wild garter snake that got into some trouble wont eat?

[gordesky1]

So on Friday night we found a snake on the front of our street.. At first we thought it was dead cause it had deep cuts which pretty much with turn outer skin.. And he was bleeding. But when we touch him he was moving. Pretty sure a cat got him...

So we put him in a 5gal fish tank with plastic trees and a water bowl and he was very active and looking around and in about a hour he was in the plastic tree.

So in about 2 days after we tried giving him chop up night crawers which was still moving and he looked at them but didn't touch them and the next day they was all dead...

last night we gave him a small worm live one and let it craw around he went too it like he was going after it but just slittered away so we left it in there and the worm was dead again...


Now we didint go out too get a heat light yet but we are cause it says they need them and they wont eat if they dont have one or the right heat? just a normal light bulb and Right now hes in a room that's in the 80s.

Now he does drink water cause i saw him doing that today.

Hes about 10+ but hes pretty thin size so im not sure if hes a baby or a adult? also his wounds did get better they quit bleeding and look better but still missing the skin. and i was told by other forums it might be best too let him go.. Ony thing i don't think he will make it on his own cause there is alot of cats and well pretty sure he can get infection from dirt etc too his wounds...

If he had minor wounds i would just leave him free but yea i dont feel right letting him out in the wild.. But i also don't want him too die from not eating..

Now did see someone on this forum pretty sure the one under my post putting it in a smaller case with grass and worms and let him be. I wonder if he will eat than?


Here's some pics when we brought him in yea the cuts look pretty bad... But from the looks of it didn't go threw that's under the skin. I get more pics as he looks today which he has a larger bow and more trees that he can go onto.


1478114782

[guidofatherof5]

This is a Storeria dekayi- Brown snake. This snake has serious injuries and needs a Vet ASAP. Thanks for trying to help.

[gordesky1]

Yea thats what im afraid too hearing:( The issue is we had too go bankruptcy for the house like 2 months back So money is a big issue right now:( And i really don't want too release him outside cause really i don't think he will make it with those cuts.. But if he wont eat for me he wont make it inside either:(

I see they eat slugs earth worms etc. Whats his chance of surviving if i get him too eat a slug and also make the tank look much better? Like i said his wounds looks much better than what they were Friday in those pics and he started too drink water. And pretty much keep the tank clean too try and keep infections off?

I could've just left him be when i saw him but yea when i saw him hurt i didn't have the heart just too leave him.. When i see non hurt ones i just let them be..

And i live in Pittsburgh so the weather is pretty much changing too..

[guidofatherof5]

The injuries are life-threatening, even with a Vet's intervention it might not survive. I would suggest euthanizing the poor thing or release it back into the wild and let mother nature decide. Tough situation you are in. Brown's are sweet snakes. Looks like a lawn mower injury.

[gordesky1]

Also have another update i just checked on him again and looked at his cuts. And they are really healing up. Its getting brown color which looks like his outer skin like his scales which has ridges coming threw?

Like were you see the pink in the cuts at in the pics i posted they are no longer pink color and has ridges now.

im at petco now picking up a heat light and also pick a pack of there worms. The lady said put one in a lid with little water in it so the worm doeisnt dry out and leave him alone which he might eat than and with the right heat from the bulb.

So im going too see what he does tonight. Hes still very active. So i guess i go from there too see what he does. If not i might have too leave him out... or see if i can find a rehab center that will take him.


If he eats i think he might be ok. Skin wont be never the same but really as long as he makes it that's what matters.

And yea about the lawn mower tho my dad said he saw a cat digging by the house 5mins before he saw the snake on the ground..

And yet this really hurts me:( seems like a nice snake too cause he comes up the glass and looks at us..


I see if i can get new pics of how the cuts look now when i get home and get the phone charge back up. They do look alot better tho like hes growing new skin in there.

[guidofatherof5]

This is the area that concerns me the most, appears to involve organs.
http://www.thamnophis.com/thamphotos/data//674/medium/injury4.JPG

[gordesky1]

yea thats what i was worrying about too when i first saw it but seems like it was from the outer skin cause nothing is sticking up there anymore. really that part is the most healed and closing up.

But we got the heat light installed and have it hanging above the tank cause i really don't trust it sitting on the screen and that close... And he came out from were he was and sitting under it right now. We tried a worm again and he was very interested in it and went right too the bowl fast and stayed there looking around at it. I think why he didn't snap at it he knew we was looking at him... sense i herd some snakes don't like you in the same room when they eat..


When the tank gets settled with the heat going too put it back in and leave him alone and i will update you guys later. Hopefully with good news...


Also the bulbs i bought cause the lady said they will be fine for him are a daylight bulb which is blueish color pretty bright and the night time one is red color and very dim they both heatlights . On the box it says the blueish one is for when they eat is that the one i should have on right now? They both 40watts and that's the lowest they had in petsmart.


Also made 2 tunnels for him to go in.

thank you.

