Reptomin?

i see both sides.

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Originally Posted by Kaorte

You simply cannot compare the nutritional needs of snakes with those of humans. They are not equal.

Snakes get all of their nutrients from the food they eat. Humans do NOT get all the nutrients they need from the food they eat. Our diets are so flawed that we need vitamins and supplements to stay healthy.

Is it essential? No.
Will they survive without it? Yes, they will thrive.
why not? because there is not one proven need for it in snakes.


If you want to spend $10 to inject your rodents with vitamins, go for it. But I am telling you, you are wasting your time.

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You my friend are wrong. Everyone is completely capable of getting their nutritional needs through the right diet. Now does anyone get them? Mostly not because people are lazy, but seeing as we have mouths to speak and are smart enough to determine to what we need to be 100% healthy we can perfect our diet. And there are people out there, such as Ethiopian kids who live a full life (not a healthy one) but live a full life by just meeting the bare minimum. So yes for as much as we know, snakes do not need supplementation and can live a full life just on feeders, but who knows if by giving vitamins will they live longer? brighten up in color somewhat? produce more eggs?

Thank you! That's exactly what I'm trying to say. We just don't know. And to flat out say it's unnecessary is really presumptuous. Until someone does a long term study of the effects of vitamins with these snakes we just don't know.

If you are so interested in it try it. Do some studies on it who knows all these people might be buying them from you in the future. I'm sure the first guy to build a tub rack was told it wouldnt work too and look at what most people use now. If nobody every tried anything new how would we learn things? I just hope you don't get any negative effects from it.

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Originally Posted by ScottNBecky

Thank you! That's exactly what I'm trying to say. We just don't know. And to flat out say it's unnecessary is really presumptuous. Until someone does a long term study of the effects of vitamins with these snakes we just don't know.

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Just to be clear, I never said you COULDN'T do it. If you want to do it, go for it. No one is going to stop you.

Experienced keepers will agree with me. People who breed ball pythons for a living will agree with me. These people have been keeping ball pythons in captivity for decades and have never reported problems due to nutrient deficiency for animals that are consistant feeders. So where is the evidence that points toward a need for vitamins?

If there was a need for vitamin supplements for ball pythons, we would know about it by now. We know about it for many species of lizards and amphibians and it is considered required to add these dietary supplements. This is mainly because we cannot provide the same nutrients to these animals in captivity like they would get in the wild.

If there was such a great benefit to using vitamins as you say there MIGHT (keyword might) be, then experienced keepers and breeders would be using them already. Ball pythons get all their nutrients from the food they eat and nothing else. Keepers who feed frozen do not notice a difference in health than those who feed frozen.

I cannot think of a single supplement that you could give a snake that it wouldn't get from its prey. That being said, the prey item must be raised on a certain kind of food (which most rodent breeders already use) and in clean conditions.

And if you were to argue that a rat isn't a ball pythons "natural" prey item, then explain to me why ball pythons feeding on their natural prey item, african soft furred rats, are of the same health as those feeding on lab rats?


You are right, until someone does a study to see if vitamins are beneficial, we will not know for sure. But are you willing to risk the health and safety of your animals to find out? I am going to go with the tried and true method that has worked for keepers and breeders all over the world since ball pythons started being kept in captivity. One appropriately sized rat, mouse, or ASF once a week.

I really didn't wish to start an argument with you over this. Just trying to save you a few bucks. When you bring up an idea like this, you can't expect everyone to agree with everyone. There is no single right way to keep your animal healthy. Ultimately, it is your decision. Their life is in your hands.