Feeding...

[Kevin_is_a_herper12]

Ok, I have two garters now. A common which is 12" total length and a red belly which is 9". I don't really know what I shoudl be feeing..or what to try adn get them to feed. I have put crickets and such in, but they still don't eat them. Should I be feeding something else?:confused:

Any help would be appreciated.

Thanks.
Kevin:D

[crzy_kevo]

garters do not eat crickets
garters will eat earth worms (not red wigglers)night crawlers work well
pieces of fish such as salmon and tilapia
guppies
small frogs and other amphibians
and pinky mice
have i missed anything?

[Lulu Bennett]

they will not eat cricket. they cannot digest the shell.
try trout or worms or chopped up pinkies.

[anji1971]

have i missed anything?

Only that from what I've been reading here, red bellies can be rather difficult to keep in captivity.
Try your garter on worms, they usually go for that.

[Stefan-A]

Purely out of curiosity, where did they tell you to feed them crickets?

[crzy_kevo]

please don't say pet store

[adamanteus]

Red Bellies can be difficult. If this is a wild-caught snake it might be wise to release it until you have gained a little more knowledge and experience... you wouldn't want it to die on you.

As for feeding the Garters, the advice you have already received above is sound.

[Kevin_is_a_herper12]

I didn't get the advice to feed them crickets form anyone....just in thepast I have had various lizards and always fed them crickets as a stable...I didn't what else to feed and so I tried crickets. My bad. If you say red bellies are hard to take care of I will release it. I just ofund it today while I was out herping. I will go to my pong and see if I can wrangle up some tadpoles and such and get some wormies for my baby. How do you destinguish the sex of the snake?

Thanks, and will they actually eat just plain chopped up fish if it is just sitting there and not moving around?

Kevin.

[crzy_kevo]

ya just chop it into worm sized portion and most garters will gobble them down no prob i have 2 that won't take it but i shove it between the feeder frogs legs when they get down to it and they havre to eat it then :D

[adamanteus]

Some Garters will take chopped up fish straight away, others need a little persuasion. Make sure you're using 'safe' fish such as salmon, trout or tilapia.... certain fish contain an enzyme which is toxic to your snake.

[crzy_kevo]

i have yet to try them on the pollock i got for free (checked it for thiaminase on the article and its good)

[Kevin_is_a_herper12]

Ok will do...I just figured that they would need some type of movement to intice a feeding responce like my lizards and geckos used to have to have.

[crzy_kevo]

snakes go mainly on smell but sometimes movement helps

[adamanteus]

I just figured that they would need some type of movement to intice a feeding responce.

Sometimes they do, Kevin. If this is the case, there are various tricks you can use to get them started.

[Kevin_is_a_herper12]

Can you give some examples if they don't just go for it?

[adamanteus]

Yes.
Try a small, live fish in a shallow bowl, if they take this, next time put fish pieces in the bowl with the live one... they often eat the first thing they bump into once they're in feeding mode.
Try 'posting' a larger food item of your choosing, directly behind the little live fish (or worm, or whatever) as they swallow.
Once they're accepting something, the scent can be transferred onto pinkies, by rubbing the two items together.

But the first thing to do is make sure you have the environmental conditions right... follow Lulu's link in your other thread for the basic environmental requirements. They won't eat if they're not happy.

[infernalis]

I scanned down quickly, so if it has already been said please excuse me.

We had some red belly snakes (Storeria occipitomaculata ) they are not garter snakes, and VERY difficult to keep in captivity.

Please let it go where you found it.

http://www.reformedsniper.net/snakes/red.jpg

[crzy_kevo]

already been said wayne :D

[adamanteus]

Yeah, Wayne. It's been said.

[Kevin_is_a_herper12]

Alright, since I have been on last I have added numerous branches for climbing and such, found several worms and nightcrawlers in for food, and added a clamp lamp with a 75 watt bulb on for heat and such. Hopefully this will make him happy and he will eat. Also I released the red belly, but in the process I found a huge milksnake...almost bite my too...but it got away....I wouldn't have kept it anyways, they are quite nasty snakes.

Thanks,
Kevin.

ps. as I am typing he is out of his hide and checking out the foliage.

[crzy_kevo]

good to hear kevin although milk snakes can tend to calm down after being captive for a few weeks :D

[infernalis]

One trick that uses movement to trigger feeding, is to just throw a live fish into a small tote with the snake, the fish flopping about in small quarters with the snake will usually annoy the snake to where it has to eat the fish to make it go away.:D

[GartersRock]

Rofl!! *Little snakey*
"Gosh darn it, there is something moving again... Ah heck.... Nom, nom, nom..."
=D

[infernalis]

I know it's funny to really watch it happen.

Some of these small non feeders, I locked them in a deli cup with a tiny toadlet, the toad jumping on them over and over, then suddenly the snake gets angry and strikes at the toad, once they taste it, it's all over:eek:

[GartersRock]

Thats how I tease feed my mean snakes when they show less interest in food. Waving it around with tongs 'aint enough. So I bump it all over their head and face, when the strike out of ill intent I freeze until it is down. =D

[Garter_Gertie]

I know it's funny to really watch it happen.

Some of these small non feeders, I locked them in a deli cup with a tiny toadlet, the toad jumping on them over and over, then suddenly the snake gets angry and strikes at the toad, once they taste it, it's all over:eek:

When I had to incarcerate Jeep-Jeep to get him to he eat, for the longest time - hours, until during the nite - he use the worm pieces as pillows to rest his wee little head on.

No matter what pet I get, when, from where, I *always* end up the neurotics! :D

[Kevin_is_a_herper12]

Alright I am pretty sure he/she ate some worms last night as I found like half of one and they were all whole when put in...I just got some more and aded them to its tank.

[Kevin_is_a_herper12]

Ok, herbert doesn't really seem interested in eating his worms tonight...maybe he is still adjusting? idk.

you guys know more than I do...should I be worried?

thanks, Kevinn

[infernalis]

No matter what pet I get, when, from where, I *always* end up the neurotics! :D

They have a prescription for that Gertie..

http://www.danceswithreptiles.com/1fun/xanax1mg1.jpg

[Stefan-A]

They have a prescription for that Gertie..

http://www.danceswithreptiles.com/1fun/xanax1mg1.jpg
Dude, freaky effect when you use the scroll up and down with the mouse wheel.

[infernalis]

Dude, freaky effect when you use the scroll up and down with the mouse wheel.

Why am I not suprised that you would try that:eek:

Now take 3 of those, and wait 30 minutes, then do it again:D

(if you can stay awake)

[Stefan-A]

Have mouse wheel, will scroll.

[crzy_kevo]

george will eat 4 pieces of salmon every 3-4 days and checkers will eat 2 frogs and 2 pieces of salmon every 3-4 days as well