Advice for Feeding a Ribbon

DecapitatedStacie · 04-14-2008, 11:38 PM

Hi all,

I've had my garter snake for about 5 months, he was either a baby or a "teen" when I bought him, about 12 inches.

For the past 2 months, I've been feeding him about 5-7 minnows/goldfish per week.

My questions are...

1) do I need to worry about over-feeding him?
2) at what point in age (or length, easier to measure) do I change his eating habits?

Thank you!

adamanteus · 04-15-2008, 03:15 AM

Hi Carolyn, and welcome to the forum.

I think it might be a good idea if you change his diet straight away. Goldfish are toxic and can make your snake ill, or even kill it over a period of time. Have a read through this-
http://www.thamnophis.com/caresheets...C_.26_GOLDFISH
Your snake needs a more varied diet, ideally you should use 'safe' fish (trout or salmon, cut into bite sized portions is very good), nightcrawlers and pinky mice, again cut into managable sizes.

Lori P · 04-15-2008, 06:48 AM

Welcome Carolyn!! James is right on with his advice. And send pics of your little guy, we love pics!!! :-)

anji1971 · 04-15-2008, 08:02 AM

Hello and welcome!

You must put up pics as soon as possible!

Stefan-A · 04-15-2008, 08:03 AM

Welcome aboard, Carolyn.

Snaky · 04-15-2008, 09:01 AM

Welcome to the forum and have fun here

ssssnakeluvr · 04-15-2008, 12:05 PM

welcome to the forum! As james said, stop feeding goldfish....trout and salmon are good for them.

Purplegrrl666 · 04-15-2008, 11:03 PM

Well I mostly feed him minnows, trout and salmon are not exactly within my budget.

EdgyExoticReptiles · 04-15-2008, 11:34 PM

for me its cheaper i buy a pound and 1/6 of salmon for $8 then cut it up into 250 minnows sized pieces, each being 3 cents rather than the 10 cents minnows are each

Quote:

Originally Posted by Purplegrrl666

Well I mostly feed him minnows, trout and salmon are not exactly within my budget.

bulrush · 04-16-2008, 08:49 AM

Someone replied to me today on this same forum, that minnows should not be fed to snakes because they contain some thiaminase. Are minnows ok or not?

It was in this thread:
garter snake foods question

04-14-2008, 11:38 PM	#1 (permalink)
DecapitatedStacie Hi, I'm New Here! Join Date: Apr 2008 Posts: 1	Advice for Feeding a Ribbon Hi all, I've had my garter snake for about 5 months, he was either a baby or a "teen" when I bought him, about 12 inches. For the past 2 months, I've been feeding him about 5-7 minnows/goldfish per week. My questions are... 1) do I need to worry about over-feeding him? 2) at what point in age (or length, easier to measure) do I change his eating habits? Thank you!

04-15-2008, 03:15 AM	#2 (permalink)
adamanteus Moderator Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Cheshire. (Near Manchester). Posts: 9,057	Re: Advice for Feeding a Ribbon Hi Carolyn, and welcome to the forum. I think it might be a good idea if you change his diet straight away. Goldfish are toxic and can make your snake ill, or even kill it over a period of time. Have a read through this- http://www.thamnophis.com/caresheets...C_.26_GOLDFISH Your snake needs a more varied diet, ideally you should use 'safe' fish (trout or salmon, cut into bite sized portions is very good), nightcrawlers and pinky mice, again cut into managable sizes. __________________ James.

04-15-2008, 06:48 AM	#3 (permalink)
Lori P thamnophis puniceus Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: VA Posts: 3,434	Re: Advice for Feeding a Ribbon Welcome Carolyn!! James is right on with his advice. And send pics of your little guy, we love pics!!! :-) __________________ Lori, New Hope Rescue-- rescuing equines and others www.newhoperescueva.com

04-15-2008, 08:02 AM	#4 (permalink)
anji1971 The Leader of the Eastern Gang Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: Windsor, Ontario Posts: 2,868	Re: Advice for Feeding a Ribbon Hello and welcome! You must put up pics as soon as possible! __________________ Anji

04-15-2008, 08:03 AM	#5 (permalink)
Stefan-A Moderator Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Southern Finland Posts: 6,384	Re: Advice for Feeding a Ribbon Welcome aboard, Carolyn.

04-15-2008, 09:01 AM	#6 (permalink)
Snaky Truieneer, e ras apoat Join Date: Dec 2006 Posts: 1,814	Re: Advice for Feeding a Ribbon Welcome to the forum and have fun here __________________ Greetz, Hans Fear can hold you prisoner. Hope can set you free. -The Shawshank Redemption- www.kousebandslangen.nl

04-15-2008, 12:05 PM	#7 (permalink)
ssssnakeluvr "PM Boots For Custom Title" Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Salt Lake City, Utah Posts: 2,415	Re: Advice for Feeding a Ribbon welcome to the forum! As james said, stop feeding goldfish....trout and salmon are good for them. __________________ Don www.donsgartersnakes.net

04-15-2008, 11:03 PM	#8 (permalink)
Purplegrrl666 Hi, I'm New Here! Join Date: Nov 2007 Posts: 7	Re: Advice for Feeding a Ribbon Well I mostly feed him minnows, trout and salmon are not exactly within my budget.

04-16-2008, 08:49 AM	#10 (permalink)
bulrush "First shed, A Success" Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: Grand Rapids, MI Posts: 112	Re: Advice for Feeding a Ribbon Someone replied to me today on this same forum, that minnows should not be fed to snakes because they contain some thiaminase. Are minnows ok or not? It was in this thread: garter snake foods question __________________ "Oh, bother," said Pooh. And he imploded. I am the mighty Milquetoast! Prepare to be inconvenienced.

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