Vitamins

[JamminJonah]

I know this was asked a ways back but I can't find the post. We all want the best for our BP's (Royal Pythons) so I was wondering how to give them their vitamins? I know they do fine without them but I would like to do everything I can to keep their immune systems up and keep them feeling and flowing well. Thanks for any replies!

[JLC]

If you raise your own rodents, you can gut-load them...which means to feed them super-nutritious supplements with their food...then feed them to the snake before they have a chance to pass all those nutrients out the back end. LOL If you start out with f/t, then you can inject liquid vitamins before feeding it to the snake.

All that being said...it might not be the best thing for them. They're perfectly designed to get all the nutrients they need from their prey. So long as you offer healthy prey, that should be the best thing for them. It IS possible to overdose on many different vitamins and minerals and with so little knowledge about exactly what a snake needs, it seems risky to me to offer such supplements to an otherwise healthy animal. (A sick animal who needs extra help is another matter, but still one best left to a medically trained person's discretion.)

That's my nickle's worth on the subject.

[JamminJonah]

ah, I was wondering about that - thanks Judy!

[JLC]

No problem. I always welcome a chance to voice my opinion. :wink: Thank YOU!

[jotay]

I use Reptisafe in his water. It is suppose to remove all the crap they put in the water to make it safe for us to drink plus it adds electroyltes including calcium.
I agree with Judy if you feed good correct food it should be all a healthy bp should need.

[Wizill]

never saw the need to gut-load rodents. esp. not for ball pythons.

[JLC]

No, me either, Will....I was just saying HOW it could be done if someone really wanted to.