I cant get my garters to eat!

[Jigsaw]

its been about a week now since i got my snakes and i cant get them to eat. ive tried worms , fish, and insects and nothing will work. they are to small for pinkys so wat can i do?

[hissy100]

its been about a week now since i got my snakes and i cant get them to eat. ive tried worms , fish, and insects and nothing will work. they are to small for pinkys so wat can i do?
Do you have a heat source on or near their cage check their tempature, my gareters don't eat when their cold

[Jigsaw]

please help me

[Stefan-A]

Are the temperatures ok? Is the tank setup ok? How do you feed them, do you offer the food items from tweezers, or have you tried leaving them in the tank on a plate or in a bowl or something so that they can come out and eat on their own terms?

[Jigsaw]

i think the temperatures are low. thetank is good and i dont offer it to them on tweezers

[enigma200316]

well I think ideal temps. would be 78 degrees F to 85 on one side and on the other about 72 to 78 which is what I have and seems to work just nice, plus a place to bask.....as for some other idea's i'm not sure, but you will get the help here......

[adamanteus]

Jordan, did you read through the care sheets as I suggested? In there you will find information on correct temeratures, provision of water, hides etc. I wouldn't panic just yet, a week without food isn't a long time for a snake. Can you post a photo of your set-up, so that we can help you get things right?
http://www.thamnophis.com/forum/site-feedback-suggestions-questions/1008-guide-posting-pictures.html

[adamanteus]

I just had a look at the photos in your gallery, I notice the snake featured has blue eyes, indicating that it is preparing to slough. That would explain the reluctance to feed. Also, I noticed a lack of hides in your tank, snakes need to feel secure for them to settle in well.

[Snaky]

I also went through your pictures. The snake does not seem to be very thin at this moment, so there's no need to worry yet.

Do you try to feed it every day? If you do, leave it alone for a couple of days. Take a look at the caresheet James gave you and don't handle it or go to much to it's enclose for a day or 3-4. After that you can try again. Trying every day can get your snake stressed.

Living earthworms are very good to get them started, but I seem to recall that you already tried it. You can take some living fish, put them on a shallow plate and give them. The fish will jump around, which normally triggers the attention of your snake. It's one of the best tricks to get them eating.

[ssssnakeluvr]

I agree with everyone's advice....also, forget the insects, garters don't eat them. are they new snakes or have you had them for a while....new snakes need a little time to adjust to new homes, wild caught ones can take a couple weeks. snakes can go for long periods without food with no ill effects...

[Thamnophis]

About the temperature: in most vivariums it is enough to have one lamp at one side. When the temperature at the basking place reaches about 40°C ( 100 °F) this is good. The other side is normally cool enough for the snakes in this way. Only when your vivarium is very big it can be neccesary to put a second lamp in it.
Make sure the basking spot is dry and there must be a dry and a somewhat moist hidingplace present in your vivarium.

[Jigsaw]

thx for all the comments. ill get some pics on soon

[KITKAT]

About the temperature: in most vivariums it is enough to have one lamp at one side. When the temperature at the basking place reaches about 40°C ( 100 °F) this is good. The other side is normally cool enough for the snakes in this way. Only when your vivarium is very big it can be neccesary to put a second lamp in it.
Make sure the basking spot is dry and there must be a dry and a somewhat moist hidingplace present in your vivarium.

I believe 100 F is too high for many garter snakes. I keep my hottest spot at 86 F.

[Thamnophis]

I know that many people think 100 Fahrenheit is too high.
But my experience is that, if your vivarium is big enough, this works well.
More important is that there is a place inthere where they can cool down.

In the wild temperatures in the sun easily get 100 degrees F. The snakes takes a sunbath for a few minutes. The shorter the better because when they are warm they can hide themself.

In the vivarium snakes tend to go "baking" for a few minutes at 100 degrees F. and than move a bit to the edge of the heathspot to start sunning at the temp they prefer.

One hundred degrees F. is no must, 68 will do also.