How to tame?

[J@50n]

I just caught my first ever Garter snake! I was wondering though, how on Earth do you tame snakes? When I caught it, it didn't musk or try to attack me in any form, I did however not touch it directly with my hands :P So i figure it's not TO agressive...

I'm a bit scared that it (I say it because I'm not sure if it's male, or female...) will bite me if I try to handle it with just my hands though:/ ....

Any ideas?

[J@50n]

Also, He's an Easter Garter if that makes a difference?

[RedSidedSPR]

Dude, trust me. Don't worry about him biting you. It really doesn't hurt. And I'm talking about big garter snakes. It may startle you, but do not jerk away. You can seriously injure their teeth. Just wait a minute and he'll let go. Heck he may not even bite you, especially if you hold him gently and just let him move freely

You can't really TAME a snake. Just make him trust you.

Basically handle him, (I'm your hands :rolleyes: ) hand feed him etc... He'll get used to you over time.

Just work with him

[J@50n]

Basically handle him, (I'm your hands :rolleyes: ) hand feed him etc... He'll get used to you over time.

Just work with him

This has nothing to do with the taming but uhm when feeding them I'm going to feed him/her night crawlers... How much night crawler should I feed him/her? Should I cut it up, or just feed him/her it whole? And how often should I feed him/her a night crawler?

[guidofatherof5]

I found this thread that might be helpful.;)
http://www.thamnophis.com/forum/general-talk/5613-taming-tips.html

[d_virginiana]

How big is the garter? When in doubt, cut it up into bite-size pieces. My adult could easily eat an entire night crawler, but he still likes them cut up for him.. Keeps them from getting bits of bedding stuck on them while he's eating.

Hand feeding seems to help with getting them to trust you. Just make sure you also handle them when you aren't feeding (otherwise they might start to get nippy thinking your hand is food!).

[J@50n]

I found this thread that might be helpful.;)
http://www.thamnophis.com/forum/general-talk/5613-taming-tips.html

Wonderful link, thanks a million!! He seems to be really friendly already, I had him out last night and he let me hold him and everything, showed 0 signs of aggression, I think we will be life ling friends :D

[RedSidedSPR]

This has nothing to do with the taming but uhm when feeding them I'm going to feed him/her night crawlers... How much night crawler should I feed him/her? Should I cut it up, or just feed him/her it whole? And how often should I feed him/her a night crawler?

Until he has a good size bulge. Than feed him again when that's not really there. Probably 2-3 times a week.

[amcutem]

Hi guys. Im new and my name is andy.

I recently just adopted a small garter snake from a dyke near us. Its around 9" long and Ive had her for 5 days inside 20gal tank habitat i got the same day i found her. I read somewhere that im not suppose to bother the snake for a few days inside the aquarium becuz it needs to get use to its new home.

However, in this forum, it says that I should handle the snake often so it gets use to me. Im confuse....So which one is it?

Also, right now im very worried about its diet. I bought meal worms, earth worms, fish, crickets,'and even frozen mice for it to eat, But im not sure if its wants to eat them. The crikets has even slept beside her. I have yet to try the frozen mice, and the meal worm dug it self into the soil, while fishes are swimming around the tupperware pond for the past three days.

Am i suppose to hold the little snake in my hands while i try and feed her? Im so worried.....And it occupies my mind so much. I really want to be friends and take care of this snake. Please teach me how to love and take care of her.


Sorry for being a thread hikacker...:-)

[J@50n]

Hi guys. Im new and my name is andy.

I recently just adopted a small garter snake from a dyke near us. Its around 9" long and Ive had her for 5 days inside 20gal tank habitat i got the same day i found her. I read somewhere that im not suppose to bother the snake for a few days inside the aquarium becuz it needs to get use to its new home.

However, in this forum, it says that I should handle the snake often so it gets use to me. Im confuse....So which one is it?

Also, right now im very worried about its diet. I bought meal worms, earth worms, fish, crickets,'and even frozen mice for it to eat, But im not sure if its wants to eat them. The crikets has even slept beside her. I have yet to try the frozen mice, and the meal worm dug it self into the soil, while fishes are swimming around the tupperware pond for the past three days.

Am i suppose to hold the little snake in my hands while i try and feed her? Im so worried.....And it occupies my mind so much. I really want to be friends and take care of this snake. Please teach me how to love and take care of her.


Sorry for being a thread hikacker...:-)

I'm pretty new to Garters. But I have been here enough to know that NO CRICKETS. They can not digest the exo-skeleton. Only Night-crawlers, Mice and some fish that don't carry thiamineise (SP?). Garters can go without food for as long as 5 weeks as well (or so I have been told) so it may just be the fact it's not hungry?

But, if you are really worried, the best thing to do would be to go ask the person you bought it from, see what it has eaten since it was a baby!

And also just for future reference... It may be a better idea to post your own questions in your ow thread. More people will be able to find it that way!