A rescue, a sweetheart... and a potential emergency?

[Dracorex5]

Recently I have taken over my best friend's older brother's "reptile collection". This was just a pile of assorted animals he had caught in his yard. I managed to convince him to give them all to me, as he was going to college soon and couldnt bring them. I expected at least a good turn out.... and boy was I wrong.

I now own eight salamanders in terrible health, a few tadpoles in tap water, and a young garter snake. The tadpoles and the salamanders took to me immediantly, eating everything I could hand them. The garter snake, which I have identified as an Eastern, is beautiful as can be. I treated him for a little bit of blister disease, and he recovered VERY quickly and is extremely friendly for a wild caught that was kept in a bucket in a dark room for months. I was told by the boy that all he ate were salamanders.... I'm guessing thats what the salamanders he had were for. While they eat those in the wild, I'd like to provide better for this little guy, who is very obviously malnourished and very thin.

But he won't eat ANYTHING....

I have tried everything I have tried with other snakes. He won't eat nightcrawlers, earthworms, or silver side fish. He took no interest in guppies, and turned his nose like a diva at the pinkies. I've tried scenting food with every kind of fish smell I could handle, and still no reaction. I've even (and yes, I know it's a dumb a idea) tried rubbing a fish and a pinky with one of the salamanders (who really didnt seem to mind)... still no luck. It's been quite a bit of time, and the little beast is very mellow and curious and doesnt mind human company. Yet he won't eat with me there or alone!

Any other tricks I havn't tried yet?

[Selkielass]

Try live guppies in a bit of water the salamanders have been hanging out in for a bit. He may want privacy and may eat in a bucket if that was his former habitat. Avoid funny smelling buckets. (Cleaner, pickles, bakery fillings can be confusing.

Good rescue. Thanks for intervening.

[guidofatherof5]

What type of enclosure is it in now? Sounds like it could use some heat to help jump start that metabolism.
A diet of salamanders means the snake is probably carrying a parasite load. Was it eating for this man(not boy)?
Sorry, I'm very annoyed with the fact this adult who is heading off to college would house these animals in such poor conditions.
Have you tried using a salamander as a scenting prey? I wouldn't normally suggest this but if the only food you can get in it at this time is a salamander you may have to go that route. At least until you can get it switched over to other foods. Treating for parasites can come later.
I'm so glad you intervened. Hoping you can get all the animals back to some sort of good health.
Please keep us posted.

[Dracorex5]

I am worried he is loaded with parasites, but i desperatly need him to eat first! Ill try all the trick you guys are giving! He's such a gentle and calm little thing, id hate to see him starve after finally getting to a place he can actually live. He's in a very basic enclosure thats focused on length. Its as long and wide as he is long with a warm side and a cool side with a water bowl. I have him on eco earth and he loves the stuff like it was his mother in another life. Temps at 70ish on cool side, almost 80 on warm, though i might have to bump it up because he never leaves the warm side.

[EasternGirl]

Yes...the scenting trick was not a dumb idea...it was actually a smart one if that is what the snake was used to eating. I am also glad that you intervened and also sickened by the way these reptiles were being treated before you got them. The poor garter needs proper housing, lighting, humidity, and food. Please take a look at our garter care sheet: Garter Snake Care Sheet - Caresheets (http://www.thamnophis.com/caresheets/index.php?title=Garter_Snake_Care_Sheet)

After having a look at that..please post any other questions you have. We have specific forums on housing, lighting, humidity requirements and so forth that we can direct you to. We are here to help!

[infernalis]

Maybe bump up your basking a little, but garter snakes don't like it really hot.

All of the wild eastern garter snakes I observe in the wild will be in hiding spots, in the shade or near the creek when it gets to be 80 or above out.

And... Thank you for taking these critters in and giving them a chance.

[Dracorex5]

So I did a bit of wiggling of some feeder guppies at him a minute ago, and he looked at me like I was crazy. But, hopefully he'll come to! I put them in his water bowl and took out some of the foliage in case it was making him uncomfortable (as he didnt have anything in his original bucket so he may just be a bit overwhelmed). We'll see how it goes in the next few hours! Thank you all for your advice, every animal deserves a good go, it's about time these guys got it!

[ProXimuS]

Very glad to hear you've got these poor little guys in a good home ;)

[Mommy2many]

Thank you for rescuing them!

