Here is a copy of a tip from a rather short-lived magazine from some years ago. The outfit folded in a year or so, but they printed some good stuff while they existed.

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Tips

To inprove the condition of captive snakes try using Solovite vitamin-minereal tablets. Sluggish appetites have been improved with routine use of this supplement.

Dosage: Not to be used in animals of two (2) lbs. or less.

1 tablet / 40 pounds once every two (2) weeks.

For animals of lesser or greater weight, regulate the time rather than the dosage.

ex. A 10 pound snake would get one (1) tablet every eight weeks.

This product is available at health food stores or from Solgar Co., Inc., Lynbrook, N.Y. 11563.

- Natl. Assoc. for Sound Wildlife Progs. Newsl. 1(2): 7. (Oct-Nov 1977)

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This tip was printed without the contributor's name. I think I met the man about that time, though I can't remember his name either. Anyway, this guy made the same suggestion and added that the vitamin pill should be made of lecithin and kelp instead of having a sugar coating. He didn't think the snakes digested the sugar coating well.

I tried his suggestion, and it seemed to work. Or at least didn't hurt. However, I couldn't find the Solovite brand at the local health food store. I used a Solotron brand, that seemed to be about the same thing. Both had vitamin D3, 10,000 I.U. of vitamin A, and a long list of other ingredients that were in almost microscopic type (to fit on the label). Probably the brand isn't particularly important as long as the ingredients are about the same.

I generally fed the pills with a dead rat. Easiest way is to pry the rat's mouth open a bit and put the pill in crossways behind the incisors. (It always made me think of a cartoon dog with a bone in his teeth.) Then feed the rat to the snake.

My understanding is that the fat soluable vitamins are the ones most likely to be toxic. Vitamins A, D, E, and maybe some others. A seems to be the most concentrated in these preparations.

If you check the tip, it says not recommended for snakes under 2 pounds. It takes a big king to weigh over 2 pounds. So I tried a liquid vitamin and finally settled on Avitron, from Lambert-Kaye, a liquid multiple vitamin available for birds in the local pet store. I went to it partly because in contains vitamin D3, and reptiles apparantly use D3 instead of D2. Mammals can apparantly use either D2 or D3 interchangably. When it says D on human vitamins, it is likely to be D2.
Dosage: In the tip, the vitamin A dosage would be 10,000 IU (international units) per 40 pounds of python every 2 weeks. That works out to 250 IU per pound. Unfortunately Avitron was phased out, and I need to hit the pet store to see what bird liquid vitamin to use instead.

I feel that extra vitamins/minerals for snakes are most important for fast growing babies and breeders.

Disclaimer: Not responsible for any ill effects or disappointments resulting from the administration of diet suppliments to herps.

Paul Hollander

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