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?