Reptile & Amphibian Forums

I bought an Asian Vine Snake (A. prasina) several months ago, and for the first three months in my care it refused to eat. I bought several anoles of differing sizes, geckos (locally caught), and "feeder" lizards (Western Sagebrush) from a local pet store. The snake wouldn't touch them. Of course, it also refused pre-killed mice of varying sizes. I left an anole in the tank with the snake and they bask together now... Finally, in desperation, I tried goldfish. The snake loves 'em. But still, it has two other feeder lizards that live in the tank now and they can walk on branches only inches from his head and he doesn't make a move. Any suggestions? I feel strange feeding a lizard-eating-snake fish.

Thinair

a funny prasina u have there. My prasina doesn't take anything but gecko's. Did u purchase it from a shop or did u get it from a friend? maybe the previous owner trained him to eat goldfish.
Goldfishes have high levels of thiaminase which might cause your snake some deficiency illness. However not all snakes are affected by this. Some snakes on goldfish diet live to the end of their life span with no problems at all...so..nothings really sure..its your call.
I have no idea how to convert a lizard eating snake thats been eating fishes back to lizards.

thiaminase, as I understand it effects the thiamine in cells damaged by freezing or death, which is why feeding dead or frozen feeder fish is a bad idea. Digestion breaks down the thiaminase causing little or no loss of thiamine in live feedings. Anedotically, I know this to be true because I have keep several species of snakes on a diet of nothing else. Currently my brown vine snakes(Oxybelis fulgidus),Texas night snake(Hypsiglena torquata), Jeweled racers(Drymobius Margariteferus). None of these snakes in my possesion have ever had any thiamine deficeincies as a result of their diet, nor have they ever recieved any suppliments.

Thanks for the replies, folks. You both addressed my primary concern: whether or not feeding only fish would result in any dietary deficiencies. It would seem like the answer is no. I purchased the snake from a reputable online dealer I have dealt with often in the past, and I am fairly certain that the snake was well taken care of while in their posession. Actually, I haven't contacted _them_ about what the snake was eating before being sold to me; perhaps that is my next step. I suppose in the short term, as long as my snake is healthy (ie, eating, drinking, and defecating, I shouldn't worry. It's just curious that it won't take size-appropriate food items that it would normally eat in the wild.

Thanks again,
Thinair

AFter some thought...the only deduction i can come up with is...your snake has probably tasted both lizards and goldfish...and obviously goldfishes taste better to him and its easier to come across lizards than goldfishes in the wild...mystery solved! hehe

your snake would probably perfer frogs over lizards, also I have noticed that these snakes can sometimes be very particular about the size of their prey and if you don't get just right, forget it!

Again, thanks for the replies... I've found a source for feeder frogs. Any thoughts on whether or not toads would be a dangerous food item? If so, I'll try small tree frogs instead (toads are cheaper tho'). I do hold to the maxim, 'if it ain't broke, don't fix it', and since it _is_ eating goldfish, perhaps I shouldn't worry anymore. (???)

Thinair

If it's a penny for your thoughts, but you have to put your two cents in...somebody's making a penny. -S. Wright

You should count yourself lucky that your vine snake will eat goldfish which are cheap and readily available year-round. As for toads, they can excrete poison from their skin, however I have never tried them with my snakes so I can say for sure that they are bad food. Green tree frogs on the other hand are definetly safe and a good food for these snakes.

Some snakes such as Heterodon and Nerodia/Thamnophis are able to deal with bufotoxins as they commonly are found together and toads are a major food source for them. But with something like a vine that wouldn't probably come across a toad, it would be risky at best. And if you take the risk, it could result in the death of your snake. Andy
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Andy Maddox
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The Reptizone

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