Need help with a Garter Snake issue

So i picked up a Garter Snake from Petco today...my son loved it and i figured it would be less aggressive and in time would settle down and he would be able to handle better then my Ball Python. But im running in to an issue with feeding.....

Does anyone have one?...and what do you feed it?...how do you feed it? and how often do you feed it?

live fish and earthworms when they are young, if you're lucky you can swap them to mice pinks when they are bigger. Put a couple of appropriately sized feeder comets in a bowl and watch your garter fish.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ysAW1gl61ww


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vIK0Z06r-io




Cheers,
Kat

sweet...she it little...and right now i dont know where i can get worms....but im still looking...so i got some small gish for her for now...and as far as the pinkies...there is no place around here to get them other then f\t...do you think she will still take them....and can you put a calcium powder on the worms to help?

oh yea...what about crickets?...i read somewhere about crickets...but not to sure about them

If she's a baby, I wouldn't recommend mice yet. Try the small fish and if you can get nightcrawlers from a baitshop or worms from your yard, just cut them into manageable pieces for her to take. Usually it is the motion of the prey that attracts them.... None of my garters have ever taken to crickets, but you can try it.

Cheers,
Kat

An idea on worms.. How about anywhere that sells bait for fishing? Nightcrawlers or something? Are those all right to feed garter snakes?

ninja'd by jane!

thanks for the advise....i will definitaly wait on the pinkies....but what if i cant get any...is it ok if i just keep her on fish and worms?

thanks again!!!

http://www.ball-pythons.net/gallery/...hp?i=21918&c=3

that is how tiny she is right now! How big do you think she will get?

cute little one. My first snake was a garter and I handfed it comets. I would hold the comet in my hand and the snake would take it, except for the one time when the comet moved the opposite way. What a look of surprise when the snake grabbed my thumb. Didn't hurt and the snake quickly realized its mistake. One time he got out and I couldn't find it for three days. Came home one day, and he was there waiting at the door looking for dinner. I've fed it comets and frogs.

I have not gottin to see her eat. She is still to stressed for me to mess with her that much...so i just pop in the fish and leave her be. I cant wait to see her eat..hehehe

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Originally Posted by Lunawf

I have not gottin to see her eat. She is still to stressed for me to mess with her that much...so i just pop in the fish and leave her be. I cant wait to see her eat..hehehe

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ok so know i have a problem....she wont eat.....the fish i got all died...so now i dont want to get them from that store anymore...so i got worms from the bait show here in town...and she wont eat them....grrr...any suggestions....i dont want to buy bulk...but she seams to not want to eat it if its not moving...not sure what to do!!!

Couple of questions:
1.) were the fish smaller in diameter than the diameter of her body? The size of the food is important as 'large' food can be intimidating to a wee garter.
2.) You said she isn't interested unless its moving, which implies she HAS shown interest at some point? Be patient and keep trying. Welcome to the world of garters, they take some work when they are young to get them going.

~Kat

I would also add: What does your housing setup look like? Does she have hides and the correct temp gradient?

~Kat

Quote:

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Originally Posted by janeothejungle

Couple of questions:
1.) were the fish smaller in diameter than the diameter of her body? The size of the food is important as 'large' food can be intimidating to a wee garter.
2.) You said she isn't interested unless its moving, which implies she HAS shown interest at some point? Be patient and keep trying. Welcome to the world of garters, they take some work when they are young to get them going.

~Kat

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yes the first day i had her she ate 3 tiny goldfish. and then i have been trying worms....2 they are small...and nothings....

her temp is 92 on her hot spot with a hide, and 85 on the cool side with a hide...she is in a rubber made tub right now

Gartes generally get to be about 24-26 inches from what i've noticed..

My baby ball Calypso is refusing to eat too... I have her in a tub with a fuzzy now to see how it goes. if she doesnt eat the little guy when I get home from my boyfriends house tomorrow at 2am and its still alive I'm going to feed it to Kyros. eitherway I will have a happy snake and one less mouth to feed for my mama mouse. Maybe the runt will finally get to grow!

Just keep trying, and keep giving her fish if she shows no interest in the worms.

As far as I know, you won't need to ever use calcium powder on snakes. Unless it's different for garters, and I don't think it is.

Good luck!

so i went and got some comets for my little garter...and put them in her water bowl...well she has not touched them...and i checked on her and she has that blue tent to her eyes..im assuming she is about to shed...which is awesome but i have one question....will she eat if she is about to shed??

Try to feed after shed has finished.

Size will be somewhere between 3 and 4 feet depending on species.

Ok so i figured she was about to shed because her eyes got that blue color to them...but i went to check on her today...to see if she had...well no skin anywhere....and her eyes are no longer blue...can a shed be retraced...i up the humidity to 70% when I noticed her eyes...what should i do?

Hi,

They clear up before they actually shed. :gj:


dr del

Quote:

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Originally Posted by dr del

Hi,

They clear up before they actually shed. :gj:


dr del

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oh ok...and will she possibly feed as well...i checked on her a gain..well with out opening the tub...and she had eaten 2 of the comets i put in for her.....there is just not a lot of useful information on the next....and I should have done more research before getting her...but she was there and i had the means.....

thank for all the info