Taking in a wild garter?

[Slithers]

Hello :D

I'm new to this forum, but I joined mainly so I could get help and opinions on this situation. Just yesterday I found a baby garter snake sunning himself on my drive way. I was surprised to see him, considering how cold it has gotten out (it actually has lightly flurried already). I was wondering if these little guys are okay to take from the wild.
I have a five year old bearded dragon, and a four 1/2 year old red eared slider, so I know a bit about reptiles and heating, etc. I looked online a bit about the care and feeding on garters. I've since set up a spare tank with brown paper bag as a substrate, a few fake leaves and branches, a big pool for swimming, and a few hiding spots. This is only the second day I've had him, and I've already tried giving him little guppies and an earthworm I found separated into little pieces, but he doesn't seem interested in either.
So my question is, is it alright to take in a wild garter, will he do okay in captivity, am I including everything he would need, and how long should it take for him to get used to things before he would start eating?
Also the garter is only a baby, he's around 7-8 inches.

[Stefan-A]

Welcome aboard.

Most of the time, they'll do fine in captivity. It may take a while before it starts eating. Whether or not it's okay depends on your local legislation and how you view it as an ethical issue.

[adamanteus]

Hi KP, and welcome to the forum.:)
Most wild-caught Garters settle in to captivity quite easily, although it may take a few days before it will accept food.
Here is a link to our care sheet, which will help to get you started off.

http://www.thamnophis.com/caresheets/index.php?title=Garter_Snake_Care_Sheet

[guidofatherof5]

Nice to have you here, Welcome. My kids just brought home another wild baby the other day(Thurs). He's yet to eat but this is normal. A week maybe more or less and it will start eating. Some take longer than others and some eat the first day or within minutes . I've had wild babies eat out of my hand moments after being caught. Makes sure the little guy has a place to hide, water and some extra heat.

[infernalis]

Welcome aboard, sounds like your off to a good start.

Your garter should settle in just fine.:D

Lots of friendly seasoned Garter snake fans around to help you on your way.

[anji1971]

Hello, and welcome!:)
You've been given good advice already. Just let him settle in and you'll most likely find him eating happily for you in no time. They really do take to captivity fairly well, with only a few exceptions.

[reptile3]

Hello & Welcome!!:)

[Slithers]

Thanks everyone :)!

[prattypus]

Well, they all started out wild at some point... I think once s/he calms down, they'll be alright.

[jitami]

Welcome Slithers :) We'd love to see pics of your little one when you're able to post them!

[Lori P]

Welcome, KP! Hope you enjoy it here. Be sure to post pics when you can! :-)

[drache]

welcome to the forum, KP

[Snake lover 3-25]

welcome to the forum:D

[Garter_Gertie]

Welcome, KP. Nice to have you join us!

[Sid]

Welcome to a great forum.

[Cobra Kai]

Welcome Slithers :) We'd love to see pics of your little one when you're able to post them!
!Bienvenido!
Me too. Thanks.

[Slithers]

Okay, I'll try to get a nice picture!

[gregmonsta]

Greetings :D

[count dewclaw]

Welcome, welcome! :D

[Seere121]

Welcome!
He should be fine after a week or two. 2 of my 3 garters are wild caught and they behave better than my captive bred checkered. After some time and growing some garters will even climb right on your hand to come out.
Like everybody else said give him(her) a week or so to calm down then offer guppies or night crawlers. I like to get my garters trained on pinkies though so I don't have to worry about the Thiamin issues with fish.
Oh, and Pics please!

[Odie]

Hi, from Oregon, Slithers/KP :)

[crzy_kevo]

welcome to the forum that snake is going to surprise you in how interesting they are :D

[Slithers]

Okay, I'll try to give him some time, he seems pretty active.

Is it ok to handle him this early, or should I leave him alone for the most part? The water dish sort of spilled over so I took him out to clean it up, and he was very jumpy. I'm just hoping I hadn't traumatized him, or something like that.

