Homalopsis buccata (Puff Faced Water Snake)

[ARKproject]

Not really looking for tankmates. Just the four snakes in a large aquatic setip

 

[Viridis]

What about stocking large feeder goldfish, but keeping them and gutlaoding them for a few weeks before feeding them to the snakes? I feel that would be much more manageable. Maybe even hiding pinky mice in large pieces of fish fillets?

Goldfish (and Rosy/fathead Minnows since they are also common feeders) contain thiaminase, an enzyme which breaks down thiamine, leading to numerous health problems (see 1, 2, 3, 4, & 5). Freezing also reduces thiamin levels, however that's why gut loading with high quality food would help (slight speculation there). Plus you can also inject a thiamine supplement into the food every so often just incase (though I don't know how much or how often, as that would depend on many factors).

Hiding pinkies in fillets could work, if you can find one thick enough. Pinkies do however have lower levels of calcium and higher fat relative to size (see here) vs fish (here) which would provide, in theory, the proper levels, considering this is a largely piscivorous species of snake.

Side note: That last paper I link to has the nutrient composition of fish in Bangladesh, which incudes genera likely eaten by H.buccata in the wild, possibly giving you a closer idea to what they might require, albeit not exact as it may not be the specific species/habitat, and it only has some crustacean and no amphibian info. It's also excluding bones, organs, fins, scales, and gills, which would increase some levels quite a bit.

 

[Viridis]

Side note: That last paper I link to has the nutrient composition of fish in Bangladesh, which incudes genera likely eaten by H.buccata in the wild, possibly giving you a closer idea to what they might require, albeit not exact as it may not be the specific species/habitat, and it only has some crustacean and no amphibian info. It's also excluding bones, organs, fins, scales, and gills, which would increase some levels quite a bit.

Forgot the link for the last sentence. Here you go.

 

[Deadliestviper7]

What about stocking large feeder goldfish, but keeping them and gutlaoding them for a few weeks before feeding them to the snakes? I feel that would be much more manageable. Maybe even hiding pinky mice in large pieces of fish fillets?

No never do this, goldfish contain a chemical which at first leads to retardation like behaviors in reptiles, this along with the thiamase issue will lead to the death of your snake.

 

[Deadliestviper7]

No never do this, goldfish contain a chemical which at first leads to retardation like behaviors in reptiles, this along with the thiamase issue will lead to the death of your snake.

If you want a better understanding of why goldfish are bad for these guys, there are parrarels in wernicke encephalchy (spl?).

 

[Deadliestviper7]

Updates?

 

[ARKproject]

I've been very lucky and my lfs has been supplying me with Malawi cichlids that he deems unfit for sale (skinny, poor colours, females, hybrids) for free since I'm such a good customer. I've only had to resort to goldfish a few times as I've also been feeding them Swordtails that I breed myself.
I believe I have 2.2 and they have all put on weight since in my care.
I'll post a video on Thursday when I pick up more feeders