Wild Caught Garter Feeding/Housing tips

[Billman]

Update!
Thanks for the input by the way everyone!

Just went out after our rainstorm today for some worms. Got a Bunch and have them all in a little cooler. None were very big, maybe a Gram.

I tried offering some again today. Reached in, he flicked his tongue, and dropped it by him. Took it right away. I didn't like how the shavings stuck to it so I put a piece of paper down in there. Dropped another on the paper and -Bam!

He took one right from my hand, however I am going to try to avoid that HA!

I wasn't very sure how many to feed him as I didn't find any really good sized worms. (Can I over feed?) I think it was about 6 in total, 5 just now and one last night. Most didn't really register on my scale, and I think one was about .2g. (Heaviest one) Still have a cooler full, but decided to stop.

[mistersprinkles]

Originally Posted by Billman

I wasn't very sure how many to feed him as I didn't find any really good sized worms. (Can I over feed?) I think it was about 6 in total, 5 just now and one last night. Most didn't really register on my scale, and I think one was about .2g. (Heaviest one) Still have a cooler full, but decided to stop.

Just like any snake, you shouldn't overfeed. Garters can eat a lot in the wild but you don't want to overfeed anyways. If the worms are, lets say, 1/3 the length of the snake and 1/2 the thickness, 1 or 2 every 5 days would be what I personally would feed the snake. And I'd keep track to see if it was pooping after five days or not, and if it wasn't, I'd adjust the feeding schedule accordingly.

Have you tried fish like infernalis said? All you need to do is put little feeder minnows (or guppies, or little feeder goldfish) in the water bowl. Must be live.

[drumcrush]

Originally Posted by mistersprinkles

Just like any snake, you shouldn't overfeed. Garters can eat a lot in the wild but you don't want to overfeed anyways. If the worms are, lets say, 1/3 the length of the snake and 1/2 the thickness, 1 or 2 every 5 days would be what I personally would feed the snake. And I'd keep track to see if it was pooping after five days or not, and if it wasn't, I'd adjust the feeding schedule accordingly.

Have you tried fish like infernalis said? All you need to do is put little feeder minnows (or guppies, or little feeder goldfish) in the water bowl. Must be live.

Don't feed minnows or goldfish. Guppies are fine though

[mistersprinkles]

Originally Posted by drumcrush

Don't feed minnows or goldfish. Guppies are fine though

Why not minnows or goldfish?