Reptile & Amphibian Forums

When I first started keeping snakes, I remembered reading someone's suggestion that for small snakes that feed exclusively on pinkies and fuzzies, you should supplement with calcium.

What has been your experiences? Do you guys think that one should supplement with calcium?

The reason I am asking is that: I am considering switching exclusively to rats. However, two of my smaller species (copperhead and pigmy rattle snake) can only feed on rat pinkies.

Do you think I will run into calcium insufficiency or mal-nutrition if I fed only rat pinkies?

(I can see the logic of it: pinkies probably only have cartilages instead of bones.)

thx.
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Longtang. I like snakes and rats.

your snakes will be fine.
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Sonya

Actually, all mammals are born with bones, not just cartelidge. Their bones are soft and pliable but still calcium based. Mammal bones at birth are segmented and ending in growth plates which are responsible for most of the grow together as they age.. Your snakes should be just fine on a diet of rat pinks....Many people raise all types of baby snakes on pinkies... its the only thing some of them are big enough to take.