A rescue, a sweetheart... and a potential emergency?

[Dracorex5]

Recently I have taken over my best friend's older brother's "reptile collection". This was just a pile of assorted animals he had caught in his yard. I managed to convince him to give them all to me, as he was going to college soon and couldnt bring them. I expected at least a good turn out.... and boy was I wrong.

I now own eight salamanders in terrible health, a few tadpoles in tap water, and a young garter snake. The tadpoles and the salamanders took to me immediantly, eating everything I could hand them. The garter snake, which I have identified as an Eastern, is beautiful as can be. I treated him for a little bit of blister disease, and he recovered VERY quickly and is extremely friendly for a wild caught that was kept in a bucket in a dark room for months. I was told by the boy that all he ate were salamanders.... I'm guessing thats what the salamanders he had were for. While they eat those in the wild, I'd like to provide better for this little guy, who is very obviously malnourished and very thin.

But he won't eat ANYTHING....

I have tried everything I have tried with other snakes. He won't eat nightcrawlers, earthworms, or silver side fish. He took no interest in guppies, and turned his nose like a diva at the pinkies. I've tried scenting food with every kind of fish smell I could handle, and still no reaction. I've even (and yes, I know it's a dumb a idea) tried rubbing a fish and a pinky with one of the salamanders (who really didnt seem to mind)... still no luck. It's been quite a bit of time, and the little beast is very mellow and curious and doesnt mind human company. Yet he won't eat with me there or alone!

Any other tricks I havn't tried yet?

[Selkielass]

Try live guppies in a bit of water the salamanders have been hanging out in for a bit. He may want privacy and may eat in a bucket if that was his former habitat. Avoid funny smelling buckets. (Cleaner, pickles, bakery fillings can be confusing.

Good rescue. Thanks for intervening.

[guidofatherof5]

What type of enclosure is it in now? Sounds like it could use some heat to help jump start that metabolism.
A diet of salamanders means the snake is probably carrying a parasite load. Was it eating for this man(not boy)?
Sorry, I'm very annoyed with the fact this adult who is heading off to college would house these animals in such poor conditions.
Have you tried using a salamander as a scenting prey? I wouldn't normally suggest this but if the only food you can get in it at this time is a salamander you may have to go that route. At least until you can get it switched over to other foods. Treating for parasites can come later.
I'm so glad you intervened. Hoping you can get all the animals back to some sort of good health.
Please keep us posted.

[Dracorex5]

I am worried he is loaded with parasites, but i desperatly need him to eat first! Ill try all the trick you guys are giving! He's such a gentle and calm little thing, id hate to see him starve after finally getting to a place he can actually live. He's in a very basic enclosure thats focused on length. Its as long and wide as he is long with a warm side and a cool side with a water bowl. I have him on eco earth and he loves the stuff like it was his mother in another life. Temps at 70ish on cool side, almost 80 on warm, though i might have to bump it up because he never leaves the warm side.

[EasternGirl]

Yes...the scenting trick was not a dumb idea...it was actually a smart one if that is what the snake was used to eating. I am also glad that you intervened and also sickened by the way these reptiles were being treated before you got them. The poor garter needs proper housing, lighting, humidity, and food. Please take a look at our garter care sheet: Garter Snake Care Sheet - Caresheets

After having a look at that..please post any other questions you have. We have specific forums on housing, lighting, humidity requirements and so forth that we can direct you to. We are here to help!

[infernalis]

Maybe bump up your basking a little, but garter snakes don't like it really hot.

All of the wild eastern garter snakes I observe in the wild will be in hiding spots, in the shade or near the creek when it gets to be 80 or above out.

And... Thank you for taking these critters in and giving them a chance.

[Dracorex5]

So I did a bit of wiggling of some feeder guppies at him a minute ago, and he looked at me like I was crazy. But, hopefully he'll come to! I put them in his water bowl and took out some of the foliage in case it was making him uncomfortable (as he didnt have anything in his original bucket so he may just be a bit overwhelmed). We'll see how it goes in the next few hours! Thank you all for your advice, every animal deserves a good go, it's about time these guys got it!

[ProXimuS]

Very glad to hear you've got these poor little guys in a good home

[Mommy2many]

Thank you for rescuing them!

[Dracorex5]

So he loved the guppies! *personal party time* So... now what? I know scenting and the trickery that is feeding picky eaters, but I dont know how to exactly... execute. How can I get him to eat the fish dead, so I can proceed to scent other happily dead things? When I dangle things in front of him with the tongs, dead or alive (tried it with a live guppy before he ate out of his water bowl and after. I assumed two guppies wouldnt sate two weeks...nearly three... of appetite), he just wants to slither around on the tongs and up my sleeve. Will his focus come along as food becomes more interesting, and patience is the true trick to it all? When I've food tricked past snakes, they would already accept pre killed meals off the bat. This is a bit of an adventure off of rat snakes.