snickersnake
10-13-2008, 07:29 PM
I've kept garter snakes in the past. I had Zip for 6 years, and Fang for 5. Zip was a gift from and friend (she got him from a pet store) and I got Fang from a pet store. Back then, goldfish were considered to be the food of choice and I never tried anything else.
I never thought I'd have another garter snake, but something interesting happened this summer. I found a baby garter snake in the yard and picked him up so that he wouldn't be mowed. He was a sweetie and seemed to be comfortable being held. I let him go in the garden. A few weeks later, the same snake was back in the same place in the yard and again, I held him for awhile, then moved him. The third time, I decided to keep him. It was getting cold out and I was afraid some other animal would get him (other than me).
Since I've only fed fish, and since he was so little, I started with guppies. He would not touch them. He was interested in them but didn't seem to understand they were food. I went online to get more info and read about fish being bad, and to try worms and pinky mice (the latter being the smartest thing to feed). He ate the worms, but only after about 45 minutes. And that's how it's been...he will only eat 2-3, and only after a lot of time has passed. He looks at them but just doesn't go after them like you would expect. The worms are moving enough.
I've read that worms aren't the greatest either, but some of you do feed worms along with pinky mice. I plan to try mice but wanted to wait until I could no longer get worms. Right now, I'm getting them from my garden. They are earthworms but not red wigglers. However, I read that worms like this are supposed to be refrigerated? I've set mine up in a bin the way they describe for people who keep worms for vermicomposting. I am not keeping them cold and they are fine. So, I'm a little confused by some of the things I've read.
Now my snake won't eat at all. I've never had a snake like this. Normally, give them fish and they make pigs of themselves and eat them all at once. I usually give her 5 or 6 worms but the most she's eaten at a time is 3. I'm ordering a pinky mouse this week, but I wondered if you have any ideas about this.
Otherwise, she seems fine. She shed once and it was all once piece. She loves to be held and will come over near my hand and sort of stand up when I take the top off her cage. We are really enjoying her but I am worried about her eating.
Thank you for your help.
I never thought I'd have another garter snake, but something interesting happened this summer. I found a baby garter snake in the yard and picked him up so that he wouldn't be mowed. He was a sweetie and seemed to be comfortable being held. I let him go in the garden. A few weeks later, the same snake was back in the same place in the yard and again, I held him for awhile, then moved him. The third time, I decided to keep him. It was getting cold out and I was afraid some other animal would get him (other than me).
Since I've only fed fish, and since he was so little, I started with guppies. He would not touch them. He was interested in them but didn't seem to understand they were food. I went online to get more info and read about fish being bad, and to try worms and pinky mice (the latter being the smartest thing to feed). He ate the worms, but only after about 45 minutes. And that's how it's been...he will only eat 2-3, and only after a lot of time has passed. He looks at them but just doesn't go after them like you would expect. The worms are moving enough.
I've read that worms aren't the greatest either, but some of you do feed worms along with pinky mice. I plan to try mice but wanted to wait until I could no longer get worms. Right now, I'm getting them from my garden. They are earthworms but not red wigglers. However, I read that worms like this are supposed to be refrigerated? I've set mine up in a bin the way they describe for people who keep worms for vermicomposting. I am not keeping them cold and they are fine. So, I'm a little confused by some of the things I've read.
Now my snake won't eat at all. I've never had a snake like this. Normally, give them fish and they make pigs of themselves and eat them all at once. I usually give her 5 or 6 worms but the most she's eaten at a time is 3. I'm ordering a pinky mouse this week, but I wondered if you have any ideas about this.
Otherwise, she seems fine. She shed once and it was all once piece. She loves to be held and will come over near my hand and sort of stand up when I take the top off her cage. We are really enjoying her but I am worried about her eating.
Thank you for your help.