Worms

[abcat1993]

How often and how many worms should I feed a 12-14 inch garter? It just ate one. and if I switched it to pinkies how many would that eat?

[Thamnophis]

Worms you can give as much as the snake wants is my motto.
And at the next feeding you can give one pinkie. And th next feeding for example a smelt (or ther fish).
Variation is important in my opinion.

[abcat1993]

And what is your average for worms per week?

[abcat1993]

Also, my snake doesn't like big worms (or at least none that I've tried) just short fat ones, and nightcrawlers aren't very short. I've tried cutting them up but it still won't eat them and winter is coming. It also won't eat fish but I still haven't tried pinkies. If baby cornsnakes eat pinkies and mine is about that size, will it be able to eat a pinky too? It is about a third larger than the snake at it's largest part.

[CrazyHedgehog]

some of my young 6 inch garters manage 1/2 a pinkie or a whole one (some are more greedy than others..)
If you are worried about size cut it up..
if you want it to eat it, rub its normal food all over it and serve together..

[abcat1993]

My question is still unanswered. How many worms per week do you feed your snake?

[Cazador]

Your 12-14" garter will probably do fine on about 6 worms per week. Here's a general rule of thumb: You want to see a visible lump/bulge in the stomach area after the snake has eaten. I imagine that your snake will eat about 1.5 worms (depending on their size) per feeding given its size (maybe more, maybe less). Then feed it every day or every other day because worms are mainly water and low on nutrition. The feces is going to be really frequent and smelly if you're making worms a large part of your snake's diet. The feeding frequency will decrease if you switch to fish or meat and after your snake reaches maturity. Be sure to put A LITTLE calcium powder on those worms about once every 2-3 weeks. If you stick with worms when your snake is larger, you will feed it more worms per serving. Please remember that this is a polite forum. Best,
Rick

[Thamnophis]

I never count my worms, because I let them eat till they stop themselves.

And sometimes they only get one worm per snake.

I like variation.

[abcat1993]

My question is still unanswered. How many worms per week do you feed your snake?

wasn't trying to be rude, just thought you'd start talking about something else.

[CrazyHedgehog]

no offence taken, just worried as you shouldn't be feeding just on worms

[abcat1993]

I just tried feeding a pinky. I wrote about it under "I am so mad" in the general section

[nessy]

speaking of worms... how might i start my snake on worms if she's never had one before? will i need to scent it with fish? or will she just take it anyway?

[abcat1993]

I just put mine in one of those plastic things they sell at pet stores with a worm and she goes for it. Also how i got her to try her first pinky which I don't think she enjoyed :D

[Thamnophis]

They recognize worms (smell) without learning. This is a part of the natural food for most garter snakes. They know this by instinct.