Terry unless I'm missing something here Tom's experience doesn't refute anything. It just opens another line of inquiry. If the statement were standing that inbreeding caused ALL kinking then I would agree but if that's been said I missed it.



As for the natural light thing, I don't see how it could hurt other than being impractical for most operations. I've taken to using supplements (RepCal & Herpetovite) once a month throughout the season but weekly during breeding season for both sexes and up to egg laying for females. The A vit. in the Herpetovite is a natural precursor that is metabolized as needed so there is no need to worry about over supplementing there. I also USED to gut load my mice and rats with vegetable scraps just prior to putting them down but I've stopped breeding my own so can no longer do that. As for the nutrition fed to breeder rodents, professional breeders generally give them a standard formulation that is geared towards production of mice. I'm sure that there has been no attention to gut contents and phito (sp?) nutrients for snakes in these formulations. If you think these standard diets have no effect try comparing farm raised catfish to the wild variety. Big difference in taste and I would guess nutrients as well.

[ Show Entire Thread ]