ID and feeding advise please.

[garterguarder]

im not quite sure of what type of snake i have and was wondering if i should try salmon if so what type of salmon i have some and later will read out the ingrediants

[garterguarder]

i could describe what he looks like if that would help he/she not sure is black witha yellow stripe down the middle and on top of where the black meets his underside there is orange dashes- - - -

[garterguarder]

it sorta looks like this texas garter snake except thinner yellow line on the top and orange wear the underside meets the blackhttp://www.proctormuseum.us/Reptiles/Modern%20Reptiles/Modern%20Snakes/TexasGarterSnake-P0785-72dpi-26Apr'05.jpg

[ssssnakeluvr]

is that he snake you ar talking about?? need a better shot of the head....kinda looks like a ribbon.

[ssssnakeluvr]

need a better shot of the head....looks like a ribbon....where was it found???

[garterguarder]

http://www.fs.fed.us/r6/centraloregon/wildlife/species/reptiles-amphibians/images/sn-northwesterngartersnake.jpgactually sorry it might be this north western garter snake i live in central b.c. canada

[adamanteus]

wondering if i should try salmon if so what type of salmon i have some and later will read out the ingrediants

Ingredients? I'm confused. Just plain, raw salmon.... no dill sauce or peppercorns required!:D
The snake in the picture looks like a Ribbon... but that's not your snake, right? Does it have a white scale directly in front of the eye?

[garterguarder]

no i think it may be the north western garter

[Zephyr]

That's definitely a ribbon snake.

[Stefan-A]

Ingredients? I'm confused. Just plain, raw salmon.... no dill sauce or peppercorns required!:D
And definitely no salt.

[garterguarder]

would it eat salmon its bee eating worms worms and more worms lately because i was scared to experiment with different foods

[ssssnakeluvr]

it could be a northwestern....possibly even a wandering....do you have an photos of your snake?

[adamanteus]

There is no need to worry about experimenting with different foods.... as long as they are suitable foods. Try the salmon, also trout. It may even accept pinky parts straight off, worth a try.

[garterguarder]

ya sorry they are just plain salmon

[garterguarder]

it could be a northwestern....possibly even a wandering....do you have an photos of your snake?
no not at the moment but its now out and about and could take a few pics later on

[garterguarder]

my snake's head has (on the side) an orange marking if that helpls

[Odie]

Try Slugs too :D

[adamanteus]

Plain, raw salmon is a good starting point. Although I find my Garters take trout more enthusiastically, other people may have other opinions, but I use trout a lot.

[garterguarder]

There is no need to worry about experimenting with different foods.... as long as they are suitable foods. Try the salmon, also trout. It may even accept pinky parts straight off, worth a try.
thx ill try everything pinky parts are a no no for me tho my Mom(im only 12) would kill me if i put muse in the freezer

[adamanteus]

Orange speckling is often indicative of ordinoides (Northwestern).
I have found ordinoides eat a higher percentage of worms than many other Garters.

[garterguarder]

Plain, raw salmon is a good starting point. Although I find my Garters take trout more enthusiastically, other people may have other opinions, but I use trout a lot.
thx thats a BIg help asi think my garters getting tired of worms for trout in the spring coud i just catch trout and feed it to him/her?

[adamanteus]

coud i just catch trout and feed it to him/her?

I guess so, but you risk passing on internal parasites from wild fish. Store-bought trout is pretty cheap and easy to find.

[garterguarder]

Orange speckling is often indicative of ordinoides (Northwestern).
I have found ordinoides eat a higher percentage of worms than many other Garters.
I thot so really cute little thing anyway ill get pics later on.... Im reaally sad tho as i did have two and should have got different types of food earlyer...RIP Bert

[garterguarder]

I guess so, but you risk passing on internal parasites from wild fish. Store-bought trout is pretty cheap and easy to find.
k i was jw

[adamanteus]

Oh well, you're here now, Bray..... you'll get all the help and advice you need from these guys. Welcome to the forum.:)

[Odie]

Orange speckling is often indicative of ordinoides (Northwestern).
I have found ordinoides eat a higher percentage of worms than many other Garters.
I agree :)

[ssssnakeluvr]

yes...me too. ordinoides are worm specialists....will take fish tho.

[adamanteus]

So, to summarize.... it seems you have a Thamnophis ordinoides (Northwestern) but photos would confirm this.
Variety in feeding is a good thing, although your snake will happily feed on worms, it's a good idea to supplement this with some fish.... trout, salmon and tilapia are good options.
A multi-vitamin supplement might be a good idea until the snake accepts a more varied diet.

[garterguarder]

thx what type of vitamin supplement some sort of reptile powder and thx for welcoming me:P:)

[adamanteus]

Yes, powder is fine. I use 'Nutrobal', it may well have a different proprietory name in the US. Just a good reptile multi-vitamin.

[infernalis]

Here is the product I like, it has all the essentials, and it is a spray, just a quick mist over the food, and its part of the diet

http://www.thamnophis.com/thamphotos/data//500/1fluker.jpg

Sorry about Bert, Been there myself too many times.

Welcome to the forum, No shortage of nice helpful people here.:D

[garterguarder]

thx and salmon was a success he/she call it erney checked it out took a small piece and then ripped around the tank I then left it overnight in the tank and he ate a bit more i no winters a slow eating season so i was happy about the results but i did give him way to much so i am now only going to put out a few small pieces

[jitami]

Welcome :) Sounds like Erney is off to a good start with you :)

[infernalis]

thx and salmon was a success he/she call it erney checked it out took a small piece and then ripped around the tank


Congrats:D Good news.

Progress is always exciting.

[garterguarder]

totally! im always excited when i see erney eat

[crzy_kevo]

thats great news but you simply must showq us pictures we love pictures :D

[garterguarder]

ok ok ill have to do the pics tmw right now im going to hockeyim a goalie wish me luck:)ohhh im always really worried my snake seems to be growing at a good pace but he has a very slender neck the rest of his body is thicker way thicker help me better understand plaese?

[crzy_kevo]

lol this would be because he has food in him :D most likely once it is digested it should look normal

[garterguarder]

I'm just sating im a worryer he is just a slender snake!ohh and someone must of wished me luck yesterdqay because the other team didnt score one goal on me!

[infernalis]

someone must of wished me luck yesterday because the other team didn't score one goal on me!


Excellent, Nice job.:D

[garterguarder]

my snake looks muh fuller then when i use to feed him strait worms and he is a lot better with humans he always trys to strngle my finger i had a clos to disaster earlier today tho i was sitting on the couch with erney when my new puppy decided to jump on the couch she almost landed on erney but ikicked her off:P

[garterguarder]

my snake is drinking liie fool i just got ack from a hockey game and his water dish food dish and tank were empty and dry i sprayed the tank and he started licking it like crazy!i then filled his water dish and he drank and drank is that normal?

[infernalis]

No it's an indication that your snake has been without water for a bit.

In the winter, the water bowls evaporate dry almost every day.