William's garter snakes.

[ConcinusMan]

I always release snakes back as close to the very same place I found them. I think it's important because they do use scent left by other snakes to find their way back to the den. (and then there's the gene pool issue) In other words, if you release the snake where you found it, there is no "finding a hibernation spot for the winter". They already know where to go! Then it's just a matter of releasing them while there is still sufficient warm days left for them to be active enough to get back to the den.

But as far as "to release or not to release" goes, if you're getting snakes from an area where they are plentiful and your snake is not any rare morph or anything like that, then don't bother with the ones that are fussy and don't adapt to captivity well. Just try out different snakes and only keep the ones that adapt well and aren't fussy. Better for the snake, better for you. However, if you really have your heart set on a specific snake and it's being fussy, often deworming followed by a dose of probiotics can make a huge difference in their attitude towards the foods you offer.

[frostyftw]

Here's an update as far as one of the snakes that doesn't want anything else except frogs:

By the way, I know many if not all of you are not fans of force feeding, I am not either.

Anyway, I got a part of a thawed mouse... and opened the snakes mouth and put it in... (This first one was a test to see its reaction...) I moved my hands and backed off. The snake almost immediately swallowed it. I kept opening its mouth and putting it in... And let the snake do the rest. It appears it likes the food item but it doesn't recognize its scent well enough to eat it by itself, for now.

[frostyftw]

Yesterday, I was talking with a neighborhood kid, he is maybe 10. I live in an area that there are a lot of rented apartment buildings, so people live pretty close together, not just in the same building, but the buildings are pretty close together also. He was telling me that he caught a few garter snakes about a month ago, which I believed to be true as I've heard people talking about him having them for about that long. Anyway, so he said "I'm going to get rid of them soon, would you like them?" and I said "Yes." He goes up to his apartment... Right next to his door... He reaches down and picks up a shoe box. He hands it to me and then he went inside. So I take them home... I open the shoe box and I see four small garter snakes. They were so cold... maybe almost frozen to death? They were afraid of me and slithered away from my hand as quickly as they possibly could being that cold. Maybe that was a good sign that they have life in them? I put them in an empty tank. The guy that gave them to me did not know what he was doing. It was not his fault because he was actually trying to take care of them. He did not have a tank. Just a shoe box? He was trying to feed them. I know this because I saw two dead frogs and a dead salamander in the shoe box (skeleton form). He was not allowed to keep the snakes inside.

[guidofatherof5]

Dehydration would be my first concern. Soak them on some shallow water.

[kibakiba]

If there's tongue flicking I'd have hope for them. Give them some fresh water for now and see how they're doing after warming up a little. Don't put them in immediate warm temperatures, though, it can kill them.

[EasternGirl]

I've enjoyed reading this thread tonight and looking at all of your pics. Sorry to hear about the snakes that the neighbor kid didn't care for...hopefully you will be able to nurse them back to health. The people on this site can give you good advice for doing that. Good luck with that.

[frostyftw]

There is tongue flicking. They are doing better.

Marnie831, thanks for your comment. The people on this site have been helpful to me in the past, so I know how helpful they are.

[frostyftw]

I've been looking for breeding tips. I know this is early to be thinking about breeding, but I was wondering: How can I get a few of my garter snakes to breed? I have tried unsuccessfully in the past. I just want to know what I am missing. Can anyone help me? At least a few tips?

[guidofatherof5]

It might help us if we knew what you've been doing in the past?
I must also ask why you want to breed them? Babies are a big resposibility.
Raising to just release is not a valid reason and in some States it's illegal to release them.
The point I'm trying to make is this is something that has to be thoughtout before you begin.
No offense intended.

[EasternGirl]

Sorry to change the topic, but how are the snakes that the neighbor kids had doing?