Fish fillets staple diet?

[Didymus20X6]

I think I might have mentioned that rodents are not locally available here, so I'm not really in a position to experiment with them. For what it's worth, I don't think it was the fur, since I couldn't get Little Dude to strike them at all.

[Starling96]

Altight thanks!

[Stefan-A]

No, fish fillets are not a good staple diet.

Just to add an anecdote, I recently came across an owner with a couple of garters which suffer from MBD because they were fed fillets as staple.

[ConcinusMan]

I'm with Stefan on this one. Some snakes can do just fine if fed primarily on whole fish, as long as you're careful about what fish you use, and the source. But it is of my opinion that fillet is fine only if it's part of a varied diet including whole fish, rodents, worms. Fillet shouldn't make up more than 1/3 of their total diet IMO. Whole rodents (of whatever appropriate size) and whole fish should make up the majority. If you have a fish/worm only eater, then plenty of whole fish and worms should be included in their diet. Don't rely too much on just fillet, even if you supplement.

[RedSidedSPR]

I think FISH are Ok as a ALMOST main diet.. along with some worms etc occasionally. Pinkies and stuff are a more healty, but they definitely can thrive off fish. My snakes LOVE guppies, but are iffish about anything else. The snakes I've know all like fish best. yeah, i know it's not a good reason. I'm just saying it's not a BAD diet, as long as you feed other stuff occasionally.

I'm really talking about guppies and stuff, more than fillet. I've never actually tried fillet.

[ConcinusMan]

I think FISH are Ok as a ALMOST main diet.I'm just saying it's not a BAD diet, as long as you feed other stuff occasionally.

I'm really talking about guppies and stuff, more than fillet. I've never actually tried fillet.

Last edited by RedSidedSPR; Today at 01:28 PM. Reason: Sorry, wrote before seeing Richards post. He kinda said what i meant...

Yuppers. Whole fish is another story altogether. However, again there is the source to consider. I would much prefer that any whole fish be frozen if I'm feeding snakes I know to be CB and/or otherwise free of internal parasites. Freezing at low enough temperatures, long enough, will kill most parasites that live fish carry. (Many nasty roundworms and tapeworms that infect fish, also infect birds and reptiles as the final host!) Also when it comes to aquarium fish, there are often chemicals/medications, etc, used to keep the fish alive and healthy that might otherwise not be good for your snakes.

I'm not sure why it hasn't been discussed much, but it's perfectly OK to cook fish too, in plain water, and feed it to your snakes. This will also kill parasites and reduce contaminants such as mercury and PCB's. Seriously, it's OK to cook fish in a bit of water, at low temps and feed it to your snakes, as long as they will eat it. Most will. Studies have even shown that your snake can get more energy, at lower metabolic cost, if the meat is cooked first.

[Didymus20X6]

I read somewhere that cooking will also kill thiaminase.

[RedSidedSPR]

freezing is better,,,, don't know the details.

[Starling96]

Thanks!
One of my ribbons ate 3 earthoworms.
Crazy right? Lol

[Stefan-A]

freezing is better,,,, don't know the details.

Freezing does absolutely nothing to thiaminase.