Calcium supplements for snakes?

[CosmicOwl]

I was reading some nutritional break downs for common feeder animals and I noticed that lizards and frogs appear to have quite a bit more calcium than rodents. Since so many snakes prey on lizards and frogs when they are small, do you do guy think it would be beneficial to perhaps dust pinkies and fuzzies with a calcium and/or vitamin supplement?

[Starbuck]

Could you link your source please?

[SSSSnakes]

Rodents are complete nutrition for snakes. I have never had a vit. or calcium problem with a snake. If it is not broken, don't fix it.

[Will0W783]

Most wild snakes are opportunistic feeders, and will catch and eat whatever they can. That being said, I've never heard of a problem with snakes lacking vitamins/minerals, nor have I heard of supplementation making any difference. Too much calcium can be a problem for any animal as well as people.

I would stick with just giving your snakes their prey items and avoid supplements. The ONLY time I have ever given any supplementation was to gravid females of egg-laying species. For them, I will give a few feedings dusted with Repti-Cal.

[CosmicOwl]

Originally Posted by Starbuck

Could you link your source please?

Here you go. It's a nutritional breakdown of various feeder items.

Also, I'm not saying that snakes need a calcium supplement. I'm only wondering if perhaps a calcium supplement might be beneficial to young snakes that would in the wild be eating prey with more calcium.

[kwhitlock]

Originally Posted by CosmicOwl

Here you go. It's a nutritional breakdown of various feeder items.

Also, I'm not saying that snakes need a calcium supplement. I'm only wondering if perhaps a calcium supplement might be beneficial to young snakes that would in the wild be eating prey with more calcium.

If I'm not mistaken, Brian from BHB did an experiment with corns with different feeding techniques, like feeding one smaller, multiple prey. He had one that he dusted with calcium and other stuff. At the end of the day, the snake who had the single big prey item grew the most in the experiment.

[CosmicOwl]

Originally Posted by kwhitlock

If I'm not mistaken, Brian from BHB did an experiment with corns with different feeding techniques, like feeding one smaller, multiple prey. He had one that he dusted with calcium and other stuff. At the end of the day, the snake who had the single big prey item grew the most in the experiment.

I remember that. Though I think the difference was that the prey item that was dusted with vitamins was just a normal sized meal, while the other snakes received a larger meal in the same time frame. Also, the group being fed vitamins supposedly grew more than the group being fed regular meals with no vitamins, as well as the group being fed small meals.

[kwhitlock]

Originally Posted by CosmicOwl

I remember that. Though I think the difference was that the prey item that was dusted with vitamins was just a normal sized meal, while the other snakes received a larger meal in the same time frame. Also, the group being fed vitamins supposedly grew more than the group being fed regular meals with no vitamins, as well as the group being fed small meals.

Yes, I do believe you were correct. Oops lol

[KORBIN5895]

If you look at that chart it leaves out some pertinent info like the weight of the lizard. Another flaw is that it claims an adult mouse is over 10g. Surely there is a calcium difference between a 11g mouse and a 35g mouse.

[CosmicOwl]

Originally Posted by KORBIN5895

If you look at that chart it leaves out some pertinent info like the weight of the lizard. Another flaw is that it claims an adult mouse is over 10g. Surely there is a calcium difference between a 11g mouse and a 35g mouse.

It mentions the calcium as a percentage value though.

[Cruddown]

What symptoms would a snake with a nutritional deficiency exhibit? I've read about nutritional deficiencies in lizards and turtles, but there doesn't seem to be much on snakes. It seems as long as they get appropriate whole-food items, they're generally fine.

[Tsubaki]

I know 2 dutch breeders who strongly believe this is the right thing to do, never proven to be beneficial though.

[CosmicOwl]

Originally Posted by Cruddown

What symptoms would a snake with a nutritional deficiency exhibit? I've read about nutritional deficiencies in lizards and turtles, but there doesn't seem to be much on snakes. It seems as long as they get appropriate whole-food items, they're generally fine.

I don't want to be misunderstood. I'm not saying that I think snakes being fed on a plain rodent diet are malnourished or have nutritional deficiencies. I'm just wondering if there are ways that snake nutrition can be improved. For instance, look at the diet of the average person compared to that of an athlete. The average person doesn't need to eat like an athlete to be healthy, but would that kind of diet make them healthier? Likewise, would added calcium lead to larger, stronger and healthier snakes?

It's just a thought.

[Tsubaki]

An athlete's diet usually won't make you healthier, unless you also get an athlete's exercise.(it will make you healthier if you have a very bad diet, but that is a different story) An average person needs an average diet, ill wait giving my snake supplements until i see them use the dumbbells i provided!


Joking obviously!

[KORBIN5895]

Originally Posted by CosmicOwl

It mentions the calcium as a percentage value though

So you think a juvenile lizard would have the same calcium content as an adult?

I can also guarantee you the calcium content of an 11g mouse and a 35g mouse will be different.