General questions

[Elli]

I am debating getting a garter snake so I have been researching. If I do get one I was thinking of starting it in a sterile environment as a baby then moving to a more natural 20 long as it reaches adult size.

I have a question about diet. I read that if they don’t eat bones then vitamin d will need to be supplemented. Do pinkies count as having bones? I know their skeletal structure is more cartilage. I also have steamed shrimp and thiamese free fish on hand for my African clawed frogs that I could feed as part of a varied diet.

Many advice for hatchling care?

[guidofatherof5]

Earthworms or night crawlers are a good food item.

[Qwerty3159]

I think as long as you vary the diet and don't feed only pinkies until the snake is big enough to take bigger mice you should have no issues.
I raised mine on Sally's San Francisco bay silversides, pinkies, and nightcrawlers and switched to a mainly rodent diet as she grew.

[Elli]

I don’t really want a rodent only diet. I just want to offer a natural source of d3 and calcium. Do pinkies provide the necessary nutrients or would something else be needed? I can probably get whole small fish if that is better. I know all about thiamese and being careful about the diet.

[guidofatherof5]

I use Rep-Cal w/D3 to supplement calcium.
http://www.thamnophis.com/thamphotos/data//821/medium/repcal_d3.png

[Elli]

Do these guys eat eggs at all in the wild? I know someone who has button quail eggs regularly

[guidofatherof5]

My guess would be that a hungry garter might eat about anything that interests them.