Reptile & Amphibian Forums

I have just received a trio of Natrix tesselata so far the largest one the male is feeding on fuzzie mice, the other two only on defrost lance fish and earth worms. I have just been told that defrost frozen fish can cause problems. Is this all fish or only lance fish. Hopefully I will get the other two onto defrost fuzzies which will solve the problem.
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0.1.. Boiga Cyanea
1:1.. Candoia carinata paulsoni (Solomon Island ground Boas)
1:2.. Elaphe bimaculata (Twin-spotted Rat Snake)
1:1.. Elaphe o. obsoleta (liquorice stick or white sided rat snakes)
1.0.. Elaphe sauromates
0:1.. Eryx jaculus
0:1.. Eryx miliaris nogaiorum
1:1.. Gonyosoma oxycephalum (Silver Phase)
1:1.. Lampropeltis getula "goini" (Tangerine Phase)
1:1.. Lampropeltis pyromelana woodini (Huachuca Mountain Kingsnake)
1.1.1.. Natrix tesselata
1:2.. Pituophis catenifer (melanoleucus) sayi (Bull Snake)
1.1.. Pituophis catenifer annectens (Albino Bechtel line)
Lizards
1:2.. Laudakia brachydactyla (gold painted Agama)
1:0..Tupinambis teguixin ssp. (Golden Tegu)
0:1..Uromastyx acanthinurus
1:1..Pogona henrylawsonii [brevis] (Rankins Dragons)
Arachnid’s
Pterinochilus murinus
Kilimanjaro Sootyback
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1:2.. Pituophis catenifer (melanoleucus) sayi (Bull Snake)
0.1.. Boiga Cyanea
1:1.. Gonyosoma oxycephalum (Silver Phase)
1:1.. Lampropeltis getula "goini" (Tangerine Phase)
01.. Eryx miliaris nogaiorum
1:1.. Elaphe o. obsoleta (liquorice stick or white sided rat snakes)
0:1.. Eryx jaculus
1:1.. Lampropeltis pyromelana woodini (Huachuca Mountain Kingsnake)
1:2.. Elaphe bimaculata (Twin-spotted Rat Snake)
1:1.. Candoia carinata paulsoni (Soloman Island ground Boas)
Lizards
1:0..Tupinambis teguixin ssp. (Golden Tegu)
0:1..Uromastyx acanthinurus
1:1..Pogona henrylawsonii [brevis] (Rankins Dragons)
Arachnid’s
Pterinochilus murinus
Kilimanjaro Sootyback
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Congratulations on your new arrivals. Frankly, I am jealous however I will attempt to be helpful regardless ... a variety of fish are referred to as "lance fish" including marine species. If this is the case I would strongly reccomend that you not feed these to your Tesselata. Basically, the carp family including minnows present some (over time) potential hazard. It has been discussed earlier in this forum that, frozen is OK if heated and cooled prior to feeding. The precise peak temp eludes me at the moment but I think it was about 125 deg.F.
This is not neccesary for all fish. Trout for example do not present a (thiminase) problem. As for the fresh/frozen aspect, other than mentioned above, likely fresh is best since the inherent vitamins will be more viable.
By the way, are we going to be blessed with some pictures of your natrix?
Michael

I have just taken a picture of my Natrix tesselata sorry it is not very good, but it will give you a good idea of them. I will take some more on Wednesday.

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1:2.. Pituophis catenifer (melanoleucus) sayi (Bull Snake)
0.1.. Boiga Cyanea
1:1.. Gonyosoma oxycephalum (Silver Phase)
1:1.. Lampropeltis getula "goini" (Tangerine Phase)
01.. Eryx miliaris nogaiorum
1:1.. Elaphe o. obsoleta (liquorice stick or white sided rat snakes)
0:1.. Eryx jaculus
1:1.. Lampropeltis pyromelana woodini (Huachuca Mountain Kingsnake)
1:2.. Elaphe bimaculata (Twin-spotted Rat Snake)
1:1.. Candoia carinata paulsoni (Soloman Island ground Boas)
Lizards
1:0..Tupinambis teguixin ssp. (Golden Tegu)
0:1..Uromastyx acanthinurus
1:1..Pogona henrylawsonii [brevis] (Rankins Dragons)
Arachnid’s
Pterinochilus murinus
Kilimanjaro Sootyback
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Sorry wrong picture, herre it is hopefully.

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1:2.. Pituophis catenifer (melanoleucus) sayi (Bull Snake)
0.1.. Boiga Cyanea
1:1.. Gonyosoma oxycephalum (Silver Phase)
1:1.. Lampropeltis getula "goini" (Tangerine Phase)
01.. Eryx miliaris nogaiorum
1:1.. Elaphe o. obsoleta (liquorice stick or white sided rat snakes)
0:1.. Eryx jaculus
1:1.. Lampropeltis pyromelana woodini (Huachuca Mountain Kingsnake)
1:2.. Elaphe bimaculata (Twin-spotted Rat Snake)
1:1.. Candoia carinata paulsoni (Soloman Island ground Boas)
Lizards
1:0..Tupinambis teguixin ssp. (Golden Tegu)
0:1..Uromastyx acanthinurus
1:1..Pogona henrylawsonii [brevis] (Rankins Dragons)
Arachnid’s
Pterinochilus murinus
Kilimanjaro Sootyback
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Yeah, you had me freaked out for a second there. Those are absolutely gorgeous snakes! The previous one as well. I sure hope your intent on breeding them. I (we) would love to see babies successfully reared.
Michael