interested in keeping this guy

[snakehunter]

i caught this little guy today, and now i want to keep him. (thats a dime he's next to) the only reason i would keep him is b/c he's so small, and new that he is not as used to the wild as a yearling garter. my mom said that if i could get him to eat i could keep him. so im asking all you garter owners for some tips, and help on setting his cage up. right now i have a small yogurt lid for water, and some sphag. moss for him to hide under, i know this isn't much, but once i find out what to do i will change it emediatly.

http://www.ssnakess.com/photopost/data/500/2176resize_of_copy_of_pict0010-med.jpg


a friend of mine suggested guppies, what do you all use, could i go with crickets and worms, thanx for the help,
-Jacob

ps- what about hybernation.

[Smilts]

we arefeeding are new garter gold fish its what the pet store was feeding it

[TheRedDragon]

And, as far as I know, Garters eat fish as a main diet anyway, so, Goldfish would most likely be a good idea.

[SerpentLust]

My Ribbon which is about the same as garter care eats feeder gold fish but refuses pinkies as well as Rosy Red feeder fish and also guppies.

You'll need a bigger water source. They like to swim. I have my ribbon in a 2' by 1' by 1' enclosure with a 10" dog food bowl for swimming. Also the fish can swim around in it. For substrate I just have newspaper and give him alot to hide in. They tend to be very active but also very nervous snakes. At the first sign of a "threat" they slither away into hiding to feel secure and watch you through the openning.

Jenn

[Andy_G]

When it is big enough and if you can switch it over, keep it on dead pinkie mice.

[snakelover111]

they can eat worms and goldfish

[marisa]

I thought Goldfish were a terrible feeder for any animal? I can't remember but they are supposed to be high in some chemical/nutriant (sp) that isn't good for the eater of the goldfish.

Marisa

[Wuntu Menny]

Every garter I've ever caught regurged nothing but small fish. That has to say something about their diet of choice.

WM

[enso]

All my garters are on f/t mice as a main diet, but will accept earthworms, frogs, and fish. All are kept in 10 gallon enclosures for life. Their water source is a bowl. They never soak or enter the water, only drink. Substrate consists of one to two inches of shredded aspen like the rest of my colubrids. Two hides, one on the hot side (85F). and one on the cool (75F). Nighttime temps are around 70F. About this mice vs fish... These snakes freak out when they smell mice now. Believe me, most will readily accept mice. Anywho, nice garter, good luck with it and keep us updated.
25 earthworms in a bowl and a garter snake can only lead to a good time...

[Tim_Cranwill]

You're right Marisa. A diet of only fish isn't really ideal for garters. It puts the snake in danger of becoming vitamin B1 deficient. (http://www.gartersnake.co.uk/)Get some bait worms (night-crawlers) and also try f/t mice. You'd have to find a pretty small pinkie for that snake though ;)

Anyway, Garters are really cool. They eat a pretty wide variety of things which can either make feeding them really easy or pretty difficult. Keep us posted. :)

[Katt]

I agree goldfish are nasty feeders, I would avoid goldfish as a feeder fish.

[BWSmith]

I would just turn him loose :D

[The_Omen]

the only reason i would keep him is b/c he's so small, and new that he is not as used to the wild as a yearling garter.

They have been doing the 'wild' a lot longer and better than we ever have..
Besides, how do ya think the bigger garters got there?
They started that small also.

I vote for letting it go.

[BurmBaroness]

I have to agree with the omen and BW on this one, let it go.

[snakehunter]

yeah, im going to let him go, he is acting a little nervous, and hasnt eaten, i will release him in the am. ill just stick to my bp's. thanx
jacob

[BWSmith]

Good choice. He will be much happier :D