Posted by:
Joe Forks
at Tue Feb 12 09:53:59 2008 [ Email Message ] [ Show All Posts by Joe Forks ]
Emulsified D3 helps these "problem" alterna a great deal. As I said the diet in the wild consists of a large portion of little sun baked D3 cookies (Lizards). Alterna have rarely been observed basking, mainly just a few gravid females that have been observed with heavy loops of body laid over sun warmed rocks in the late evening hours.
Since D3 is the principal regulator of calcium homeostasis, I think it is critical to be very careful with supplements that contain both D3 and calcium, as you run the serious risk of over calcification. D3 alone is sufficient, at least with "problem" WC alterna.
Kinks along with full term dead in egg neonates, are probably, or may be, a separate problem related to insufficient oxygen during incubation, especially near the end of term.
My only point is that, basking may indeed be critical for certain species both directly and indirectly. The other point to consider is that the vast majority of snake species have only been bred in captivity for about 30 years. There may well be problems associated with inadequate care that have yet to manifest themselves.
You've heard the old saying "you are what you eat", well the same goes for your snakes. In the wild these snakes may eat mice, but the mice are eating grasses and seeds, insects, and the end result is vast and varied diet loaded with nutrients, vitamins, and minerals. In captivity some folks are feeding their snakes mice which have been fed nothing but dog food. The snakes get no excercise, develop fatty deposits, throw infertile eggs, or get egg bound, and folks wonder what the heck is going on? Just something to think about if you think that keeping a snake in a plastic box and throwing a lab mouse every three days is sufficient care.
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[ Hide Replies ]
- Melanin. - Hollychan, Sat Feb 9 11:30:36 2008
- RE: Melanin. - antr1, Sat Feb 9 12:28:17 2008
- OK... - zach_whitman, Wed Feb 13 22:54:04 2008
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RE: Melanin. - Joe Forks, Tue Feb 12 09:53:59 2008