Feeding garters

[Dragonbeards]

So this whole issue of a snake as a pet is very touchy with my mom. She hates snakes in the first place, so I'm lucky to have the opportunity to keep one at all. When I brought up that garters ate mice, she backpeddled, and I had to let her know that they would eat other things too.

Mom seems most favorable on the idea of them eating worms. We keep fish, so having guppies just to be eaten wouldn't appeal to her, and I'm not so sure that she would be appreciative of me feeding it frogs (I'm not even sure where I'd get them).

Is a worm only diet healthy for garters? What else would I have to feed to make sure it was in top health (according to what I have read, just a calcium supplement, am I right)?

Thanks,

Dragonbeards

[mb90078]

You could probably get away with a worm-based diet along with supplements. But have you considered feeding them "people-fish"? Like grocery store bought salmon? That would help to bring some variety to their diet.

[guidofatherof5]

I think many garters eat a close to worm only diet and do OK.
Frozen/thawed fish(salmon, Tilapia, Trout) is also something you could feed.
I would suggest you be very careful with where this frozen fish is coming from. I would avoid any "Product of China" fish.
Be sure to checkout the caresheet as it will give you many more feeding ideas along with answers other questions you might have. Garter Snake Care Sheet - Caresheets (http://www.thamnophis.com/caresheets/index.php?title=Garter_Snake_Care_Sheet)

Let your Mom know that the mice you are talking about can be bought already dead and frozen.
Let us know how things are going.
Be sure to thank your Mom for even considering you having a snake. That's a hard thing to do for someone that doesn't like snakes.

[radtad]

I have feed strips of Talpia as well and it is very inexpensive and can to the diet as well as silversides you get from a fish store. They are frozen just thaw and serve

[Dragonbeards]

I might try a diet of worms and f/t fish. Worms I can raise easily, and can be always on hand for when I have no fish. And looks like a package of silversides isn't too much either (I survive on allowance, so money is a big issue).

My mom does know that the mice are pre-killed. Even that won't convince her (she also hates mice). In her words, "I'm not going to have a box of dead mice in my refrigerator."

She's been thanked numerous times. I love my parents, bout three years ago this time, we had just two dogs. After Midnight (one of our cats, long story), now look at my siggy :p.

EDIT: Quick question, what size silversides would a garter be fed? I've seen "small" size 1" and "large" size 1 1/2-2" on websites.

[kibakiba]

My baby snake eats just worms and my adults will eat worms readily every few days and they seem to be fine. I lightly dust the worms with calcium powder ever month-month and a half :) I usually feed pinkies though.

As for the silver sides I would imagine it depends on the size of your garter. I wouldn't know though as I don't feed mine fish :)

[radtad]

Depends on big your snake is I always buy the biggest I can and then cut them if they are to big.

[Flicker]

I think it makes a difference which species of garter you select as well. Some garters subsist naturally on mostly worms in the wild... others really depend more on fish and amphibians and might suffer or need supplements on a worm only diet.

Also, if you select a snake that isn't used to eating fish in the wild, I'm doubtful you'd be able to get them to take strips of larger fish. So, you might want to research the normal feeding habits of any snake you're thinking of selecting as part of the process.

You could always feed them crickets :D

Hahahahhaha - JUST JOKING!!!!

[Snakers]

You could always feed them crickets :D

http://www.monsterfishkeepers.com/forums/images/smilies/nono.gif......................:)

[aSnakeLovinBabe]

http://www.monsterfishkeepers.com/forums/images/smilies/nono.gif......................:)

lol! that smiley is the best :o

[Snakers]

lol! that smiley is the best
Really? I've got more where that came from...http://www.monsterfishkeepers.com/forums/images/smilies/popcorn.gif
http://www.monsterfishkeepers.com/forums/images/smilies/drool.gifThis is "I'm jealous of that snake".....
http://www.monsterfishkeepers.com/forums/images/smilies/rofl.gifThis is rofl....
http://www.monsterfishkeepers.com/forums/images/smilies/naughty.gifthis is a face of an evil plan......
http://www.monsterfishkeepers.com/forums/images/smilies/nilly.gifthis is what happens to you when you have the # of snakes Steve has....
http://www.monsterfishkeepers.com/forums/images/smilies/barf.gifthis is......well you get the idea..........

[ConcinusMan]

Well Dragon, I see you're from WA. By far the most common garter you're going to find there would be T. ordinoides. In the wild they are mainly worm/slug specialists. Some will also take fish and pinkies but for the most part I think if your snakes are eating worms they can live long healthy lives doing so.

I actually have a litter of baby ordinoides right now, and being raised in a tank full of baby concinnus (oregon red spotted garters) they have taken to fish and eat it readily. Feeding a WC northwestern is usually pretty simple but they can be picky and only want to eat what they were eating in the wild. You can't really go wrong with night crawlers as all northwesters will eat them.

Worms contain way more calcium than people give them credit for and swear that a diet of worms only is deficient in some way, listing calcium as one of the nutrients lacking but it's simply not true. Worm castings alone (the "poop" inside them) contain enough calcium for snake. A slug, especially with a gut full of greens, also contains significant calcium.

I have kept northwestern garters healthy for years on nothing but worms and slugs but they need to be fed often, every few days, and it can be challenge to provide a continuous supply year 'round.

If you have another species of garter besides northwesterns, any other garter found in WA would need a little more than just worms. In this case, whole, F/T silversides would be a good choice.

I guess the short answer is you can feed your garters worms and silversides, and often salmon or trout from the supermarket is a good idea too. No need for rodents in the fridge or live food at all. Fish and worms is fine.