Stubborn snake won't switch food

[fish_4_all]

I have tried scenting the fish with slug, I tried a line to move it around, I even tried wrapping the fish in slug skin and still no luck. Same with frozen pinkies. I admit I have only been trying for 10 days or so but this snake is stubborn! I have not fed it a slug in 6 days so maybe it will simply get hungry enough it will finaly take something different and I will get it off slugs.

[ssssnakeluvr]

what kind of garter is it? some absolutely refuse to switch....I have an anery northwestern that refuses everything but worms.... he's doing jsut fine eating just worms too

[Odie]

Although it is slug season, try Earthworms

[fish_4_all]

Northwestern.
I tried worms and no go, yet. It will look at them while they move, taste them and turn up it's nose. i wish i could find how to raise slugs in large numbers and not have any of them escape. I think 100 baby slugs getting out owuld be worse than having live mice get out.

[ssssnakeluvr]

you may need to brumate him....some snakes will go off feed automatically. since you aren't breeding them, make sure he doesn't eat for at least 2 weeks, them brumate him a month (cooled to low 50's), then warm him up...should kick in his appetite. I do that with all my babies that go off feed

[fish_4_all]

I don't know how to brumate so I guess I need to read a lot more. I guess I could put a lot of material in the 10 gallon and provide a good solid burrow spot for it. But I am not gonna try it until I know how to set up something to do it right and not kill her.

[ssssnakeluvr]

it's fairly easy. just make sure he has water and check on him every few days. he will still be active, although not as much. put him in a cool area, like a garage or somewhere in the basement where the temps stay low. if you notice him losing weight then he needs to come out. otherwise a month should do the trick.

[fish_4_all]

Okay, so no food for another week, then move to the garage for cold temps. Garage should run 40-50. until later this fall into December. I don't want to put her out until another week has passed? Or can I do it now since it has been a weel since last slug feeding?

[ssssnakeluvr]

yes, you want a minimum of 2 weeks to make absolutely sure no food is in his system. then off to the garage for a month!

[RedSidedSPR]

Have you tried live fish? That was what got mine eating. If that dosnt work though, yeah brumating him is probaly the best thing to do. mines stopped eating, im brumating next week. ( this is my first snake two)