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The latest issue of Reptiles magazine, despite being almost 100% Spuckler-free, did have at least one interesting article in it. It was the article concerning mal-nutrition in herps.
In other articles, books and forums, I have read that cornsnakes get all of their nutrition from the mice that they consume, but this recent article makes me wonder why it is that this one species of snake can get away without supplements, UV, etc…
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Because they've adapted to do so. Lizards, turtles and crocodiles eat many types of food, thereby getting a well-balanced diet. Snakes evolved differently and have the ability to extract their nutritional needs without needing the variety - the gastrointestinal abilities of snakes to be able to digest every part of their prey (including bones and teeth) is well documented.
In addition, some snakes have evolved to live on one specific type of food: queen snakes eat nothing but crayfish, mud snakes eat nothing but giant aquatic salamanders and egg eating snkes...well you know what they eat.
In addition, snakes have evolved not to need the sun, while most other reptiles count on UV rays to metabolize vitamins and calcium.
In addition to snakes, there are many types of pet amphibians that require no vitamin supplementation either.
T
most whole prey reptiles don't require supplements, however, their prey has to be fed a well balanced diet to ensure they are completely healthy...just as its important to gut load insect prey for reptiles such as bearded dragons, it is important your rodents (chicks or whatever) have received a quality diet. Otherwise, in the long term, you snake may be missing trace elements...though for the most part I have not heard of any snake suffering from insufficient nutrition due to poor quality of whole prey. Most snakes are sick due to bad husbandry (too cold, too hot, too dry, too wet etc.)
However, sometimes a little extra calcium or injectable supplements is beneficial to underweight/sick snakes, or double clutching snake can be used.
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PHLdyPayne
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