Eastern Garter Not Eating

[surfstevo]

I have a wild-caught Eastern Garter (rescued him from a cat attack 1 year ago). He was apparently uninjured but I decided to keep him due to the prevalence of wild cats, hawks, etc. in my area. I figured a cozy, safe home was a deserved alternative after being in the clutches of a cat. From the get-go, he's been an avid eater (worms, fish and pinkies/fuzzies). I created a really cool vivarium for him with shelters, artificial vegetation, climbs, hides, under-base heat pads and timed lighting/overhead heat lamp for daytime. He's still quite shy and will often hide with too much movement outside the tank (a 45 gallon aquarium). He musks me almost every time I pick him up and he can be quite snappy at times. He's gone through about 4-5 "sheds" since I've had him and I assume from his size (about 24") that he's about 1.5 to 2.5 years old. While he still exhibits fairly normal behavior and seems interested in food, when presented, he has not eaten in about 2+ weeks. I've tried all his favorites listed above and he'll tongue-flick all around the tank, even nose the food, but will not eat. I really became nervous when he turned his nose up at live fish in this water bowl (he normally goes nuts for that!!). I'm in New Jersey and began to think maybe I should return him to the wild since I don't want him to wither and die on my watch. But we're getting into cooler weather finally, and I don't know if he'll be able to find a shelter for the winter, especially since he did not brumate last winter. I also fear he may not be able to fend for himself in the wild. I just want to do what's best for him. Any help, ideas, input would be greatly appreciated. Thanks much in advance!

[d_virginiana]

If he's been eating in captivity, it isn't captivity stress that's causing him not to eat so don't return him to the wild because of that. If he's acting healthy otherwise he's probably just sensing the season change and going off food. Usually I don't start to worry unless mine have gone off food for at least a month. If you don't already have a heater or heat lamp for him, getting his temps up will probably get him interested in food again.

[snakegirl909]

It's the time of year. Some of mine are starting to go of as well. he is used to captivity, so don't release him. Just make sure he is hydrated and not too skinny, you shouldn't worry that much.
And welcome to the forum!!

[Mommy2many]

It is that time of the year when they start eating less or not at all. I wouldn't be concerned. Mine do it every year.
Keep offering small amounts of food maybe once a week.

[Didymus20X6]

I have a wild-caught Eastern Garter, as well. At about this time every year, she stops eating. It's because she knows that winter is coming (http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-7ITe8ocryOQ/TsULIfLm07I/AAAAAAAACDs/wEpbhsbZEwM/s1600/Sean%2BBean.jpg) and prepares to bruminate. And that's even when I kept her inside in a heated enclosure. Best thing to do, just keep the enclosure a little on the cool side; your snake will start eating again in the spring.

[Mommy2many]

So true! Mine start eating again with a vengeance in late February and early March. It's like somebody flipped a switch.

[snipstedy]

Is it really a must that they should hibernate? I was thinking of putting my snake in a different tank in a room with no heater for a couple weeks . How long should they and or must they hibernate for?

[guidofatherof5]

Brumation is used by breeders to help optimize breeding in the Spring. Some keepers only brumate if their snakes request it, even if they are not breeding. Snakes I'm not breeding might slowdown or go off food during the Fall/Winter months. Since I won't be breeding any snakes in the Spring I won't brumate any snakes.

[snipstedy]

So I assume they are nothing like turtles. I believe that if turtles don't hibernate their growth (especially their head) is stunted and out of proportion.

To be clear , If I dont plan to breed in the spring then I shouldnt bother w/ trying to brumate in the coldest time of winter?

Thanks for the help!

[guidofatherof5]

So I assume they are nothing like turtles. I believe that if turtles don't hibernate their growth (especially their head) is stunted and out of proportion.

To be clear , If I dont plan to breed in the spring then I shouldnt bother w/ trying to brumate in the coldest time of winter?

Thanks for the help!

Well, yes and no. If your snake wants to brumate you will probably have to accommodate it in some respect. Maybe not a full brumation but something like it. Less food, less light.

[surfstevo]

Thanks to all for the information. I assumed change of seasons could likely be the issue, but this did not happen last Fall so it was a bit perplexing. Thanks so much again! By the way, here's a photo of my handsome little devil...11403

[snakegirl909]

Good looking garter :D

[guidofatherof5]

Good looking garter :D

Agreed.

