young garter i found (need help with brumation)

[seahn]

hello, im new to this site, but was lucky enough to find it...

i just recently (within this week) found and caged a young garter snake (it is probably 8-9 inches in length)...

im new to keeping a garter snake during the fall winter/months (as a kid i almost every summer cared for a garter, but that was without the assistance of the internet, haha). i live in Missouri, and the weather here is usually pretty inconsistent, and the day i found this garter it was probably bellow 40F, the day before it was probably 65F, i found him in our unfinished basement, in a 3 inch deep plastic container near where our water hose is connected. i placed him in a temporary cage, then found an old 10 gallon tank i had stored, and have him housed in it. more than anything he was intent on escaping for the first day. i bought some baby crawlers (smaller night crawlers), and cut one in half and tried to feed it, and he ate the smaller half of the crawler. after doing so i read about brumation and started to worry that the worm i fed him could harm him threw the digestive track, as thier metabolism is slowed when in brumation (not sure if im saying that right). i have him in a take where the temperature is between 69F-72F.

my question is, if this garter has started to brumate, is it ok for me to gradually bring it out of it, even though i cant say for sure how long it is that it has been brumating. and if its safe to attempt to feed him, having the temp at what is it is now, if that will be enough to get his metabolism back up...

im ready to allow it to brumate if i cant get it out of it safely, and would rather do it in my care than in the "wild" because i have a cat that lives in my basement (long story), and both neighbors have outside cats that are good hunters, haha

i love animals, and love to have them in my home, but i really keep its well being important over my entertainment and enjoyment... i feel confident that i can care for the garter, but being new to brumation, i want everything to go smoothly, and healthy for it...

(i refer to the garter as it as i don't know its sex, and i don't like to take ownership of the snake, as i found it wild, haha, sorry, im weird)

[guidofatherof5]

Welcome to the forum.

If this snake ate for you I wouldn't worry too much about the brumation thing.
As a rule they don't and won't eat while in brumation or preparing for it.
Since this snake took food from you so willingly I would say you shouldn't have to worry about his gut. The temps you are keeping him/her at are not brumation temps.

A good place to start is with the garter snake care sheet. Here's a link to that page:

Garter Snake Care Sheet - Caresheets

Since you fed this snake it will require at least two weeks to clean out its gut out before you can start brumation.
For the sounds of it you have a young snake there.
If it's eating why not keep it out of brumation and spend the rest of the Winter preparing it for a healthy Spring release?
You are right to protect it from any cats as they are know to kill many garter snakes. A secure/strong lid will be required as cats like to sit on top of them.
Best of luck with your new found friend.
When you can I'm sure we would all like to see a photo or 2 or 3

[Odie]

Hi, from Oregon, Seahn

[seahn]

that first picture turned out great, but it really makes it(him?) look alot bigger than it is...

second picture is just a size comparison next to my hand... yes i have weird finger nails, hahaha

il get a decent picture of it in its new home soon, he spent almost all night in his water dish, and i wanted to wait for him to get out so i could snap a better pic, he loves his branches though

[Mommy2many]

As Steve said, if he is eating for you, I wouldn't worry about brumation. I have young ones that have never brumated. Good luck with your new friend!