Caught a Garter snake last week

[Roger Wildcat]

Hello from Jacksonville FL,

The snake was in the skimmer of my pool when I took off the lid a week ago. It just sat on the wall of the skimmer looking at me. So, I rescued the snake and made a nice home in a critter carrier for a week till today. Today, we brought a 10 gallon aquarium with a large water bowl and coconut hideaway.

I need help confirming the kind of garter snake it is. Also, it have not eaten anything for the past ten days since I caught it. Food that I try to feed it has been earthworm, frozen pinkies, live pinkies, pinkies rolled in water from a tuna fish can, and live rosey minnows.

It showed some interest in the live pinkies when it crawled over to investigate, then lost interest and crawled away. The canadian nightcralwers did not seem to interest the snake at all. Now I am trying the rosey minnows. The snake have not came up to the water bowl where they are swimming, it just been laying in between the hideaway and the bowl. So what else can I do to try to get it to eat?

I am thinking that it is a eastern garter snake but not certain. It is roughly 12 inch long and a bit skinny. Any idea on how long it can go without eating?

[ssssnakeluvr]

definitely an eastern garter, thamnophis sirtalis sirtalis. looks to be in good shape. best to start with live feeder fish in the water dish...feeder guppies. just put them in the water dish and leave them. they can go for several weeks with no food.

[guidofatherof5]

Nice to have you on the forum.
It can take up to a few weeks for them settle in.
Here's a link to the care sheet.
Garter Snake Care Sheet - Caresheets

[Didymus20X6]

First, I wouldn't worry too much if the snake isn't quite ready to eat. When he gets hungry, he'll eat. Although he will definitely favor live food over dead. If it gets to be about a month or so, and he still doesn't eat, you might consider either letting him go or taking him to a professional, like maybe a vet.

Second, do you have any kind of heat source for the enclosure? Garters need heat. If the enclosure is cold, that would explain why he's not too hungry. I'd suggest maybe a 100w bulb near one end of the enclosure. There are care sheets posted on this forum, and they could give you more specific info on what temp ranges you're looking for.

Also, may I recommend some fake leaves for the tank? Maybe mounted so that the snake can climb on them? Mine like that kind of stuff.

[Mommy2many]

Welcome to the forum!

[d_virginiana]

Hi!
Nice snake.
Maybe try a smaller, shallower feeding bowl? That one looks like it might be a bit overwhelming for a smaller snake to try and catch fish from. We just use a cool-whip container for ours; not the prettiest thing in the world, but it gets the job done.

[Didymus20X6]

Here's an idea: use a small GLASS bowl to put the fish in. Like maybe a Pyrex dish. That way, the little snaky can see the fish in there, and will be tempted to snag them. That was how I got Green Girl to eat a few years ago: put minnows in a shallow Pyrex dish.

The big pool would be great for basking and swimming, though.

Also, about the hide: make sure there are no African swallows around. And medieval English knights. They like to carry coconuts.

[infernalis]

Second, do you have any kind of heat source for the enclosure? Garters need heat. If the enclosure is cold, that would explain why he's not too hungry. I'd suggest maybe a 100w bulb near one end of the enclosure. .

Whoa back that truck up....

Garters need heat?? Did you not see the Jacksonville Florida part of the post??

a 100 watt bulb over a ten gallon tank will flat out bake that poor snake dead in a day or less. On a typical day in Florida, the ambient temps already reach close to 100 degrees at times. Nothing like a glass EZ bake oven for a snake viv.

I'm here to tell you right now, I maintain around 70 Thamnophis in my collection, I live in New York state where it is substantially cooler than Jacksonville will ever be. Do I use heat?? NO

This may be acceptable for a tropical snake from a desert or Africa, But not for a small north American colubrid that thrives just fine at moderate to cool temperatures.

Do not follow this ill informed advice PLEASE.

[guidofatherof5]

I must agree. 100 watts is way too much heat.

[Didymus20X6]

1. I've lived in South Georgia, so I know what kind of temps - and what kind of humidity - he's looking at. If that enclosure is indoors (and I'm assuming it is, based on the painting behind it, and the surface it is sitting on), then there's going to be air conditioning involved. You don't live in South Georgia/North Florida without air conditioning.

2. I said near one end of the tank, not directly overhead. I also predicated my suggestion on whether or not the enclosure itself is too cold.

3. I advised he check the care sheets for precise temp ranges so that he can make adjustments for a suitable temp range.

4. And keep in mind, this is a snake that will be used to GA/FL temps.