what do i have and what should i do? pt 2

[scott n]

ok. so, finally got 'round to taking some pics of my snake and his dwellings. i think it ate a dead cricket, there is still a live one hidding in there, but didn't want anything to do with the guppie i put in one of his water dishes. advice?
sorry for kinda fail quality of pics.

[ssssnakeluvr]

kinda blurry, can't tell. what area is the snake from?? and he didn't eat the dead cricket....garters and ribbons don't eat insects. they take a little time to adjust to their new homes and may not eat for a week or 2. guppies will be fine, just change the water in the water dish so the guppies will last longer.

[scott n]

the guppie was in there most of the day and is still alive. i think the problem is that the fish is the same diameter or a hair larger than the snake its self. and that was the smaller of the 2, and the 2 smallest they had at petsmart. (feeder guppies cannot be sold in oregon because they are/might be an invasive species; but i can hop the I-5 bridge to vancouver and get them there)
i'm just going to take them over to my gf's place and toss them in her aquarium with her other fish.

[Stefan-A]

Looks like a possible T. ordinoides to me. It seems to have a postocular stripe.

[Odie]

Hay, Scott what city do you live in

[ssssnakeluvr]

I see you are in Oregon....quite possibly an ordinoides....they feed mainly on worms. how long have you had the snake???

[scott n]

i've had the snake since sept 12th. more of that info is in the thread i started last week with the same title. it never had shorwn any interest in worms before but i'll try again a little later today

[Mike Spencer]

If you found it in Oregon (I'm guessing you're in the Portland area, since you mentioned crossing I5 to get feeder guppies) then it is definitely T. ordinoides. (Northwestern garter)

They'll RARELY eat guppies.
I have a pair right now, and they're doing good on worms and slugs. It is possible to get them feeding on 1 day pinkies, but you have to heavily scent them with slugs, and it's not a guaranteed thing. I've only been able to get may a third of my northwesterns ever on pinks.

[scott n]

slugs huh? ok. thanks for the info. i'll try to find some tomorrow morning when i get home from work. again my problem will be finding one small enough for it. (its only about 7in long and 1/4in in diameter) i tried a worm again today as well, tossed it in just before i went to nap for work and when i got up it was shriveled up.

[guidofatherof5]

slugs huh? ok. thanks for the info. i'll try to find some tomorrow morning when i get home from work. again my problem will be finding one small enough for it. (its only about 7in long and 1/4in in diameter) i tried a worm again today as well, tossed it in just before i went to nap for work and when i got up it was shriveled up.

If you can, spray the worm container to keep the thing alive. This will also help get the scent out.
As far as the slugs go you can cut them into pieces or strips. Put it all in a small lid and put a little water in to keep if fresh.