WC garter not eating, any ideas?

Hey guys,

So during a herping session towards the end of summer I collected a WC adult garter, and the guy still hasn't eaten for me. I've tried worms, slugs, tilapia strips, and pinky mice with zero luck. I'm hesitant to try live fish because I worry that he'll refuse and then I'm stuck with the fish.. Any ideas as to other prey items I could try? One page suggested grasshoppers/crickets, but I wasn't sure if they'd actually take those. He's not lethargic or anything (he recently survived an encounter with my cat and is doing great), but I worry about how long it's been since he's taken a meal. Any thoughts/tips? Should I consider force feeding worms? I'd release him but I'm concerned about the cold

Has it been exposed to any other reptiles in your collection at all?

He's in a tank with 2 other baby garters caught from the same location. Both those babies have been eating regularly and are in good shape. I figured he wouldn't eat after going up against the cat, but it's been a while.. I feel like he should be okay to eat by now. He'll typically just flee if I drop worms near him, and ignores other food sources

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Originally Posted by Luckylego

He's in a tank with 2 other baby garters caught from the same location. Both those babies have been eating regularly and are in good shape. I figured he wouldn't eat after going up against the cat, but it's been a while.. I feel like he should be okay to eat by now. He'll typically just flee if I drop worms near him, and ignores other food sources

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Yeah, so what were you thinking to catch & keep an ADULT snake? How quickly would YOU adapt to a whole new universe if you were in his "shoes"??? Leave wild things alone please- they need to be out there breeding & succeeding in the real world and keeping the balance of nature.

Also, you shouldn't force feed an adult snake. They know how to eat, you just not giving it what it wants.

Try a lizard. I know it's sad, but when I was rehabilitating an injured garter it was his favorite food source.

Let him go in a grassy/bush area where it is safe for the release. Don't worry about the cold - it knows what to do, and may already survived 1 or 2 winter's before you picked it up. It needs to eat to regain its fat reserve before winter hits and food source become scarce. Unless it is injured to the point it needed care, leave them alone.

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Originally Posted by Bogertophis

Yeah, so what were you thinking to catch & keep an ADULT snake? How quickly would YOU adapt to a whole new universe if you were in his "shoes"??? Leave wild things alone please- they need to be out there breeding & succeeding in the real world and keeping the balance of nature.

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Originally Posted by Cheesenugget

Let him go in a grassy/bush area where it is safe for the release. Don't worry about the cold - it knows what to do, and may already survived 1 or 2 winter's before you picked it up. It needs to eat to regain its fat reserve before winter hits and food source become scarce. Unless it is injured to the point it needed care, leave them alone.

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This is EXACTLY why we leave native species alone. They're a vital part of the ecosystem and belong where they are found.

There are plenty of captive born animals available to be sold as pets.

But PLEASE leave wildlife alone.

Born free, live free!

Just let it go he is in burmation stage and will not eat for you. They go off food and will not eat. Plus you probably dont feel like being preached at by everyone. Because none of these guys ever kept a wild animal ever!!!! Good luck...

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