feeding question garter snake

[mark24]

How often do you feed garter snakes??

[Kingsnakechris]

I'm no expert with gartes but I can only assume they live on the same schedule as all the others, depending on age 5-7 days.

[infernalis]

Originally Posted by Kingsnakechris

I'm no expert with gartes but I can only assume they live on the same schedule as all the others, depending on age 5-7 days.

wrong answer. Thamnophis have a very high metabolism, I feed mine every other day.

I feed babies every day.

These are super active snakes, like they have ADHD and a sugar buzz, so they need to eat often.

as adults, when they can take pinkie mice, I back off to every 3-4 days.

If you feed worms, every other day tops, if you feed fish every three days tops.

[infernalis]

moved to thamnophis

[Kingsnakechris]

Originally Posted by infernalis

wrong answer. Thamnophis have a very high metabolism, I feed mine every other day.

I feed babies every day.

These are super active snakes, like they have ADHD and a sugar buzz, so they need to eat often.

as adults, when they can take pinkie mice, I back off to every 3-4 days.

If you feed worms, every other day tops, if you feed fish every three days tops.

I stand corrected. Listen to infernalis, he's a garter pro!

[mark24]

Thanks Wayne. That's why they were always acting hungry all the time. I was feeding em fish once a week. So fish every 2-3 days??

[infernalis]

yes.. don't worry if they look plump after you feed them, it will come out the other end quickly enough.

[infernalis]

what kind of fish?

whole fish, or cut up bits from larger fish?

[mark24]

Cut up bits from larger fish

[infernalis]

pick up a can of reptomin (turtle pellets) at any pet shop, I place a teaspoon full between two sheets of paper and use a kitchen roller to crush it into powder.

sprinkle a little on the fish, and it will provide the extra nutrients lost by not feeding whole prey.



Also, if you are buying frozen fish look at the ingredients label, if you see the words "Sodium Tripolyphosphate" listed, discontinue use, its laundry detergent!

I buy organic trout, or just catch some bluegills and cut them up.

[infernalis]

I lost a trio of Infernalis once by feeding them tilapia from wal mart without reading the label first.

[mark24]

Originally Posted by infernalis

pick up a can of reptomin (turtle pellets) at any pet shop, I place a teaspoon full between two sheets of paper and use a kitchen roller to crush it into powder.

sprinkle a little on the fish, and it will provide the extra nutrients lost by not feeding whole prey.



Also, if you are buying frozen fish look at the ingredients label, if you see the words "Sodium Tripolyphosphate" listed, discontinue use, its laundry detergent!

I buy organic trout, or just catch some bluegills and cut them up.

Thanks for the tip ill pick some up when I go to petsmart.
I have frozen organic tilapia fillets that I use I read each bag before I use it. To be sure I don't harm my snakes

[infernalis]

Originally Posted by mark24

I have frozen organic tilapia fillets that I use I read each bag before I use it. To be sure I don't harm my snakes

Two thumbs up for using your brain.