Quote:
Originally Posted by KITKAT
Please remember that minnows contain thiaminase.  |
yes, minnows contain thiaminase, but it is believed to be much less than that of what goldfish contain. I use rosy minnows sometimes when feeding baby garters and I have raised quite a few to big stong robust snakes with them in use. As long as they are getting plenty of other things to vary their diet and routine supplements with PLENTY of B1, using minnows -sometimes- is fine. I've got a garter I raised from a wee one, started out on small minnows w/ supplement and she's 6 now! The small amount of thiaminase enzyme can only destroy
so much thiamine before it breaks down itself. Wild garter snakes get their fair share of minnows.... without supplements from humans.
I personally would not feed wild caught minnows to a captive garter snake. The parasite possibilities are endless.
I also use thawed trout, but I don't like to feed my garters everything from the freezer. Not only does the freezer break things down (yes I know you can supplement that) I believe there are parts of a fish other than the flesh that they should be getting. This is why I sometimes still use minnows and I have not ever had a single problem doing so.