Garter snake has a lump on its side?

[okay]

Hi I'm new here sorry if I'm using this page incorrectly but I don't really know what to do lol. I have a garter snake that's about 2 months old and it developed some sort of small growth under its scales, not quite on its tail but pretty close. It is on a diet of Night crawlers and Red rosy minnow things. Something that concerns me is one of the minnows tummy was very large and after keeping it in a separate bowl for a few days a parasite (a small red worm-i forgot the name) came out of it :-( yikes i wont be buying from that store again. But I don't know if i missed another infected fish and my snake ate it and got a worm as well (i don't know how that works)? Or if its an abscess? its been about a week if not more and i think it might have grown? Im very worried I don't know what to do and I'm not sure if my vet will see snakes. Any help is certainly welcome, thank you

[Albert Clark]

Welcome to the forum! Was the garter wild caught or captive born and bred? Rosie reds are a very poor prey item for garters. They are loaded with parasites and are low in nutritive value. They are actually considered "junk food". Goldfish are worse. The swelling does look suspicious and is in the right location to be called possibly parasitic. Total speculation on my part. It could be a blister. Again, speculation. Because it's so worrisome the definitive answers and diagnosis will come from the exotic vet. That's the best way to go.

[okay]

Hi! Thanks for replying, I got this snake and it's sibling from my brother who caught a female garter snake in the wild unaware that it was going to have babies. And thanks for letting me know about the fish, I will definitely be cutting that out of their diet. Im going to call the vet as soon as they open and see what I can do. Do you know any fish that are a good source of nutrition and are big enough for the snakes until they are big enough for mice? or should I just stick with worms for now? Thanks again, this was very helpful :-)

[toddnbecka]

Guppies are fair game, check your local pet store for "feeder guppies". Rosy reds and normal fathead minnows are actually bad for snakes, they contain thiaminase. You can cut up frozen pinky mice and try getting the garter/s to take those, try scenting the pinky parts with fish or frog if they won't take them unscented.

[Albert Clark]

Other acceptable fish would be platys (can be pricey) and frozen/ thawed silversides from your local bait store. Ocean Perch (affordable) can be obtained from the fish market. Salmon and tilapia are also safe but I would get it fresh as opposed to pre-packaged.