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Does Feeding Mice Alter Longevity? >>


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Posted by chris_mcmartin on January 26, 2003 at 08:29:53:

I've heard of studies done on hognoses (Heterodon) in which specimens fed diets predominantly composed of mice don't live as long as those maintained on an amphibian diet, allegedly because their bodies aren't "set up" to handle the higher fat etc.

Does anyone who keeps garters in quantity (I only have one, so my sample size is insufficient!) have any evidence to suggest similar results with garters?

I've had my T.e.vagrans for 7.5 years now (WC as an adult) and up until this past fall had been feeding him a variety of fish and nightcrawlers, with the occasional pinkie/fuzzy.

The last couple of months before throwing him into the garage for "brumation," I switched him to adult mice (he's never refused any reasonable meal). With the information suggested by the Heterodon example, I'm wondering if I'm adversely affecting his longevity.

Thoughts? Or even better, data? :)

Chris



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