Reptile & Amphibian Forums

Just curious if anyone knew of any risks associated with the feeding of fathead minnows to neonate snakes (i.e., Candoia). My baby Isabels eat them readily, but I've heard rumors that commercial fatheads can spread diseases like hepatitis. Anyone have any knowledge of this? And if so, are these diseases transmittable to the snakes, or worse yet humans?

I didn't know that about Candoia... I think most of the Candoia owners hang out in the main boa forum, most of the people here just own Charina and Eryx.
I've never read about any dangers associated with feeding baitfish, though, only that they're safer than petstore feeders.

Thanks for the reply. I posted this same message on the boa forum, and the only reply I got was that my posting regarding Candoia eating fish only proves that Candoia aren't boas.

How do you mean that bait shops are safer that pet stores? The fathead minnows that I purchase are from a pet store. What are the risks of pet store fish and why are bait stores different?

I've heard lots different reasons why not to get fish from petstores. I don't know how accurate any of them are, though. The most important ones I've heard that petstore fish have parasites, and that they're treated with too many chemicals like copper. These were mostly warnings for goldfish, though, and the fathead minnows might not be as bad off. I guess the best way to guard against any of this is to try and vary the types of fish you give him, and try to find something else he eats too. All of the real snake/fish experts would probably be on the garter snake and water snake forums, so it couldn't hurt to ask them.
I've looked into this because I have a fish-eating turtle.

I thought I would add to this, since I work at a small fish store. Normally we never treat our feeders with copper, though I don't know what the suppliers do to them. In most cases feeders aren't as healthy as normal fish, because (well I am sure you've seen how they are kept) the feeders are way over crowded, and usually not kept in the best of conditions. Those are usually goldfish which should never be kept this way. Other type of feeders might be better.