Snake feeding advise

[ShadowBeast]

okay aside from pinkies what is the best food for garter snakes?
I was thinking of breeding guppies in a small tank but I'm not sure if they would breed/grow fast enough.
Or maybe frozen tilapia or earthworms.
Any other options?
and how much and often do I feed the snake?
like how many guppies and how often would I need to feed the snake?

[guidofatherof5]

I think nightcrawlers are an awesome food item.
A pinky/worm diet is a very good combo in my opinion.
Can't comment on how many guppies without knowing the size of the guppies and snakes eating them.

[ShadowBeast]

I think nightcrawlers are an awesome food item.
A pinky/worm diet is a very good combo in my opinion.
Can't comment on how many guppies without knowing the size of the guppies and snakes eating them.
I don't want to feed pinkies but I hope a combo worm/fish will do.
I haven't gotten a snake yet but I assume the guppies would be adult which would 2-3 inches.
Is there a specific name to these nightcrawlers or a link to what they look like?

[nitrogen15]

Well pinkies are the most nutritionally complete. My snake accepts pre-killed and even thawed prey, so pinks aren't as much hassle as you might think. If you want to breed enough guppies you need a good setup and some fish knowledge, otherwise I'd advise against it. Frozen wild-caught trout pieces are great. I sprinkle them with a reptile vitamin powder if my snake hasn't had mice in a while.

[ShadowBeast]

Well pinkies are the most nutritionally complete. My snake accepts pre-killed and even thawed prey, so pinks aren't as much hassle as you might think. If you want to breed enough guppies you need a good setup and some fish knowledge, otherwise I'd advise against it. Frozen wild-caught trout pieces are great. I sprinkle them with a reptile vitamin powder if my snake hasn't had mice in a while.
I really don't want to go with pinkies But with the trout pieces how often would I need to feed the snake with that?(once a week,twice a week,etc)

[Invisible Snake]

I really don't want to go with pinkies But with the trout pieces how often would I need to feed the snake with that?(once a week,twice a week,etc)

If you feed your garters only trout pieces make sure to also sprinkle some reptile vitamins on it every 3rd or 4th feeding.

[guidofatherof5]

Fish only isn't nutritionally balanced. Variety is best.
I wouldn't choose fish as the only diet food source.
Just my opinion.

[EasternGirl]

I feed fish fillet to my snakes, but if you are going to go with that, I suggest buying fresh and not frozen. I always buy fresh seafood from the seafood counter at my super market and make sure it was not previously frozen. Tilapia, trout, and occasional salmon is good. Farm-raised tends to have less mercury. For an adult snake, I feed my snakes about every 5 days...enough until they get a little bulge in their stomachs. I do not feed a fish only diet however....fish only diets can lead to B1 deficiency which can be deadly for the garter. Unless you plan to supplement with B1, you should try to feed a varied diet of fish, worms, and pinkies. I get my nightcrawlers...which is the actual name of the worm...at marine/fishing stores. Are you in the U.S.?

[ShadowBeast]

If you feed your garters only trout pieces make sure to also sprinkle some reptile vitamins on it every 3rd or 4th feeding.
Yep I got some.

Fish only isn't nutritionally balanced. Variety is best.
I wouldn't choose fish as the only diet food source.
Just my opinion.
I plan to feed some earthworms as well (I just need to find a place that sells them).


I feed fish fillet to my snakes, but if you are going to go with that, I suggest buying fresh and not frozen. I always buy fresh seafood from the seafood counter at my super market and make sure it was not previously frozen. Tilapia, trout, and occasional salmon is good. Farm-raised tends to have less mercury. For an adult snake, I feed my snakes about every 5 days...enough until they get a little bulge in their stomachs. I do not feed a fish only diet however....fish only diets can lead to B1 deficiency which can be deadly for the garter. Unless you plan to supplement with B1, you should try to feed a varied diet of fish, worms, and pinkies. I get my nightcrawlers...which is the actual name of the worm...at marine/fishing stores. Are you in the U.S.?
I heard it's best to buy fresh then freeze it to kill any parasites/etc.
Is B1 the same as THIAMINE? if so the supplements I got have it.
I want to feed the snake earthworms as well.
Do you have a pic of the nightcrawlers so I can make certain I what it looks like?
Do you feed the snake earthworms/night crawlers as often as the fish? and how often for a younger snake?
And yes I'm in the USA.

[guidofatherof5]

May I ask why you don't want to feed pinkies?

[ShadowBeast]

May I ask why you don't want to feed pinkies?
I just don't want to handle the pinkies plus if I get a young snake a pinky would be too big, So It's best to have other food options anyway.

[guidofatherof5]

I just don't want to handle the pinkies plus if I get a young snake a pinky would be too big, So It's best to have other food options anyway.

Fair enough. Thanks.;)

[ShadowBeast]

Fair enough. Thanks.;)
Your welcome^^

[EasternGirl]

Yes, thiamine is B1. I honestly do not know how to supplement it though...or how much is needed when giving a fish only diet. If you buy fresh fish from a seafood counter or seafood store, you don't have to worry so much about parasites...you can freeze it first if you want...it's just when the store freezes it, they often use chemicals in the process. When I feed my adult snakes... I feed them according to size. For my large snake, who is about 3 feet long, I give her about two pinkies worth of food per week. So I give her the equivalent of that in fish...maybe a couple of two inch long slices, cut into pieces? And I would probably feed her 3 big earthworms. For my smaller younger snakes...I give them 1/2-1 pinkies worth of food...every 3-4 days to every 5 days...depending on their age and size. I can tell you more specifics on all of this once I know the size and age of your snake.

Somewhere on here we have pictures of worms....showing nightcrawlers. Does anyone know where those pics are? Can we post those? If not...I will take a pic of a worm and post it for you.

[ShadowBeast]

Yes, thiamine is B1. I honestly do not know how to supplement it though...or how much is needed when giving a fish only diet. If you buy fresh fish from a seafood counter or seafood store, you don't have to worry so much about parasites...you can freeze it first if you want...it's just when the store freezes it, they often use chemicals in the process. When I feed my adult snakes... I feed them according to size. For my large snake, who is about 3 feet long, I give her about two pinkies worth of food per week. So I give her the equivalent of that in fish...maybe a couple of two inch long slices, cut into pieces? And I would probably feed her 3 big earthworms. For my smaller younger snakes...I give them 1/2-1 pinkies worth of food...every 3-4 days to every 5 days...depending on their age and size. I can tell you more specifics on all of this once I know the size and age of your snake.

Somewhere on here we have pictures of worms....showing nightcrawlers. Does anyone know where those pics are? Can we post those? If not...I will take a pic of a worm and post it for you.
Hopefully I'll be snake hunting in a month and a half or two(I just need to pay some stuff up and prepare the food).
as for the nightcrawlers I've looked at ebay and I guess these are them CRAWLERS FEEDERS BAIT LARGE CANADIAN 75 PER FREE SHIP BEST PRICES FOR "E-BAIT" | eBay (http://www.ebay.com/itm/CRAWLERS-FEEDERS-BAIT-LARGE-CANADIAN-75-PER-FREE-SHIP-BEST-PRICES-FOR-E-BAIT-/170838696460?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item27c6c7a20c) they look like earthworms I guess related.
I'm surprised not many pet supplies websites that sells feeders don't sell nightcrawlers.

[d_virginiana]

I buy my nightcrawlers from WalMart :D

[Steveo]

I buy my nightcrawlers from WalMart :D

I haven't needed any for my snake yet, but that's where I get them. A dozen for $2.25 or something like that. I usually keep some in the fridge for fishing anyway.