[guidofatherof5]

Small earthworms, slugs, and pieces of night crawler are on the menu for this one. Please keep us posted on this little brown.

[gordesky1]

So i got some updates. Hes still going very active also. I tried some meal worms which he wouldn't touch, Than i dig up some slugs and put them in there wouldn't touch those either like he was scared of them than sometimes he will zoom right up too them with his tong out tongue flicking out.

Tho 2 days ago i just put the box of 5 slugs in his tank which he would go in there hunting around in there each time i put it in there. 2 days ago i found out there was ony 3 left out of 5 and i know they didn't get out cause i always keep a close watch when they in there cause they can dry up and die. Or if they do get out of the box they in they will go on the water bowl and stay there.

Each day i leave a small dish with the meal worms in there which he always go in there and also drinks the water i put in there too keep them moist. But i noticed today one was gone i had 6 in there and 5 was ony there. They never climb out of the tank cause it seems like they cant they usely go under stuff like the paper towel but i checked under there and nope. So i think he might've eat one.

Another thing i noticed there was new poop right next too the small dish today. So that could be a good sign right there.

loves drinking water that's for sure.

Are these snakes big eaters like other snakes? Or do they nick pick here and here?


I was going too let him go a week ago but the weather really changed low 60s in the day and can go as low as 30s with frost... So i think hes better inside either way now..


Also hes still healing really well. that pic i showed that open cut is now pretty closed now.

[guidofatherof5]

Have you tried earthworms or night crawler pieces? Take a small lid of some kind(icing lid) kill a few slugs(stopping them from crawling away) put the dish in there and cover the tank. Check the next day to see the results. You can cut up earthworms also in the lid.

[gordesky1]

Have you tried earthworms or night crawler pieces? Take a small lid of some kind(icing lid) kill a few slugs(stopping them from crawling away) put the dish in there and cover the tank. Check the next day to see the results. You can cut up earthworms also in the lid.


Yep at first when we bring him in that week we did with the night crawlers all they did is dried out but we didn't have any water in it too prevent that that and he probably was really stressed out the first week but he doeisnt seem stressed now. But i will try that today and see what he does:)

Also when i cover up the tank should i still keep the heatlamp on? Or will it be fine with it off when i cover it up for the day?

[guidofatherof5]

Little Brown snakes are cold tolerant so providing heat also must come with cool areas.

[gordesky1]

Little Brown snakes are cold tolerant so providing heat also must come with cool areas.


Hmm would it be better too put him in a bigger tank? Right now hes in a 10gal and really i think its a bit small cause the heat light provides the whole tank light. But not direct light on the whole tank just on the left side. But still lights up the other side.

I have another tank but its 25gal which i would think be a bit too big for him sense i herd some snakes don't like being in a big area well for smaller snakes.


So when i cover the tank with a sheet i should still have the light on? Right now in the house its around 68 too 70f but in his tank it varys around 75f at night and 80-84 in the day.


He mostly goes were the heatlamp is pointing down. than on the other side is his water bowl which he goes in there too soak and drink.

[guidofatherof5]

Does he have a hide?

[gordesky1]

Does he have a hide?


Yep i made him 2 of them out paper towel holders:) is that good?

[guidofatherof5]

Yep i made him 2 of them out paper towel holders:) is that good?

A little trick many of us use on troubled eaters is to put the food dish under the hide so the snake and eat under cover.

[gordesky1]

A little trick many of us use on troubled eaters is to put the food dish under the hide so the snake and eat under cover.


ohhh yea i see what you mean after searching google:) Going too use a whip cream bowl or something like that and make one than put the dish under there and see how that does:)


Will report back:)

[gordesky1]

Welp have bad news the little guy passed away couple hours ago:( This pass week he started too open his mouth wide open and just kept doing it but still was active and drinking water. Today he was really acting bad even tho moving around but sometimes he kept going on his back with his mouth open till i help him back up.

Before i laid down he was still alive than i laid down for couple hours than woke up and he just laying there still with his mouth close and i moved him and no signs of life:( From how he was holding his mouth open it seems like either his heart was having trouble or his lungs cause he would bounce little like something stops than kick back in.. I guess the trauma he had did something with his insides.. He was strong little guy living 2 months:/


But yea we tried everything He just wouldn't eat anything tried worms,slugs,mealworms, Heck even fish fillet and even tried boiled chicken.. At first couple days ago i got a piece of fish in his mouse and he chewed it down. But yea wouldn't touch it again.. Tried putting everything in the hideaway were he goes in and covering the tank over night nothing..


But yea we got really attach too the little guy and he was used too us too cause he let us pick him up when i need too move him and i could put my hand right in front of him and he wouldn't bite or anything..

Going too buried the little guy in couple hours:/


But yea i wanted too give everyone a update which wasn't a good one:/

[Zdravko092368]

Sorry to hear about the little guy passing, at least you tried everything you could with him. Hopefully one day you can have a better experience with another snake.

