Feeding small garters

[Chrisnif]

I finally got my three florida blue garters and it appears that the setup I'm going to have them in for now is a 40 breeder with some nice ornaments and a basking lamp and a flexwatt under the tank. My big question right this moment is how much to feed and how often. The guy I got them from bought them 3 or 4 months ago, they are all of 6-7 grams each and about 6 to 7 inches. He told me he was feeding cut up pinky every 5 to 6 days, I offered rose reds and they tore into them like they've never eaten before, and it seems they are likely underfed, so what do you guys recommend at this size for feeding?

Thanks!

[Invisible Snake]

Congratulations on getting your trio!

First things first don't feed them anymore rosy reds because of thiaminase, you can give them live guppies which are on the safe list.

Feeding frequency depends on what you are feeding them, if you feed them primarily fish/worms then you would have to feed them more often as opposed to feeding them mostly pinkies.

Variety is the spice of life! Check out the forums caresheet, it will tell you what safe foods to feed your garters.

Mostly fish/worms diet, I would feed them every 2-3 days and a mostly pinkie diet I would feed them every 3-4 days. I would feed them until I see a nice bulge in their stomachs.

[guidofatherof5]

For babies you can get away with feeding every other day as long as you don't let them gorge themselves.
I would switch to a safer fish if you can. Guppies or maybe fresh tilapia.
Just my opinion.

[RedSidedSPR]

5-6 days is WAY too infrequent for snakes that age.

I feed my babies every day, or every other day, until they're like 7, 8 months old. Then it's every 2 or 3 days.

I feed small food items though, I guess every other day would be better if you're feeding decent sized items.

First off, no rosy red minnows or goldfish. I reccommend frozen/thawed tilapia fillet from a good market, or frozen/thawed silversides, found at most pet stores. If you can find live feeder GUPPIES, those work too, although there's always a small parasite risk with anything live.

You can get night crawlers (big earthworms) at Walmart, I would feed those as the main diet along with fish. NO red wrigglers/red worms/trout worms.

Throw some chopped pinkies in there whenever you want, I just chop 'em up for babies every few days. Helps 'em grow up nice a big lol


That's just how I do it, you'll get other answers but for the most part that's a pretty ideal feeding for babies.

[Light of Dae]

Yea sound like they could eat a lot more... They aren't like corns that people feed once a week. Babies need food every 2-3 days. Earthworms and Pinkie mice are my staple diet.

As well you should take a look at the caresheet. Garter Snake Forum - Garter Caresheet (http://www.thamnophis.com/index.php?page=caresheet)
It is a great read and has everything you need to know n more.

Please read about the feeding live fishes part... Try Guppies and Platys they are safer.

Feel free to post pictures of your snakes here! We love seeing pictures!

[Chrisnif]

Thanks I totally forgot to reconsult the safe list when I was at the store buying some feeders today. Hope a one time feeding won't cause issues. I have night crawlers as well. Instead of pinkys, being I've gotta cut it up anyway, can I feed them cut up larger size mice as long as the cut up pieces are small enough for the babies?

[RedSidedSPR]

Nah, a few minnows aren't gonna hurt him, just don't continue.

By larger mice do you mean full grown or fuzzies? I would think no.. I doubt they'd digest the fur right but I'm not actually sure..

Btw I'm in Charlotte too.

[Light of Dae]

I'd stick to pinkie mice as Garters don't handle fur very well... You could go to Rat Pinkies. Cut up.

[Chrisnif]

Okay wasn't sure if it was a size thing or the fur. I have about 100 fuzzy mice in the freezer that I use for my other snakes.

--Redsided - Howdy Neighbor, I'm actually just next door in Mount Holly.

[RedSidedSPR]

Now that I think of it I do recall some people having problems feeding mice with fur to garters. Definately stick to pinkies.

