Wasn't sure if I should put this here or in feeding.. applies either way i think.... if the mods feel the need to move it, sorry...
<TABLE BORDER=0 ALIGN=CENTER WIDTH=85%><TR><TD><font class="pn-sub">Quote:</font><HR></TD></TR><TR><TD><FONT class="pn-sub"><BLOCKQUOTE>This juvenile boa constrictor developed vitamin C deficiency after being fed live rats that were kept without food for 6-8 hours (the interval between purchase and when the rodents were offered to the snake). Under natural conditions, snakes consume prey that have been eating normally; thus when they consume their prey, the snakes also benefit from the contents of the prey's alimentary system. Although most snakes synthesize vitamin C in varying amounts, these amounts are sometimes insufficient to meet a particular snake's metabolic requirements. In rodents, vitamin C synthesis occurs in the gut; so if prey rodents have not eaten prior to being fed to snakes, their bodies lack vitamin C-containing ingesta and feces. Freshly killed rodents used as prey should be fed a meal prior to being offered to a snake. Alternatively, if frozen and then thawed rodents are used, an appropriate amount of vitamin C in the form of sodium ascorbate can be injected into the rodent carcass, or a portion of a vitamin C tablet can be inserted into the rodent carcass. </BLOCKQUOTE></FONT></TD></TR><TR><TD><HR></TD></TR></TABLE>
From
this site... other interesting herp and non herp info too.... [img]modules/Forum/images/smiles/icon_smile.gif[/img]
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