[guidofatherof5]

Thanks for giving the little-one a chance.

[gordesky1]

Yep he sure was a strong little snake and wanted too keep going:( Me and my mum still miss him:/ But he did make us like snakes and want another one in the future:)

My mum which was always afraid of well pretty much everything even pick him up trying too get him too eat. she got attach too him..


When it comes time what are good snakes too have? Would love another one of him or a normal garter snake but i don't think anyone sells them?

I wont be picking any up outside.. I will try and help them like we did this little guy if they in danger tho. But if they normal best too leave them be:)

[guidofatherof5]

I would suggest a female T. radix (Plains Garter Snake) Sweet attitude, eats everything, very docile.

[Albert Clark]

So sorry about your loss. Thanks for all your efforts. It's really difficult to bring these little guys back to health after such horrendous injuries and illnesses. It's always a good idea to start with healthy individuals from breeders. We have several breeders right here on the forum to sell you high quality, healthy garters. I know the easy thing is to go herping and collect wild reptiles but that is often frought with problems and may or may not be very disappointing. Captive born and bred are a healthier animal, and have the ability to be long time pets over the wild caught. Just something to consider for the future.

[Jeff B]

As I was reading through this thread I was really hoping for a happy ending. At first I thought no chance, then I though maybe there is a chance. You did all you could.

[gordesky1]

Well have a update. went out in my yard and dad was about too cut the yard.. When he yelled for me and told me too come over here. Welp another Storeria dekayi and just looked like him. I was going too leave him alone but i wanted too give it another try cause i did want another snake like him. So i took the plastic cage i got my other one in and sat it right by him and he went right in...

So right now setting up the bigger tank how it was with my old one and going too put a cover over it for a day or 2 too let him get used too the area. And i figured if he wont eat either and sense its starting summer soon i can just put him out were he was. How long should i give him too eat something before i put him back out? Also looks very healthy and no cuts this time thank god...


Just weird how another one showed right up out of nowere and looks the same maybe another chance? lol:)

[guidofatherof5]

You might be surprised at how quickly they start to eat. Small earthworms under the hide in a lid or something.

[gordesky1]

went out side and got some small worms and hold one by him with tweezers wouldn't take it than when i put it by him and it started touching him a bit and bang he took it and ate it up:) Tho he didint want anymore and just ignore the 2nd one. But he does eat which im glad:)

How many do they eat a day? or in a week total? Now im sure before i took him in he did his eating so probably not too hungry at the moment. heres a pic of him i say a pretty decent size. I will get him a substrate from the pet store in a few days tho dirt is a bit messy.. Its top soil that is used out side too fill in holes etc pretty much outside dirt. Will buy other things for him also sense i know hes a eater lol..
14986

[guidofatherof5]

Glad to hear she ate. Looks like a gravid female to me. I would strongly suggest you release her back where you found her so she can have her babies where they should be. Neonate S. dekayi are very difficult to start in captivity, best to let nature do that job.

[gordesky1]

Hmm i hope shes not pregnant :( Tho from the way she looks now it seems like shes more thinner in that area when shes spread out like her whole body match's. is there another way too tell could it be just it ate alot before we took her in? Why im asking is she really got attach too her surroundings now and even us lol.. And shes taking the worms soon as we drop them in the tank and looking for me too give her more lol... We kinda attach too her now like we were the first one lol...

Also plays with our fingers when we move them on the glass and always out in the open lol..


Really hate leaving her go and let alone there is alot of bad things out in this area that can get her.. tons of cats ratcoons and beavers etc.... Pretty sure a cat got my first one:/


Also how much should they eat like how many worms is good enough? and like per day or every other day? The day after we bring her in she ate 3 decent size ones. and i waited 2 days later and she ate 3 more. than today i pop one in and she bit it right in half and ate them than i gave her another. Just don't want too be over feeding her. I noticed she ony wants the big juicy ones cause she just goes too them and don't bother with them and look up at me for something bigger lol..

Sorry i didn't get back sooner had net troubles...

[gordesky1]

Welp you was right... she been great for the 3 months now eating every day and been a sweet snake.. than this week i noticed she wont eat any worms at all for the pass week.. We was ready too go too sleep and i noticed something was in her tunnel.... Yep she gave birth... so far she had 9 babys which i have them in a small tank at the moment.. I think she going too have more but shes really stressing and her belly is sunken in.

Will these babies eat cut up normal size worms if cut in small pieces? i have a small water dish in with them now with just a tiny bit of water in it also.. at the moment they really active and moving around fast and sticking their tong out lol..

Now the question would it be better if i leave them outside or are they too small at the moment? cause at the moment im not sure if i able too take care of all of them lol.. or is there a place that would take them and care for them?

But yea i should've listen too you @guidofatherof5 ... but we really fallen in love with the mother and she was really used too us and i thought she just was fat cause over time she even out except tonight lol..