Of course, if our little friends would eat cooked food it wouldn't matter what fish you fed them as heat breaks down the thiaminase.

[RedSidedSPR]

So far, I've found the best to be Tilapia, and silversides. Salmon just doesn't work for me, and my snakes don't like it all that much. Guppies, i would think would have a higher risk (parasites especially) than frozen/thawed fillets... but are considered safe. Same with rosy red minnows. Parasite, and thiamnaise risk. (although I'm not completely convinced of the thiamnaise being that bad in minnows)

Steves right, fish are a risk.

[RedSidedSPR]

Of course, if our little friends would eat cooked food it wouldn't matter what fish you fed them as heat breaks down the thiaminase.

They do eat it.

It destroys thaiamnaise, yes, but it destroys so many good things too (among other things), it apperantly isn't worth it.

http://www.thamnophis.com/forum/wiki...king-fish.html
http://www.thamnophis.com/forum/gene...king-fish.html

[d_virginiana]

Also, when you get tilapia or salmon filets from stores, it's good to get in the habit of freezing them for a certain amount of time before you feed them to eliminate the risk of parasites. I don't know how long you're supposed to freeze for, but someone else will probably chime in with that

(although I'm not completely convinced of the thiamnaise being that bad in minnows)

Probably not a very high concentration, but the majority of the people who I've seen talking about snakes that have the symptoms of B1 deficiency usually have ribbons, which are the really big fish eaters. If I were to just guess, I'd say it'd probably not enough to hurt a garter being fed a balanced diet, but it could cause issues with a snake fed nothing but rosy reds.

[RedSidedSPR]

Forgot to mention that, my thoughts exactly. Rosies are NOT an a staple by know means. That I'm sure would hurt.

[guidofatherof5]

This whole Thiaminase debate is good but we do know that
Thiaminase is deadly and we should do our part to make sure none of our animals die from the problem it causes.

[RedSidedSPR]

Definitely. I never meant it like you should take it lightly, you shouldn't. It's deadly and should be avoided.

And I would never say what I said about goldfish, you just can't feed those, I don't care who you are. I just think minnows are LESS of a risk, but by all means are dangerous.

Thiamnaise will kill you snake. 'Nuff said.