Reptile & Amphibian Forums

i was reading the earlier post about thiaminase. is Herptivite Multivitamin good to use? i have a Western Ribbon i bought at a pet store, a Blue Garter i got at a show and 3 Eastern Garters which i caught. no Waters...yet! i've been feeding them live rosy reds and goldfish thus far with no adverse effects, but i don't want any of my snakes to suffer problems down the road. it scared me when i read 'pulatus' post about the Ribbon snake curling its head back over its body. i vaguely remember a Garter snake i had as a kid suffering disorientation and equilibrium problems until it died. my dad and i used to catch perch and bream and i would cut small pieces from them and freeze them to be fed later. i'd even feed the entrails. i was too young to know that what i was doing was harmful. as i said, i feed live now, not frozen. freezing causes thiaminase, right? is a supplement the best way to go or are there other alternatives? i'd like to think i'm a little more knowledgeable now than when i was a kid. all i really want is the best for my snakes. as always, thanks for any advice/help!

greg

First, relax ... and no, freezing does not "cause" thiaminase, it may however enhance it's effect if the enzymes that cause it are present.

Thiamin is vitamin B.

Vitamin B is the "stress" vitamin. In proper doses it soothes the nerves and/or reduces damage to the nervous system.

Thiamin counteracting enzymes are reported to be present in fish from the carp family (in particular). This includes but is not limited to, goldfish.

Vitamin supplements for snakes is not a well studied field but, my mother, my wife and my doctor recommend their use!
PLEASE NOTE: You or your snake can overdose on vitamins, so caution ... offer a little, not every meal, not every fourth meal ('cause our guys eat frequently), but perhaps a sprinkle once a month.
And don't just change the diet, vary the diet! Different fish for example. Also, as seen here on this forum, offer pinkies/mice. Evidently they do not pose the same risks as goldfish. If you choose to try mice, you don't have to feed them this all the time.
I'm sure that you would aquire a thiamin defficiency if you only ate crackers. So, you eat crackers and cheesies and ice cream and hotdogs and ...
Michael