And yeah I know a few people in mount holly

[katach]

Welcome to the forum family. Everyone has given you solid advice. I feed my young ones every other day on night crawler chunks, talapia, and when I have them pinkie bits. If you feed pinkie bits in there every so often they should get the calcium they need, otherwise you may want to get a calcium supplement and dust the food every 4-5 feedings.


Pictures are not only welcome, they are required too! :D

[Thamnophis]

I feed my juveniles as much as they can eat every 4th/5th day. But I feed mainly fish.

[Selkielass]

If you have fuzzies in the freezer just skin them and chop them up.
The skin comes off easily if you dip the frozen mice in very warm water just long enough to thaw just the skin. Snip off feet and tail (If save these, they are relished!) And slip the skin right off the body.

Be careful about overfeeding rodents. Garters love them and may overeat. (Mine did and got fat.)

[jitami]

Okay wasn't sure if it was a size thing or the fur. I have about 100 fuzzy mice in the freezer that I use for my other snakes.

Fuzzies would be fine cut up for them. They really don't have that much fur anyway. I've been feeding my babies every 2-3 days and they're eating primarily chopped up mouse. I've chopped up pinkies, fuzzies, and hoppers for them. On the hoppers I do discard a lot of the fur, but I doubt it's a huge deal in those tiny pieces anyway.

[jitami]

Oh, and I do let my babies eat as much as they want at each feeding so some do gorge themselves. Figured it's what they would do in nature if they ran across a mouse nest or other abundant food supply.

[ConcinusMan]

Screw what happens in nature. A lot of things happen there, like only about 15 out of a hundred babies living to see age 1 and half of those 15 don't live to see age 2. When you've raised as many litters as I have, you find that a policy of letting "babies eat as much as they want" leads to a higher "sudden unexplained death" toll, usually right after consuming a large meal.

Don't feed them too much in one sitting. A noticeable bulge, even if only slight, is enough. They should still be able to move rather well, not so full that they can't hardly move. It puts too much pressure on still developing organs. I also recommend using a probiotic a few times during their first few months. Indigestion leads to gas. They can't burp and that could be fatal. Amazon.com: Bene-Bac Bird & Reptile Powder, 10oz: Pet Supplies (http://www.amazon.com/Bene-Bac-Bird-Reptile-Powder-10oz/dp/B0002DGYIC)

[jitami]

Do what makes you feel comfortable. When I started on the forum it was common advice to let babies eat as much as they want. That tide has changed and that is fine, but I highly doubt it puts them in any sort of danger in captive environment.

[guidofatherof5]

I've never had problems with babies that gorge themselves on worm chunks but I have lost snakes that gorge themselves on salmon. I don't feed salmon any more.

[ConcinusMan]

Do what makes you feel comfortable. When I started on the forum it was common advice to let babies eat as much as they want. That tide has changed and that is fine, but I highly doubt it puts them in any sort of danger in captive environment.

All I know is that when I was doing that, it was common for me to lose a few out of every litter. Perfectly healthy, eating growing babies would just drop dead, stomachs still full. No longer does that happen. Theres absolutely no reason to overstuff them when you're feeding them so often.

[jitami]

That really is interesting. I agree there's no reason to stuff them. Feeding in groups it just seems that some gorge and some don't and I worry that by interrupting them to remove the full babies it may stress the more reluctant babies making them even less likely to eat. All of that said, I'm relying mostly on other people's advice & info though, as I've raised a total of 11 babies in my life, so you two definitely have more experience than I do.

[Chrisnif]

Today I gave feeder guppies. I tried letting them go fishing and they did so without hesitation. I will make sure they get pinky frequently enough to prevent calcium issues, but if they want to fish they shall have that option. Does anyone know if convict cichlids are a safe fish, they breed like gang busters and small ones would be perfect feeders.

[guidofatherof5]

You need to do some research on whether that particular fish is safe.
Looks like some cichlids contain thiaminase and others don't. Don't know if Amatitlania nigrofasciate does or not.

[RedSidedSPR]

I wouln't feed those.. Platy's are a similar food -- they're safe. I see no point in either however