Vitamins

[Nvar]

Has anyone ever given vitamins to their BP via food or water? I see reptile vitamins all over the place but never thought to give them to a BP. Are they needed, would they help or just be a waste?

[frankykeno]

Personally I just believe that if you feed healthy rodents that are themselves well fed, well hydrated and well cared for prior to being fed off - then your snake gets all it will ever need as far as it's nutrition needs.

[kc261]

No one knows for sure what a BPs nutritional requirements are, because they haven't been scientifically studied. However, in the wild, they eat rodents. Not rodents with vitamin supplements. Plus there are hundreds of thousands of BPs in captivity that are thriving on a diet of rodents, without any vitamins. So I consider it a pretty safe bet that a diet of rodents meets the needs of my BPs and do not give them any additional supplements.

Reptile vitamins are typically good for animals such as certain lizards, turtles, and other species that in the wild eat a very varied diet. This is pretty much impossible to duplicate in captivity, so a supplement is a good idea. Plus, many of these species are susceptible to that calcium-deficiency bone disease that I can't remember the name of right now, and they apparently are less likely to have that problem if they have been given a supplement. So if/when I own one of those species, I definitely will give the supplements.

[2kdime]

All my animals like Centrum Complete

Nah just kiddin, they just get they're rats, and they're fine

[Nvar]

Ha! I think kc261 hit the nail on the head though. Most supplements go to vegetarian and omnivorous reptiles. I can see that they would be more prone to deficiencies, particularly mineral, than our carnivore's. Rodents - the complete diet!

[XGetSome]

Ive been thinkin bout getting them all Gummie Vitamins, Not sure if they will prefer Wall-eor Disney Cars