Any Advice?

[EasternBlackNeckedGarter]

It's been a long time since I've posted on here, and I was just wondering what I could improve about my setup. I recently renovated Mort's tank, and at the moment it consists of a Zilla terrarium liner as substrate, a sterilized oak branch, grape wood, a log hide, cork bark, a rock hide, two potted succulents, a potted Christmas cactus (Schlumbergera), and a large ZooMed reptile hammock. He's very active during the afternoon and evening. I always leave the window next to his cage open, and the temperature fluctuates between 70-78 F. He was previously in a cage with 4 inches of Carefresh bedding, and was hibernating in a system of tunnels that he made. I woke him up about a week and a half ago to renovate his cage. He hasn't eaten since mid October, but still seems well-fed and healthy. I tried feeding him a few days ago and he's still refusing fuzzies. Any advice is appreciated, and I'll upload pictures when I get home.

[guidofatherof5]

Good to see you back on.
Explain "woke him up"

[EasternBlackNeckedGarter]

By "wake him up" I was referring to when I had to dig him out of his tunnels to redo his tank. Here's a few pictures.

[guidofatherof5]

Thanks for the explanation. I thought you might be referring to some kind of brumation.
Have you offered anything but fuzzies? Might be worth a try. When I had T. c. cyrtopsis (Western blackneck garter snake) they were picky eaters and from time to time went off food.

[EasternBlackNeckedGarter]

I used to feed him minnows and he ate those eagerly. I have some night crawlers on hand for feeding my newts. Should I try them with Mort, and if so, should I leave them in his water dish?

[guidofatherof5]

Minnows = Bad

Try the worms as long as the can't crawl out.

[d_virginiana]

I used to feed him minnows and he ate those eagerly. I have some night crawlers on hand for feeding my newts. Should I try them with Mort, and if so, should I leave them in his water dish?

Blacknecks like fish, but don't use minnows as they often contain thiaminase which can be harmful to garters. Try getting a pack of frozen silversides from petsmart or something. If he'll take nightcrawlers you can try those. If he won't take them from tongs, leave them in a shallow dish with a drop or two of water... If you put them in his actual water dish, they'll stop moving pretty quickly and just gunk up his water.

[guidofatherof5]

Blacknecks like fish, but don't use minnows as they often contain thiaminase which can be harmful to garters. Try getting a pack of frozen silversides from petsmart or something. If he'll take nightcrawlers you can try those. If he won't take them from tongs, leave them in a shallow dish with a drop or two of water... If you put them in his actual water dish, they'll stop moving pretty quickly and just gunk up his water.

and usually carry a hefty parasite load.

[EasternBlackNeckedGarter]

Heading into town here in a while. I'll try silversides, but could I set up a tank of feeder guppies as well?

[d_virginiana]

but could I set up a tank of feeder guppies as well?

You could, but it's more trouble than it's worth. Besides, guppies are too small for most adult snakes. Most snakes won't even bother with something that small once they're bigger.

[EasternBlackNeckedGarter]

Sorry that I've been putting off posting- anyways, since my last post, he's been offered two more fuzzies and two silversides, all of which were refused. He was very interested in the smell of the silversides, but he didn't detect them I guess. I gave in and fed him six minnows last night- those were eaten. Should I throw a silverside or two in with some minnows?

[EKS56]

Pick up a few pinkies while you are at it. Blacknecks are notorious for being picky eaters. I had a male that went for four months and didn't eat.

[EasternBlackNeckedGarter]

He hasn't eaten since he had those six minnows. Looks like he's preparing to shed. After he sheds, what should I try to do of get him back to mice? (I'd really prefer not to cut anything more than a nightcrawler up.) By the way, I don't believe that he's ever eaten anything that wasn't in his water dish. I usually feed him everything in there.

Oh, also, he's been digging in one of the potted succulents. I'm not sure if there's anything that could harm him in there (It's mainly pebbles and coco-peat), but it's tearing up the plant. Is there any way I could stop this?

[snakeman]

I would cover the tank so you cant see in and he cant see out.thats a big tank.hes probally insecure.you could also find some frogs put them in a blender and cover the pinks in that.then freeze the rest of the frog slurry in an ice cube tray for future use.it has worked for me back in the day.

[EasternBlackNeckedGarter]

Would a tank background on three sides be fine? Should I lay a towel on top of his tank? I'd like to keep at least one side visible.

[guidofatherof5]

I think he means only during feeding times. Covering all the sides is best.

[EasternBlackNeckedGarter]

I realize that I probably should have thought of this sooner, but I put Mort in this tank during the summer, when the room he's in is usually 80F, and didn't consider adding a heat source. I set a red heat bulb on top of his tank yesterday, and he's been basking ever since. I'm hoping that this helps him digest. I'll feed him again tonight a and post how it goes. Just going to try minnows tonight, and I'll throw in a mouse or two next time.

[GarterSnake]

I really wouldn't do minnows, because, as the others stated, they contain thiaminase. Feeder guppies and platies still have the parasite risk, but are safe otherwise.

[ConcinusMan]

but it's tearing up the plant. Is there any way I could stop this?

Yeah, don't use real potted plants. It's that simple. Craft stores and dollar tree have suitable, washable, and realistic looking plants and the snakes don't know the difference.

"I always leave the window next to his cage open, and the temperature fluctuates between 70-78 F."

Bad idea. drafts and temperature fluctuations are a recipe for respiratory infection. Make sure your tank is big enough (long enough) and you're using the right heating methods to create a wide temperature gradient. VERY important. Uniform temperature throughout the enclosure is a recipe for disaster especially with the readings you just stated. If one must use uniform temperature it should be 78-85. 70-78 is good for air temperature only if you're using an undertank heater under a small portion of the floor (not with carpet! use substrate) and the surface of the substrate there should read 85-90 there. Basically, you want to create an environment where your snake can reach a body temp as high as 85-90 or as low as 70 at any time it chooses. I can't stress how important it is because there is no "ideal" temp for them. They need different temps at different times, such as shedding, sleeping, digesting, etc. If they cannot regulate their body temperature as they choose, immunity suffers and they can succumb to respiratory or other infections. Don't delay. setup that gradient ASAP. Turn off the heat for 8-10 hours at night but do not let the air temp drop below 65. Other than that drop at night, close that window, keep him out of drafts and stop those temperature fluctuations.

[EasternBlackNeckedGarter]

Thought I would post a follow-up since I haven't been on in so long. Mort finally started eating pinkies about 1 1/2 weeks ago, and went for a small mouse last night. I also updated his setup: I rearranged the decor, replaced the plants with some silk ferns, and have started using shredded aspen instead of carpet.

Oh, and I meant open curtains, not open window. Sorry about that. I've been keeping the curtains closed recently though.

[guidofatherof5]

Glad someone is eating. Good looking garter.

[jwolfe152]

I don't know if this is a stupid idea or not but could going from the care-fresh to a liner be why he is not eating and digging in the potted plant? Someone said the tank was fairly large and that might be just a thought. some of it but could it not being able to burrow in that big of a tank be stressing him out?

[EasternBlackNeckedGarter]

The tank size could have been an issue- it is fairly open. He hasn't started burrowing in the aspen though, and had stopped eating before I took the CareFresh out. I'm starting to think he was just in brumation.

[guidofatherof5]

I don't know if this is a stupid idea or not but could going from the care-fresh to a liner be why he is not eating and digging in the potted plant? Someone said the tank was fairly large and that might be just a thought. some of it but could it not being able to burrow in that big of a tank be stressing him out?

Good ideas. Some snakes are more touchy then others.