Glad I found this forum!!

[PickeringiiMom]

Hi, All
My name is Ami. We recently WC a puget sound garter baby (only about 6-8 inches long), we've had him about a week. He's had great energy and is eating well, but he's having trouble pooing. We started warm bathes today (not our first snake, but is our first colubrid, we're more familiar with boas and pythons). With the warm water massage we've managed to get him to poo a little, but there's definitely more in there, and we noticed some dried feces around his vent before we started the bath. Is there anything else we can do, please let us know. Also, if you have any general tips and tricks for garters, we're all ears!! Thanks!

[infernalis]

http://www.varanid.us/GarterForum.jpg

[indigoman]

Welcome to the forum! pics would help if possible.

[guidofatherof5]

The warm water soaks is a good thing. Keeping the vent clean is important but this is all a symptom of something else.
Tongue flicking, moving, alertness, drinking, eyes clear, no retained shed? A photo would be very helpful.

[Albert Clark]

Hi Ami! Welcome to the forum. My tips would be that wc pugets are a state protected subspecies of garter snake so be careful. Second, wc garters are loaded with high parasitic loads so again be careful of that. What you think is just feces can be a combination of parasites as well or a internal issue with the little guy. Think about wearing rubber gloves while handling him and definitely while cleaning up after him. Good that he is eating well which is a positive. Try to examine him closely for any signs of external issues on his scales also. There are captive bred garters that are a safer bet and more than likely healthier. :)

[guidofatherof5]

Nice to have you with us. I'll link you to the page care sheet.
Garter Snake Forum - Garter Caresheet (http://www.thamnophis.com/index.php?page=caresheet)
http://www.thamnophis.com/thamphotos/data//744/medium/welcome.jpg

[PickeringiiMom]

Thanks everyone! I appreciate the welcome and tips! We think we found the problem. As mentioned before, our experience lies mostly with pythons and boas. As such, the tank we had lying around was a 40 long. We think it's too big for him right now and he's not getting warm enough, as we had the tank outside with just a heating pad, so he's having trouble digesting. We moved his tank inside last night and we're going to pick up a UV heat bulb today and see if this helps. Unfortunately putting him in a smaller tank isn't feasible for us right now because we don't have anything smaller and we can't afford the cost of a new tank. We live in the Kitsap County area, if anyone near us has an extra we could take off their hands for cheap. Thanks again, everyone!

[Tommytradix]

Thanks everyone! I appreciate the welcome and tips! We think we found the problem. As mentioned before, our experience lies mostly with pythons and boas. As such, the tank we had lying around was a 40 long. We think it's too big for him right now and he's not getting warm enough, as we had the tank outside with just a heating pad, so he's having trouble digesting. We moved his tank inside last night and we're going to pick up a UV heat bulb today and see if this helps. Unfortunately putting him in a smaller tank isn't feasible for us right now because we don't have anything smaller and we can't afford the cost of a new tank. We live in the Kitsap County area, if anyone near us has an extra we could take off their hands for cheap. Thanks again, everyone!

you can use a critter keeper or a 15qt tub until your able to afford a 5 or 10 gallon tank.

[guidofatherof5]

you can use a critter keeper or a 15qt tub until your able to afford a 5 or 10 gallon tank.

Critter Keeper? Slits in the top and a carrying handle? If that's the case be very careful with that as some babies can wedge their head in the slits and die.

[infernalis]

Critter Keeper? Slits in the top and a carrying handle? If that's the case be very careful with that as some babies can wedge their head in the slits and die.


I had this happen before....

[PickeringiiMom]

Hi All
I appreciate all of the help and tips! Callow had finally started going normally, and everything was going great. Unfortunately my 4 year old decided Callow wanted to go "home" and released him when I wasn't looking. Not in the house, he took the snake outside and put him on the grass in our yard. Long story short, we no longer have a garter. My husband was super upset, so I think we'll be snakeless for a while and go back to our larger breeds. Thanks again, All!

[Majorica]

Critter Keeper? Slits in the top and a carrying handle? If that's the case be very careful with that as some babies can wedge their head in the slits and die. Wow, good to know.

[Albert Clark]

Hi All
I appreciate all of the help and tips! Callow had finally started going normally, and everything was going great. Unfortunately my 4 year old decided Callow wanted to go "home" and released him when I wasn't looking. Not in the house, he took the snake outside and put him on the grass in our yard. Long story short, we no longer have a garter. My husband was super upset, so I think we'll be snakeless for a while and go back to our larger breeds. Thanks again, All!
Wow! Sorry for the loss. Maybe you guys want to consider going with a captive bred puget in the future? I know it's a tough choice paying for something that is routinely in your backyard but it's only a suggestion. Good luck.

[gartergabe]

Hi All
I appreciate all of the help and tips! Callow had finally started going normally, and everything was going great. Unfortunately my 4 year old decided Callow wanted to go "home" and released him when I wasn't looking. Not in the house, he took the snake outside and put him on the grass in our yard. Long story short, we no longer have a garter. My husband was super upset, so I think we'll be snakeless for a while and go back to our larger breeds. Thanks again, All!

hi ami i am gabe i live in roy wa not to far from you if you really wanting another garter snake i have some cb radix eating f/t large pinkies and lots of tanks with lids if your interested pm me ill give you a good deal or if your interested in saving a checkered garter theres one for 15.99 at the marysville petco by mod pizza being fed goldfish

[Albert Clark]

hi ami i am gabe i live in roy wa not to far from you if you really wanting another garter snake i have some cb radix eating f/t large pinkies and lots of tanks with lids if your interested pm me ill give you a good deal or if your interested in saving a checkered garter theres one for 15.99 at the marysville petco by mod pizza being fed goldfish
The radixes are fine being fed pinks. I would avoid the checkereds due to them being fed goldfish. Goldfish are the worst thing to feed any snake. They are considered "junk food" for garters and are a serious health risk.

[gartergabe]

The radixes are fine being fed pinks. I would avoid the checkereds due to them being fed goldfish. Goldfish are the worst thing to feed any snake. They are considered "junk food" for garters and are a serious health risk.

thank you albert the checkered isn't mine its at a local pet store i would never feed gold fish because of the effects on the snake that why i said save the snake before someone els with out knowing the risks buys him and feeds goldfish until it dies i want to save him but my money is tight and its closer to ami then it is me

[Albert Clark]

thank you albert the checkered isn't mine its at a local pet store i would never feed gold fish because of the effects on the snake that why i said save the snake before someone els with out knowing the risks buys him and feeds goldfish until it dies i want to save him but my money is tight and its closer to ami then it is me
Oh, I knew the checkered wasn't yours I just wanted p.mom to know about the goldfish. I saw you mentioned that it was in a pet store.

[Albert Clark]

Thanks everyone! I appreciate the welcome and tips! We think we found the problem. As mentioned before, our experience lies mostly with pythons and boas. As such, the tank we had lying around was a 40 long. We think it's too big for him right now and he's not getting warm enough, as we had the tank outside with just a heating pad, so he's having trouble digesting. We moved his tank inside last night and we're going to pick up a UV heat bulb today and see if this helps. Unfortunately putting him in a smaller tank isn't feasible for us right now because we don't have anything smaller and we can't afford the cost of a new tank. We live in the Kitsap County area, if anyone near us has an extra we could take off their hands for cheap. Thanks again, everyone!
Be careful using the heat pad without a thermostat, rheostat , or dimmer. Those heat pads can get extremely hot! They can get as high as 140F! What about using a tub with latches on each end? They are usually cheaper than a tank.