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  1. #1
    Hi, I'm New Here!
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    Garter not eating

    I know it's normal for them to sometimes go off their food, but my red sided garter seems to have suddenly become frightened of his

    I changed him from pinkies to fuzzies and he was taking them well, but suddenly stopped. I tried to introduce the fuzzy gently with the forceps, but he would run away.

    I have changed him onto pinkies now. At first, he seems interested and comes across to smell them (tongue going crazy), but he then loses interest and goes off. If I try to introduce it again, he heads for his hide. I know they're stimulated by movement, so I try to make it look like it's alive, but just gently, I don't shake it around. I even tried zombiefying one, but he rejected that one as well.

    He ate about a month ago.

    His viv is clean and he's in very good health and keeps coming out and inspecting the place and sits looking at us. I handle him occasionally, but not excessively as he doesn't like it as much as the cornsnake.

    What should I do? I'm worried that he's gone off mice and I don't know what else to feed him.

  2. #2
    "Preparing For Fourth shed" snake man's Avatar
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    Re: Garter not eating

    Try something else I would say.

  3. #3
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    Re: Garter not eating

    What would be best to try? We can't feed live food in the UK. Organic fish perhaps? What kind?

  4. #4
    Smells Like Teen Spirit Invisible Snake's Avatar
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    Re: Garter not eating

    Try to feed him live fish like guppies and if he takes them, the next feeding you should scent the pinkies with guppies or another fish.

  5. #5
    Pyrondenium Rose kibakiba's Avatar
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    Re: Garter not eating

    Also try earthworms or night crawlers from your yard, assuming no pstricides or herbicides are used... chemicals are a big no-no.
    Chantel
    2.2.3 Thamnophis ordinoides Derpy Scales, Hades, Mama, Runt, Pumpkin, Azul, Spots
    (Rest in peace Snakey, Snap, Speckles, Silver, Ember and Angel.)

  6. #6
    T. radix Ranch guidofatherof5's Avatar
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    Re: Garter not eating

    Most Red Sided gaters(T.s.parietalis) love their night crawlers.
    Steve
    5 awesome kids!
    Emmy, Kale, Molly, Gabby, Hailee
    They are not just snakes. They're garter snakes.
    http://www.youtube.com/user/thamnophis14?feature=mhee

  7. #7
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    Re: Garter not eating

    What's a night crawler?

    We can't buy guppies to feed snakes in the uk, it's illegal.

    I could scent the pinkie mouse with some salmon, would that help?

  8. #8
    Smells Like Teen Spirit Invisible Snake's Avatar
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    Re: Garter not eating

    I think you can scent the pinkie with the salmon, also if guppies aren't an option then take a look at the forums caresheet which lists other safe fish to feed your snakes.

    And I think you guys across the pond call nightcrawlers lob worms, but don't quote me on that cause I'm not 100% sure.

  9. #9
    Hi, I'm New Here!
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    Re: Garter not eating

    Off to dig up worm now

  10. #10
    "PM Boots For Custom Title" chris-uk's Avatar
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    Re: Garter not eating

    I use decent Scottish salmon or trout. If you want to try worms go to a fishing shop and ask for a tub of lob worms.

    BTW it's not strictly true that feeding live fish is illegal, what is illegal is causing unnecessary suffering to an animal. In the case of a carnivorous animal that will not take pre killed prey it's a grey area. Not feeding the snake would be causing unnecessary suffering to the snake, it naturally eats fish, so there is some defence. I don't believe a case has gone to court where the live food was necessary to prevent any animal from starving. More to the point though, you can't walk into a shop and buy feeder guppies...
    Chris
    T. marcianus, T. e. cuitzeoensis, T. cyrtopsis, T. radix, T. s. infernalis, T. s. tetrataenia

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