Rodent diet

[OregonHerpaholic]

Frogspawn!

I once had a cane toad I called SPAWN... Spawn of Toad... Toadally fitting for the species...

[RedSided]

There is a lake I go to fish at and every year there are thousands of little frogs just at the bank, would it be a good idea to catch some and feeze them?

Also,does freezing kill paresites?

[adamanteus]

Personally, I do use frogs as Garter food. But I think I am in the minority because of the fear of introducing parasites. I don't think that freezing would guarantee killing off any parasites. Other members may have different opinions on that though.

[abcat1993]

I guess you could dissect a few frogs from that area, find all the parasites you can and freeze them to find out if they'd die or not. Again, wouldn't guarantee but better than risking I guess, although some I'd assume are microscopic, if not most.

[CrazyHedgehog]

I feed garden worms as treats.. surely they are likely to have parasites too...? adamantus...what type of frogs? just ones you find or do you breed them?

[adamanteus]

Originally Posted by CrazyHedgehog

adamantus...what type of frogs? just ones you find or do you breed them?

I rear froglets from spawn sometimes. I know everyone says it's risky because of parasites, but I use frogs I find too. Not had a problem so far.

[Cazador]

In general, things higher up on the food web are more likely to be parasitized than things lower on the food web, but frogs and salamanders are at special risk because they're "consumers," and they live in prime habitat for parasites. For example, a single worm might be parasitized, but a frog that lives in water could become parasitized directly from the water OR become parasitized by eating a parasitized worm, bug, smaller amphib, etc. Younger frogs are less likely to carry as heavy of a burden as an older frog. Even knowing this, I sometimes feed live fish. I think it's a personal decision, but you should be informed about your decision.

[poissonguppy]

Well, on the rodent topic... Has anyone had a snake fed only on a rodent diet and have the snake suddenly die? I've heard stories about how owners feed snakes only goldfish and a year later, the snake will just conk out. I have never owned a snake long enough to see warning signs that a snake might die, either of old age or something else. I guess what I'm asking is, has anyone had a rodent fed snake die suddenly, like a fish fed snake?

If I'm not being clear enough, just ask.

[RedSided]

On a goldfish only diet im not supprised you've head stories of snakes dying , goldfish are a no no realy, as its been said before they are not nutritionally sound enough. (and I think they contaion thiaminase, I may be wrong there)

Good conditioned mice however generally have everything a snake needs and need only be fed once a week,of course you can supplement the diet with other things.
I see no reason why a snake should suddely die from eating mice.

[adamanteus]

I don't know about "sudden death", but I think it ill advised to feed rodents to a Garter, exclusive of other food types. It's not their natural diet. I think the concensus of opinion on this forum is that vagrans is probably the only Garter to regularly take mice in the wild.