I have evidence that feeding platys to garters can be harmful

[Brunok9]

I was talking to Kyle today, and he wanted me to post what happened to my garter snakes. If you remember from about a month ago, I was panicking because my snakes seemed to be dying for no apparent reason. While some lasted a couple weeks longer than the others, they all died. The snakes had poor motor skills, and missed the platys in front of them when I was holding it. They swerved and missed the platy almost every time. They became lethargic, and barely moved around the terrium.
My snakes were fed, for about two months until they died, only platys. It looks like this was the cause of their death. I am suggesting that platys, like goldfish, contain thiaminase, which led to a lack of vitamin B.

[Snake lover 3-25]

wow that really sucks..... sorry for your losses

[drache]

I am so sorry
that really sucks

[reptile3]

I am sorry to hear your loss.. sending my condolences.

Not to highjack your thread, but Kyle needs to know that Aundrea's Swiper(red sided) is starting to do the same thing. She thinks he is dying.

[aSnakeLovinBabe]

were the platies feeder platies? or pets? or babies of pets?

I don't think that 2 months is long enough for thiaminase deficiency to kick in. In fact I am almost positive. I have seen snakes (sadly) live on a diet of thiaminase fishes for many months, even in cases years. I myself in my young naive days fed my garters goldfish, and I had them for 2 or 3 years before things went downhill.

[ssssnakeluvr]

sorry for your loss. I think the age of the snake also is effected by the thiaminase.....younger developing ones can be effected quicker in the long run (I think it takes longer than a couple months). I have a feeling that tilapia might have some thiaminase.....some of my younger ones have been twisting....can't keep their bodies upright.....and they have eaten tilapia mostly (some are picky and can't gettehm to eat rodents!) I have seen no problems with adults eating it tho....makes me wonder.....

[guidofatherof5]

Sorry to hear about your loss.

[infernalis]

were the platies feeder platies? or pets? or babies of pets?

I don't think that 2 months is long enough for thiaminase deficiency to kick in. In fact I am almost positive. I have seen snakes (sadly) live on a diet of thiaminase fishes for many months, even in cases years. I myself in my young naive days fed my garters goldfish, and I had them for 2 or 3 years before things went downhill.

Very similar experience here, However note that with very young snakes in the critical stages of development, deficiency death is more rapid, Have seen it first hand.

I still have 2 adult garters and one water snake that due to my own lack of knowledge at the time were fed steady diets of goldfish & rosy reds along with wild toads.

Babies grow and develop quickly, they are far more fragile and will succumb more rapidly than adults.

[Brunok9]

Thanks..it does such but I have gotten over it now...

and they were still young, which I why I think they were so effected. They were feeder platys. They were in good health before this happened, and it happened slowly.