First garter snake wont eat anything. Advise.

[FeederBreeder25]

I caught a baby garter snake a couple days ago and cant get it to eat. I dont know much about snakes yet but Im doing some research and cant find anything on how to get my snake to eat. I tried crickets and flies at first but I read they dont eat those so I tried worms. Nada. I breed mice so I have pinkies on tap but my snake is too little and if it wont take worms then should I try pinky parts? I dont wanna kill a pinkie for no reason. It is starting to get colder now that fall is here. Snakes hibernate like frogs right? I have a frog but I dont hibernate him and I would like to do the same with this snake. I dont intend to breed the frog or the snake so its not an issue.

[youngster]

TBH the snake probably isn't eating from the stress of being plucked out of it's natural habitat. But if you're determined to keep it I'd say pinky parts scented with a toad or something.

[lady_bug87]

No offence but if you "don't know much about snakes" maybe you should have left it where it was

[infernalis]

However, you did come to the right place, there are a couple people here who work with garter snakes.

Buy some small fish (feeder guppies are best) or a fillet of trout or salmon and cut it up into small bits like this..


Baby garter snakes acclimate to captivity rather well.


http://www.storeria.com/sep11/baby.jpg

[Marica]

Our little guy that we picked up at an expo a month ago finally ate last night. We tried chopped up mouse pink and salmon, but it was the chopped dew worm that enticed him.

[infernalis]

Our little guy that we picked up at an expo a month ago finally ate last night. We tried chopped up mouse pink and salmon, but it was the chopped dew worm that enticed him.

I know a guy who chops up plate loads of night crawlers nearly daily.

[FeederBreeder25]

I also captured my frog a year ago and knew nothing about frogs. I didnt even know what he was or that he was a he. I did my research and now he is happy, healthy, and doing very well. I have been wanting a snake and now Im doing my best to learn as much as possible how to properly care for it. But it has to eat first. I planned to let it go after a week if I cant get nothing in its belly. And maybe try again someday. I really like the fish idea. Would pinky parts rubbed on my treefrog be excepted? Cuz that would work best for me.

[redsided]

Yup. Dew worms, just those little light-colored earthworms, have this delicious taste apparently. Caught some today, and my snakes go nuts. There've never even had 'em before. Also chopped nightcrawlers work. My snakes all seem to like the smell/taste of the guts/blood of the worms... I've even seen on of them drinking a small puddle of blood! (not as gross as it sounds)

Fish - feeder guppies are great, they will almost never turn down a flopping fish. They can be hard to find though, and if you must, small rosy red minnows would be ok to feed once or twice. They are at most pet stores.

My snakes like frozen/thawed tilapia more than any other frozen fish, next to that f/t silversides. But thats not exactly enticing...

Pinkies aren't really they're natural diet, so I dont know how enticing they are either... Cut one up and try it though..

And yeah, no crickets/flies or any "bug". No goldfish, and no red wrigglers (AKA red worms or compost worms).

I would say, if he's really a baby, if he doesn't eat within 2 weeks, let him go. He just isn't cut out for captive life and probably won't eat for you. There's a lot of people out there selling captive bred babies, if you really want one.

Good luck with him.:) Garters are awesome.

[infernalis]

I have been known to give away babies to the right person. ;)

Normals and hets are hard to sell, but they need lovin too.

[redsided]

If you just want a garter, those work!:rolleyes: I would buy a normal eastern without hesitation, I love the one in your pic up there.:)

[ZARADOZIA]

Buy some small fish (feeder guppies are best) or a fillet of trout or salmon and cut it up into small bits like this..


And if that doesn't work buy a couple tiny fish and plop them in a water bowl alive. I rehabbed a garter my cat injured doing that. Worked like a charm.

[FeederBreeder25]

I just wanted to update here. I tried chopped up worms and that worked! The snake took a big chunk of worm and chowed down so we are good to go. I gave him 2 worms and he only took 1 chunk so I guess that was too much. Ill get this down soon.

[infernalis]

YAY!!! eating is half the battle.......

[redsided]

That's awesome!!!