8 yrs on strictly goldfish? hmmm I have often wondered if the anti thiaminase was maybe a little over hyped, not saying that these fish as a stand alone staple is a good idea, but not sure that there are any major short term effects from feeding snakes on occation or for a short period of time, after all I believe from what I have read that the thiaminase lethality theory is based from an old study with mink and was assumed that the mammal model could also be applied to reptiles...of course I could be wrong too and not have all the correct info and history of why the theory that goldfish and rosies which contain high amounts of thiaminase and would effectively block all availability of "thiamin/thiamine" (vitamin A) in snakes and specifically in garter snakes. I'm not refuting the fact that thaiminase can block availablity of "thiamin/thiamine", but I personally wouldn't say "never" "ever" feed rosies or goldfish to garter snakes, but that as a sole staple diet could be a bad idea for long term health.
I start off all babies on guppies, then rosies, and then switch to a diet of strictly froze/thawed appropriately sized mice. One of the main reasons for me personally, other than the thiaminase issue, to not continue feeding feeder fish any longer than is necessary to get them started and then switch over to mice ASAP, is the risk of viral and bacterial pathogens and parasites that feeders can sometimes host, which is why I treat and quarantine all feeder fish before feeding to baby garters.
So to answer your question what other nutritionally complete food choice are there and what is the best choice? I would personally recomend F/T appropriately sided mice, they are nutritionally complete and much, much less likely to infect your snake with a pathogen or parasite. IMHO
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Jeff Benfer
gartersnakemorph.com

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