Can I catch minnows?

[Snake lover 3-25]

Can I feed my Garters minnows that I catch in a nearby creek?

[GGarter]

You can but there is a risk of transfering parasites from the fish to you snake though.
If you freeze and thaw them before feeding them to your snake there should be no problem, although the content in the fish of vitamin b may be broken down in the process. You can add vitamin b to the f/t fish and that problem is solved.
Some are more conservative/careful/afraid, call it what you want, than others regarding this issue. I would be reluctant to feed semiadult or adult minnows to my snake without freezing them prior to use. I am planning on finding some minnow eggs and let them hatch and grow in an aquarium. It is not nearly the easiest way to do it but I think it is very interesting to see their development. On the other hand I'm just a nerd

[KITKAT]

Please remember that minnows contain thiaminase.

[Snake lover 3-25]

what does that mean?

[KITKAT]

Originally Posted by Snake lover 3-25

what does that mean?

Thiaminase is an enzyme contained in many species of fish, that causes the snake to have a thiamin deficiency. If you feed these species of fish too often and too much, your snake can die.

Click on the "Articles" tab at the top of this page, and then go down and select the article on Thiaminase to read about it.

[Snake lover 3-25]

is there thiamin suplement in Reptivite? can other snake food suplements be used to avoid a problem?

[KITKAT]

Originally Posted by Snake lover 3-25

is there thiamin suplement in Reptivite? can other snake food suplements be used to avoid a problem?

Supplements will not solve the problem. Thiaminase DESTROYS the thiamin that the snake eats...

But a good variety of foods will prevent this. Safe species of fish includes trout, salmon, and some other species that are easy to get at your grocery. Earthworms are an acceptable food, but your snake's stools will be watery and harder to clean up after. Strips of meat such as heart, can be lightly scented with fish, and your snake will learn to accept this. Frozen and thawed pinkie mice can be scented as well, and offer very good nutrition.

Minnows should be a rare treat, IMHO.

[aSnakeLovinBabe]

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.

[Stefan-A]

And if it destroys more thiamine, before it breaks down, than is produced?

[Zephyr]

Originally Posted by Stefan-A

And if it destroys more thiamine, before it breaks down, than is produced?

Actually, my chemistry teacher taught me that it does not destroy thiamine, it simply prevents the absorption of it by the snake.