[chris-uk]

I agree that it's just the season. Right now I have some of mine going off food and most have slowed down, and all mine are in vivs that I haven't altered the temps in (they sense the length of day too, and although I have lights that come on during the day they aren't getting ambient light in the room from the early sunrises).

As for why your guy didn't go off food last year, if he was recently into captivity then he was probably adjusting to that change.

For my Mexican species I brumate them by just turning off the heat and light and they go for a couple of months with ambient room temps and no food. Other's I brumated fully last year.

[snipstedy]

I just got back after being gone for a couple of days and my snake is still on the cold side of the tank fully brumating under the driftwood hide. I think its my fault for not having enough heat on the warm side(I've just been using a mini heat pad b/c the weather has been so warm) . Hear in Louisiana its still fairly warm but much cooler weather has moved in. I'm thinking of buying a larger heat pad and maybe a heat lamp so that hopefully he will come out of brumation. I'd like him to come out of brumation atleast till the severe colder weather moves in or possibly not brumate at all.

[chris-uk]

How cold is your cold side Snipstedy? Unless it's pretty damn cold it's not going to be enough for full brumation, and I'd suggest that all the time the snake has heat available then you can't consider he's brumating.

[snipstedy]

I only have one of those cheap stick on thermometers on the opposite side of the cold side. Yesterday was cooler and I flashed a small light into the hide where he was and he moved a bit but that was it. Today was warmer and he actually had turned around towards the sun in the window (warmest time of day). I'm thinking I'm going to go get a heat basking(tropical) lamp or a bigger heat pad to add to the mini heat pad thats already in the tank to keep it warmer till the coldest weather moves in.

Are all the garters in the wild semi brumating now and not eating being that its cooler but not real cold yet ? The days here are still kinda on the warm side or about average room temp.

[snipstedy]

Nice colors! My favorite colors on snakes for some reason.

[snakegirl909]

I would recommend getting a digital thermometer, or even better, a temp gun. I have a temp gun, and I couldn't live without it.
As for the wild garters, the ones around me are still up and active, and i live in new england. I saw a bunch out this morning basking and hunting.

[snipstedy]

Must be nice to have them all around like that! I rarely see them ever.

Why a digital or temp gun? Is it b/c enclosures vary so differently from the room temp?

[snakegirl909]

Depending on where they are located in the room yeah. And I have heat lights or pads on all of my enclosures so I want to make sure my animals stay warm enough, but not too hot. Temp guns are perfect really because you can test the temperature of anywhere in the enclosure. To me it's worth a little extra money.
i rarly saw garters either until I found this feild that was full of them.

[snipstedy]

So I went and bought a 100 watt heat lamp last night, I came home from work today to find that he had come out of semi brumation, shed and was basking on the top of a log in the enclosure. Then he feasted on some tilapia.

[surfstevo]

Thanks for the reply. So, to clarify: my snake (a male) has not eaten for about 7-8 weeks. He seems otherwise "normal", emerging from his bedding daily, moving around the tank, even apparently searching for food (seeming typically curious). I keep offering his favorites every few days -- worms or night-crawlers, fish in his water bowl -- I've given up on fuzzies (which he used to eat promptly). He investigates, seems interested (tongue-flicking, etc.) but just won't eat. Is it OK to simply wait for spring for him to eat -- will he survive that long without food? Thanks again?

[surfstevo]

Thanks for the reply. So, to clarify: my snake (a male) has not eaten for about 7-8 weeks now. He seems otherwise "normal", emerging from his bedding daily, moving around the tank, even apparently searching for food (seeming typically curious). I keep offering his favorites every few days -- worms or night-crawlers, fish in his water bowl -- but I've given up on fuzzies (which he used to eat promptly previously). He investigates, seems interested (tongue-flicking, etc.) but just won't eat. Is it OK to simply wait for spring for him to eat -- will he survive that long without food? Thanks again?

[guidofatherof5]

As long as his weight is OK and he seem active/normal I would offer food less often.

[d_virginiana]

A two month fast isn't abnormal for a lot of garters, especially if the weather is changing. I had to make a rule that I don't worry unless one is dropping weight, otherwise I'd go insane.