How Much to Feed and How Often?

[eeyipes]

Greetings all ... new to snake care here. The kids caught a Western Terrestrial garter snake a few days ago and want to keep it a few weeks, and then release it and catch another, and so forth. We've set up a 10 gallon with a water dish, log hide, and some climbing items. Our first garter seems to have settled in good. We've fed him 2 rosy minnows and an earthworm in the past 2 days. Is this about the right amount to feed him? How often should we feed him? He is about 18" long. Thanks!

[gregmonsta]

I have to say the idea of catching a snake ... Keeping it for a while ... Letting it go ... Catching another... Doesn't appeal at all. A wild caught snake will face a lot of stress which will be compounded by inexperienced keepers. I would suggest releasing it and consider getting a captive bred animal if truly interested in keeping.

[infernalis]

I really must agree with Greg on this issue.

About the time it gets used to you, then letting it go so you can stress out another in simply inhumane.

Now, if you were going to just keep this one, read this care sheet...

Garter Snake Forum - Garter Caresheet (http://www.thamnophis.com/index.php?page=caresheet)

[guidofatherof5]

I must agree with what has been said.
I know you and your kids would want what is best for the snakes.

May I ask why you want to catch, keep and release?
A captive bred garter can offer much more then a wild caught and in the long run are far cheaper and far less likely to break little hearts. Big hearts too.;)

[Selkielass]

A tablespoon or so of worms is a good meal. at 18 inches it will probably want to eat 2-3 times a week.
Watch out for minnows- some varieties can cause vitamin B deficiency.

Catching and releasing is really stressful for the snakes. if you find one adapting quckly to captivity and handling, consider keeping it and spoiling it rotten, or go and look for a captive born that isn't afraid of people at all.

[eeyipes]

Ok guys, thanks for the thoughts on catching and releasing .. maybe we'll just keep this one, as he seems pretty mellow, is eating well, and doesn't mind being handled. He really seems to love hunting in his water dish ... when I offered him earthworms in a small bowl he didn't touch them, but when I dropped one in his water dish he went right for it. In fact he seems to be learning quickly that the sound of the lid coming off = food, and will head for his water dish. I'm changing the water after every feeding, dechlorinated, not tap.

So I guess the rosies aren't good fish? The minnows I've been getting at the LFS are labeled rosies, but I ask for the grey/silver ones, since Mr. Snake has a hard time seeing and catching the orange since the match they color of his bowl too well. I could start raising some guppies in my 29 gallon fishtank - there's plenty of live plants for fry to hide, and try some salmon bits in the meantime. Mr. Gourami might not let many live, tho.

Thanks!

[guidofatherof5]

Guppies would be better then the other two options as far as live fish go.

[Didymus20X6]

Rosies are high in a substance called "thiaminase", which, in large quantities, can cause Vitamin B deficiency in garter snakes. A little might not hurt, as long as you vary the snake's diet a good bit, but I would use rosies, goldfish, and other thiaminase-rich fish very sparingly.

Nightcrawlers are always a good option for garters.

[infernalis]

Some suppliers sell feeder guppies for 18 cents each.

As for salmon, be careful what you buy. I have had issues with salmon from the grocery store before.

The preservatives that are used to retain freshness are questionable at best concerning snake health.