[Stefan-A]

I'd leave the snake alone until it's working like it should.

[jitami]

Just wanted to say that I'm sure you did no harm while cleaning up his water spill :) Keep handling to a bare minimum for now, though.

[infernalis]

Ditto what they said...

[Slithers]

http://i158.photobucket.com/albums/t101/tacado/snake1.png

This is the only picture I have of him right now, from when I first caught him. I'm trying to get a nice picture of his face but my camera's being difficult. At least you can see the markings :)

[adamanteus]

Lovely snake, KP... but it's not a Garter, it's a Dekays (or Brown) Snake, Storeria dekayii. Even so, you're welcome here!
We have quite a few members keeping these snakes, you're in good company!

[Snake lover 3-25]

awwww!!!!! another dekays!!!!:D:eek: omg i love them!!!!!!!!

[Slithers]

Oh :eek:

Well I guess I don't really know my snake species too well...

Do the same standards apply for taking one in?

[adamanteus]

Yes they do, KP. And as I say, we have a lot of members who keep Dekays......
We should be 'Thamnophis & Dekayii.com'!

[Slithers]

Gosh this was unexpected. Now I have to redo all of my research! Okay so...if you could answer them...a few more questions?
I was quickly reading some of the forums about dekay's, my snake's about 7-8 inches, that's adult size for them?
Also do they eat fish, or not so much? What about crickets? I read that they enjoy earth worms a lot, but what would be a good alternate when they're not easily dug up in the winter?
Thanks so much, sorry for all the questions

[adamanteus]

Forget the crickets... that's wrong. Basically their diet is earthworms and slugs (the small fawn coloured ones, not the big black monsters!) Feeding is always a problem in the winter.... brumation may be necessary.

[Slithers]

Thank you :)

[jitami]

I KNEW it!!! I didn't want to say anything, but I just had a feeling. Enjoy your little Dekay... they're a little fussier food wise, but those who keep them seem to really enjoy them.

[Slithers]

Haha, thanks X) I'm just worried about feeding him over the winter when there aren't worms and slugs about..

[anji1971]

You can keep enough worms and slugs going all winter for one little Dekay's without too much trouble. The slugs are super easy to breed and keep.
Get some big bins or empty fish tanks, and fill them halfway with soil. Throw worms in one, slugs in the other. Make sure you have a screen top for them, or you'll have slugs strolling about the house. I always keep mine in the basement where it stays relatively cool all winter. Keep them moist, and throw lettuce and other veggie scraps, as well as dead leaves, in regularly. The slugs especially need lots to eat. Top it up with a handful or two of fresh soil every so often, and you'll have a colony all winter. The slugs breed very quickly. When I had my Dekay's, I dumped a whole ton of them back into the garden in the spring, and I'd only started with about twenty big ones. Just don't let it dry out! And it will smell a wee bit,:D but it works. Really.

[jitami]

If you can get him to take worms they're cheap and usually easy to find sold as bait for fishermen. Just make sure you get nightcrawlers and not red wigglers. There are a few threads around here explaining the difference, but red wigglers are toxic and have little stripes going around their bodies. Nightcrawers can be chopped to size :)

[Cobra Kai]

Congrats Slithers! I had a Dekay as a kid. I love them. I found a neonate a couple of months ago. It was so small I thought it was a worm. I showed my 2 year old and let him go. Where's Dekaybrown when you need him? ;)

[Slithers]

Thanks for the help! I may try keeping them like Anji said. Where can I find the slugs, though?

I read about the difference between red wigglers and nightcrawlers, and I thought about the baitshop, but are those stores open through the winter? We have a couple near by...

Thanks again!

[anji1971]

Not sure where in the US you are, but around here, now is the best time to gather the slugs. It's cool out at night, and they're everywhere under all the fallen leaves. If not there, then usually under rocks, and at the base of perennial plants in the garden where they're starting to decay.

