Snake supplements

[Payara]

I was looking through a new TFH publication snake book and it suggested supplementing snake food with vitamins. Does anyone do this? This is the first time I have even hear about this. If so how often and what brand or type of supplements do you use.

Thanks in advance

 

[Payara]

I just realized no one replied to this ? I had. If someone could answer I'd greatly appreciate it.

 

[TheFragginDragon]

This is something new for me too Koshy....was it an ad, or an article?

 

[Payara]

It was a topic in this book: http://www.amazon.com/Good-Snakekee...6429/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1306827447&sr=8-1

 

[garweft]

Let's just say if you dip the rump of a F/T meal in a calcium and vitamin supplement once a month it won't hurt your snake, and I firmly believe that it does help with issues seen in breeding like dystocia (egg binding), and some issues with hatchlings.

I won't say it's necessary, or even that all my snakes get supplemented, but I do supplement my breeding female colubrids, and know a lot of producers of kings and milks with years of experience do/did the same.

 

[Payara]

Thank you good sir

 

[Helenthereef]

I asked a similar question a while back and also got very few responses, I don't think many people consider it. I was asking because I don't always have easy access to prey animals, was supplementing with chicken portions and concerned that my snakes may not be getting their full dietary needs accordingly.

Everyone who responded didn't think supplements were necessary, but they had ready access to full prey animals, so there was little experience with my problem.

Eventually, (although I had nothing to suppose that the snakes were suffering from deficiencies) I started giving a monthly feed with reptile supplement powder stuffed inside a chicken heart. I didn't think they'd take food covered with powder.

It's made no obvious difference to the snakes, but I feel better.....

So I think that as long as you are feeding them appropriate prey animals, supplements probably aren't necessary, but occasional dosing won't do any harm. I wouldn't do it every feed, though, some vitamins can be toxic in very large amounts.

 

[Payara]

Thanks Helen.

 

[Pmsayi]

I tried providing vitamins and calcium supplements to snakes several years ago (Around 1996 or 1997). I injected the prey items with the supplements before offering them to the snakes. I didn't notice any measurable benefit to the snakes for the most part. The only benefit I did notice was that snakes that where picky or poor eaters did have better feeding responses after a few meals of supplemented prey. I surmised this was probably due to the increase of vitamin B 12 in their diet from the supplementation. However, I have also noticed better feeding responses from finicky eaters who are provided with or exposed to full spectrum UVA/ UVB lighting.

The species of snake in which feeding responses improved for me when I provided supplementation or specialized lighting are:

Arizona Mt. King snakes
Sonoran Mt. King snakes
Emerald Tree Boas
Ball Pythons
Solomon Island Ground boa
Borneo Blood Python

I have also found that Jungle carpet pythons do much better when exposed to full spectrum lighting, however it does not seem to make a difference with coastal carpet pythons. Emeralds ( Note: mine where all wild caught animals) provided with full spectrum became very reliable eaters taking small meals every 10 days.

I did not notice any increase in clutch sizes by providing supplements or specialized lighting. However supplementing females before the breeding season and after egg deposition is probably beneficial for faster recovery time especially if planning to second and/or third clutch (I don't third clutch animals and rarely second clutch) the female.

 

[Helenthereef]

This makes sense to me. The species I give occasional supplements to are Fiji Boas, very closely related to the Solomon Island Ground Boa. They are nocturnal and as I keep them in natural conditions (in Fiji), without supplemental light, my other concern was lack of UV.

 

[Payara]

I injected the prey items with the supplements before offering them to the snakes.

How much and was their specific brand used for supplementing?

I have also found that Jungle carpet pythons do much better when exposed to full spectrum lighting, however it does not seem to make a difference with coastal carpet pythons. Emeralds ( Note: mine where all wild caught animals) provided with full spectrum became very reliable eaters taking small meals every 10 days.

I am using special lighting for my Bredli python and I've noticed he's more active and has a insane feeding response compared to ambient room lighting.

 

[zooherper]

I provide Miner-all and Repashy Calcium plus to insectivorous snakes just as I would lizards; and will give RescueCal to females who have laid eggs; with good results--larger clutches and the insectivores tend to fair pretty well (had some rough greens for about 4 years now).

 

[Helenthereef]

I used Rep-Cal Herptivite with Beta Carotene Multivitamins, and Rep-Cal Phosphorous-Free Calcium with Vit D3. You mix the two powders together just before use.

I don't give a specific dose, I just put "a bit" inside a f/t prey animal and feed it to them about every 3rd or 4th feeding.

 

[Pmsayi]

How much and was their specific brand used for supplementing?



I am using special lighting for my Bredli python and I've noticed he's more active and has a insane feeding response compared to ambient room lighting.

The amount would vary depending on the prey item. Pinkies would receive approximately a 1/8 cc injected into the stomach. Mice would receive 1 cc and rats as much as 3 cc or as little as 1 cc.

I primarily used Herptivite and Rep-Cal mixed by volume at a 1:1 ratio diluted by weight with 6 oz of water.