Baby Garter's Not Eating?

[Jack Neary]

Hello!
I'm new to the forum. I have found a couple of very small (4") baby gaters. I have cut up some earthworms I found to try and feed them, but they won't eat them and I have had them for 2 weeks? I have them both housed together in a 5 gallon bucket right now.
Any advice?
Thanks!
Jack

[adamanteus]

Hi Jack, and welcome to the forum.:)

[adamanteus]

The housing may be the problem... 'bucket' doesn't sound like you have created a habitat for them. Do you know the species you have? Where in the US are you, Jack?

[crzy_kevo]

welcome to the forum jack and i agree the james a bucket is not a good habitat for a snake

[Stefan-A]

Welcome aboard, Jack. :)

[Garter_Gertie]

An empty 5 gallon bucket but for the snakes? If so they're probably very stressed with no hides and staring at each other 24/7 and unable to soak. Two weeks in a 5 gallon bucket is a very long time in a 5 gallon bucket...

And welcome!

[Jack Neary]

The housing may be the problem... 'bucket' doesn't sound like you have created a habitat for them. Do you know the species you have? Where in the US are you, Jack?

Please don't misunderstand. I have an aquarium that I have a deecent set-up with several garters that I have caught near Rittman/ Wadsworth, OH and also 2 Garter's from near Plymouth Michagan.
I put these 2 young garter's in a seperate 5 gallon bucket becuase they do not appear to be eating the earthworms I caught for them...?
My thinking was seperating them from the other may help them eat the worms which would be always located near them?
Thoughts?
Thanks again! This is a great forum!

[jitami]

Welcome Jack! If you decide to keep these little guys I'd work on the housing a bit and then try some live guppies in a dish. The idea for now is to get them to eat something. You can, and probably should, switch them to different food once they're reliably eating for you. Good luck.

[crzy_kevo]

well my snake george wont eat an earthworm that is placed in front of her
for some reason she only eats them from my hand
any thoughts on that to?

[adamanteus]

Separating them is a good move, but I would personally give them a smaller version of the other Garter's 'proper' set-up, complete with hides, water bowl, climbing opportunities, temperature control etc.
I find that babies who present problems with feeding often respond well to a temporary increase in temperature and humidity.... not enough to steam them! Just a little.

[jitami]

nevermind... what james said up there.... lol

[anji1971]

Hello, and welcome!:)
Sounds like your little ones may be a bit stressed out.
For starters, I would try a small habitat that mimics what your other garters have.
I find paper towel for substrate is easy to work with for babies. Give them a hide and a nice little water bowl, and leave them be for a day or two. Then, put a few tiny little worms dug up from the garden on a jar lid or flat surface right in the enclosure. That way, the babies are more secure being in their house, and they should venture out to eat. You can work on moving them to a separate feeding bin as they grow and become more secure.

[infernalis]

well my snake george wont eat an earthworm that is placed in front of her
for some reason she only eats them from my hand
any thoughts on that to?

it's called "tease feeding" :) Garters love it.

[Sid]

Hello Jack and welcome to the forum. You've gotten good advise so far about heat, humidity, hiding places and live guppies.

[Garter_Gertie]

Wayne, I disagree. Ittiz called "I love my mother so I'm gonna eat outta his/her hand."

Sorry Stefan/James! :D

[Tori]

I have to ask, you said that the babies were 4 inches long? Are you sure that they are garters? None of my garter babies have ever been smaller than 7 inches long when they were born is why I ask. And if they are brown snake babies they will be too tiny for live fish, even guppy babies. Do you have any photos of the little ones?

[ssssnakeluvr]

good point...most baby easterns I have seen (and had) are around 5-6 inches, some western species 6-8 inches. photos would help with id and diet.

[Odie]

Hi,from Oregon, Jack :)

[infernalis]

Baby browns will never deviate from slugs and worms, Justin case.