[infernalis]

Where's Dekaybrown when you need him? ;)


Taking care of his snakes :D


Woo hoo another Dekayi

If you have a cool basement, get a tote that seals well and put some salad greens & grass in there, catch all the slugs you can, and put them in there. They will reproduce and as long as you toss in some fresh greens they will thrive.

We farm slugs all winter long, it's easy.

Adults will accept worms as well all winter long.

[jitami]

I read about the difference between red wigglers and nightcrawlers, and I thought about the baitshop, but are those stores open through the winter? We have a couple near by...

Not sure where you're located, but yeah, they're usually open through the winter. Walmart & Kmart also carry live bait as do some convenience stores/gas stations.

[infernalis]

I have fed the "Panfish worms" from Wal Mart to my Dekayi's for YEARS with no problems.

Hope that helps you....

[reptile3]

If you have a cool basement, get a tote that seals well and put some salad greens & grass in there, catch all the slugs you can, and put them in there. They will reproduce and as long as you toss in some fresh greens they will thrive.

We farm slugs all winter long, it's easy.

Adults will accept worms as well all winter long.

I have a cool basement... hmmmm maybe I will try that! Thanks

[infernalis]

I have a cool basement... hmmmm maybe I will try that! Thanks


Make sure the box seals well, slugs are escape masters.

[drache]

and there are other things slugs are apparently good at
has anyone here tried this?
Hate housework? Can't find a reliable cleaner? Try a slug. (http://www.anapsid.org/slugcleaner.html)

[anji1971]

Make sure the box seals well, slugs are escape masters.

That they are! I thought my lid was a good fit, but apparently there were some openings, because I'm still finding shrivelled slug carcasses in corners and crevices in the basement!!:p

[Snake lover 3-25]

lol thanks for sharing that rhea!! lol that guy is crazy lol:D

[infernalis]

What ever happened to Slithers???

[brain]

Ok I can’t wait to get out there and maybe collect something exciting. But the weather needs to get out of the 30’s and more into the 50’s. I have my catch bag and hook at the ready.
I have heard of mites and I DON”T want that in my snake room. I plan to have an outside holding habitat but how can I be sure that I don’t bring any thing into the room? I hear of mite spray, is that something I should be spraying on myself or on the new captures?

[infernalis]

The new Captures Michael.

I'd also "quarantine" them for a while to make sure they are not carrying parasites or illness that can spread to your collection.

[guidofatherof5]

Please, no talk about being able to get out and look for snakes. I'm here in the dead of winter and will be for the next 3 months. It got up to 37 degrees today and I went out and looked under my snake hides.

[aSnakeLovinBabe]

I simply cannot WAIT to get out into the field this season.... I am getting an LED light tube that goes onto the end of my camera and lights up my closeup subjects... as well as a 25 piece accessory kit for it including a tripod, closeup lenses, a wide angle lens, filters...all KINDS of photography goodies!!!

[ssssnakeluvr]

same here!!!!! itchin to go herpin!!!!!! I have a tripod.....but you can't attach a camera.....it's my kitty....born with 3 legs :cool: my sister gave her the name!!!

[infernalis]

I simply cannot WAIT to get out into the field this season.... I am getting an LED light tube that goes onto the end of my camera and lights up my closeup subjects... as well as a 25 piece accessory kit for it including a tripod, closeup lenses, a wide angle lens, filters...all KINDS of photography goodies!!!


All will get put to good use with your skills Shannon.;)

[brain]

ROTFLMAO

Ok I’ll get my excitement contained as best as I can. But three houses down is Pat Lang’s place and he works in concrete, soooo there is butt loads of timber just laying around.

Also at the animals shelter about 15 miles south they have a 10 acre “dog” walk and I have seen wanders there … maybe a melanistic?

Then I know of a state park north of me where I have seen a few ordinoides.

Excitment ..... :D

[infernalis]

That sounds great Michael, All species that are NOT anywhere near my house.

[Stefan-A]

Well since we're discussing the next herping season, I'm just going to take the opportunity to post this link: http://www.thamnophis.com/forum/general-talk/3400-collecting-gravid-females.html