Hi all,

So my 8-year old daughter got our beloved Myrtle, a 14-inch garter snake, from her science teacher after a 2-month reptile course, where she lived with 2 other little snakes (are they teen snakes maybe?) Myrtle got very used to being handled by 8-year olds and when she got home to us she adjusted well. We have her in a 5-gallon tank with everything done right - temperature, little heating pad on the side, little rock to hide inside, big stick, etc. The first week she climbed the stick, swam around, was out all the time - in a word - happy. We fed her 5 little minnows, on her first day here and 5 minnows 4 days later. We took her out, all seemed fine.

BUT... she always acted very hungry after she ate, searching around almost frantically after the feeding was done. She seemed a little desperate for more. So we asked the pet store (bad idea!) if we could feed her more, and they said, yes, as long as it's the same day. So instead of giving her 5 fish on saturday, then 5 fish on Wednesday, just give her 10 fish on Saturday.

So we did that. We let Myrtle eat 10 minnows, and sure enough she gobbled them right up without stopping. On Saturday.

We went away on Saturday afternoon - Sunday evening. And suddenly, since we came back everything is different. There is poop all over the tank (we just cleaned it Saturday morning before the Big Feed.) On top of the rock, all over the place. And she has not left the rock. She is curled up back there and will not come out. I shine the mini flashlight to see if she's alive and it seems she's barely breathing. She came out once for water but then right back in and curled up in a little ball.

We have not handled her (not wanting to traumatize her further.)

So... did we overfeed her? If so, how long does digestion take? When will she be "better"? My daughter is beside herself, so so upset. Myrtle really seems as if she's dying.

Please tell us what we might have done and what we can do to help!

Thank you,

A mom and her kid and their new snake.