New Snake-help?

[Saphyre_rose]

Hey all, I have just recently aquired a lovely baby garter snake from some friends of mine who were rock climbing and although I have kept garters before, it was full grown ones not a young one like this one.
My snake appears to not be eating and I am starting to get worried-is this normal? I have her in a small enclosure with fresh water, a plant, and a hidey-hole which seems to be suiting her fine. I have been feeding her (or trying to at least) baby nightcrawlers cut up because thats all I have been able to find around here. I would really like to try her on some crickets but there are no local pet stores that sell them and I am wary of buying crickets online in large quanties if she is not going to eat them.
Suggestions, comments, or any help would be much appricated! Thanks!

[KITKAT]

You can add thiaminase safe fish (see below) to her diet immediately, as there are plenty of different ways to provide this food:

1. Trout strips cut to appropriate size.
2. Bait store minnows, frozen and thawed, and cut to appropriate size, or released live into the water dish.
3. Rosey Reds, bought from the pet store. If not appropriate size, follow the idea of #2 above. If the size is OK, then release them live into the water dish.
4. Feeder guppies are available at most pet stores and can be fed in the water dish.

Other members will post about feeding scented pinkies. I find it helpful to scent pinkies with fish, so adding fish to the diet is a first step towards this anyway.

Here is the information about thiaminase and fish:

http://www.thamnophis.com/caresheets/index.php?title=Thiamin,#THIAMIN.2C_THIAMINASE.2C_ .26_GOLDFISH

[adamanteus]

Brenda, maybe she isn't eating because she is newly acquired and hasn't settled down yet. How long have you had her?

Forget the crickets, Garters don't eat them at all. KITKATs advice about the diet is good.

[Saphyre_rose]

What would be approiate size for trout strips because I think this is all I am going to be able to get for the time being untill I can drive an hour to a real pet store

[Saphyre_rose]

I'v had her for about a week now-whats normal settling time?

[KITKAT]

What would be approiate size for trout strips because I think this is all I am going to be able to get for the time being untill I can drive an hour to a real pet store

How big is your snake?:rolleyes:

[adamanteus]

A week isn't very long, so don't worry just yet. I'm sure she'll start to eat very soon. As for the size of trout strips, that would depend on the size of the snake...I guess about half an inch long and as wide as her head.

[Saphyre_rose]

Lets see... I would put her at around 8'' long and maybe 1-2cm around?

[Saphyre_rose]

I was also wondering about heat lamps/heated rocks-should I use them? The dorms are kept heated in the winter and so far she seems to be doing ok but as it gets colder I am considering it

[adamanteus]

Lets see... I would put her at around 8'' long and maybe 1-2cm around?

I would just cut the trout strips to the size of her head.:)

[Saphyre_rose]

alright-thanks for the suggestions!

[adamanteus]

Brenda, some heat source may well be needed, but the heat rocks (I believe) can become too hot. Have a read through this for some basic hints and tips regarding temperature etc.
http://www.thamnophis.com/caresheets/index.php?title=Garter_Snake_Care_Sheet

[Saphyre_rose]

Again-thanks SO much, I feel much better about my snake now:)

[Sid]

Brenda, your enclosure shoulld range from 80 to 90 degrees F. in the day time and 75 to 80 at night.

[Lulu Bennett]

i have heard bad things about heat rocks so i wouldn't bother with them but above my small tank with 2 baby tetratainas in i have a normal table lamp and a heat mat underneath. aslong as it reached 85 degrees in the day and 75 at night it will be fine

[ssssnakeluvr]

2 to 3 weeks to adjust is common, some will feed sooner. a small under tank heater will be ok...garters are very cold tolerant snakes....

[flakgunner]

hey,
One week isn't long at all,especially for a wild caught baby,but you 'll need to remember,your little one,is getting ready to hibernate,and needs to be de-programed,this is why alot of collector's do their most serious herping in the late spring,early summer,with Col. temps dropping fast,and daylight shortening,you may have to fool it,by slowly increasing temps and daylight,this can even be a problem,with early caught snakes for their first year in captivity,my baby Western Fox snake caught in late Aug. 06,gave us problems in late Sept. thru Dec. 06 in this time period,it only ate three pinkie's,it wasn't until Feb. 07,that it began eating weekly.
I've got three Western Plains gartersnakes,caught in our backyard early summer of this year,all three where eating like pigs!three weeks ago,they all flat out stopped,with no interest in nightcrawlers or minnows/goldfish(thawed out or live).
Garter snakes are some of the hardiest reptiles ever,coming out of hibernation even with snow on the ground.Your little one should be fine,just needs a little time to get adjusted,just make sure it has a few places to hide,and fresh water,once it starts eating,it'll grow 1" a month.

Joe

Are you using a safe substrate? with worms and fish being slimy,they'll pickup small pieces,while their eating,sand,crushed corn comb and ground walnut shells are not good.

[Saphyre_rose]

I have her in a mix of gravel(larger sized) and wood chips-that ok?

[Charlet_2007]

i feed mine baby toads if you can find them now its up to 50 cent peace toads... i also have potting soil for bedding.. a rock and a fake plant for mine..

[flakgunner]

I have her in a mix of gravel(larger sized) and wood chips-that ok?hey,
personally,I've found the green reptile carpet to work very good,down side would be that in cleaning,you have to remove everything,to get the carpet out,but I look at this as positive,with everything removed,assures a good
cleaning,everytime.The carpet is easily sprayed down with a garden hose,and hung to dry,plus the set-up gets rearranged every week.

Joe

[Saphyre_rose]

ok, cool-thanks!:) Oh, and is there anyway I could buy baby toads online?

[drache]

you might try fauna classifieds

[KITKAT]

ok, cool-thanks!:) Oh, and is there anyway I could buy baby toads online?

Toads are not a recommended food because they are full of parasites. I could see using them as a starter, to get a new snake eating after it has refused a long time, but their parasite load is high, and your snake can become sick quickly because captivity tends to concentrate parasite populations in your snake.