[Dracorex5]

So he loved the guppies! *personal party time* So... now what? I know scenting and the trickery that is feeding picky eaters, but I dont know how to exactly... execute. How can I get him to eat the fish dead, so I can proceed to scent other happily dead things? When I dangle things in front of him with the tongs, dead or alive (tried it with a live guppy before he ate out of his water bowl and after. I assumed two guppies wouldnt sate two weeks...nearly three... of appetite), he just wants to slither around on the tongs and up my sleeve. Will his focus come along as food becomes more interesting, and patience is the true trick to it all? When I've food tricked past snakes, they would already accept pre killed meals off the bat. This is a bit of an adventure off of rat snakes.

[katach]

If he wants to eat out of his water bowl, just put fish in there and splash the water a bit. Then you can slowly start putting other prey items in there with the fish and he'll likely eat what is in there. You can reduce the fish amount and increase the other food or you can just keep it varied (which is best).

[ProXimuS]

If he wants to eat out of his water bowl, just put fish in there and splash the water a bit. Then you can slowly start putting other prey items in there with the fish and he'll likely eat what is in there. You can reduce the fish amount and increase the other food or you can just keep it varied (which is best).

I have a Ribbon and he will only eat out of his waterbowl. He had just been on f/t(frozen/thawed) fish, but when I got him pinkies I figured I would feed them out of the water sicne they are not water animals(I had thawed it in the same cup of water as the fish so I figured it would be scented enough). But he passed it completely up, even checked it out, but had no interest. So I put it in his water, and he went and ate it immediately. So yours may be a little like mine:p

He has taken 3 fish(2 seperate occasions) out of my hand, but thats after 2 months of slowly working with him:)

[Didymus20X6]

A word of caution, Draco:

As a former resident of Georgia, I do know that GA has some pretty strict regulations about what species can be captured, kept, and traded in the state. For example, when I visit family, I have to leave my snakes at home because Eastern Garters are considered a protected species.

I'm just giving you a heads up because I know you only want what's best for the snake, and don't want you to get in any trouble for taking care of it. I don't know if there are any procedures, but maybe it's possible to get some sort of license on account of it being a rescued animal?

[Dracorex5]

Thank you for the warning! I will definatly look into it. I volunteer at a nature center nearby, so maybe they can tell me whats what. Though im not extremely worried about getting in trouble, as he isnt as exotic as some of the other animals here, but the precaution is still there! Ill ask my vet and my wildlife center if what I'm doing is out of sorts. Thanks!

[EasternGirl]

Wow...I didn't know that easterns were federally protected anywhere. They seem to be so abundant throughout the states. Interesting fact to know. I know that laws vary from state to state and can be vague and tricky. For example, in Delaware...keeping venomous snakes or any large snake such as a python or boa is illegal...although the stores sell them and many people keep them. The law also states that you can keep any local species of non-venomous snake...but species not native to the area are not allowed...which I guess technically could apply to some of my garters, since easterns are really the only native garter. But unless someone suddenly called the wildlife people and had someone come in my house who could identify specific species and subspecies of garters...I'm not too worried about it. The law states that non-native species are not to be brought in to the state...which I think this law exists because they do not want non-native species of snakes introduced into the wild.

[Dracorex5]

Yeah the laws seem to be very flexible honestly. Unneutered/unspayed ferrets are illegal in Georgia, yet pet stores sell them by the dozens. Really the regulations are just to discourage people from taking healthy things from the wild. People are scared of the law, and it helps keep the animals safe. But it is a true point, unless someone calls the police or you hang a sign up in your yard with a list of all your animals.... It shouldnt be a problem. My vet was thrille when i brought her a rat snake once with a torn out eye, because no one bothers to help out snakes or lizards around here! Respect the law, but sometimes bending is not so bad either. Now if you're catching alligators......

[Didymus20X6]

If it's any consolation, I've helped reptiles back home within the past few months. I removed a Florida Oak Rat Snake from the highway, so he wouldn't get run over. And later, I pulled a Gray Rat Snake from my late father's basement, and released him in the nearby woods; other people there probably would have just killed him.

[Didymus20X6]

Wow...I didn't know that easterns were federally protected anywhere. They seem to be so abundant throughout the states.

It's because of the way the Georgia regulations are worded. They are designed to protect all native GA species, not just those that are endangered. Pet stores aren't even allowed to carry corn snakes, garters, or anything native to GA.