Puget Sound babies - favorite foods?

[DrKate]

Hey everyone, I'm about to take in a couple of problem feeder newborn Pugets and I'm wondering if anyone out there has suggestions for prey items. I've read a lot of general tips on getting reluctant newborns to eat - baby guppies in shallow water, earthworms in dirt, strips of fish fillet, etc. But in some other threads folks have suggested favorite prey items for particular species or subspecies of garter (slugs, e.g.).

If you've got experience with baby Pugets and have a "secret recipe," please post it here! Thanks!

-Kate

[guidofatherof5]

Welcome to the forum, Kate.
Sorry for neglecting to do that on your first post.
Good luck with your baby Pugets.
Hope to see some photos in the near future.

[bkhuff1s]

I have a finicky adult male puget. The only thing that seems to work for him is to put the feeder fish in a plastic shoe box without water and him. The fish jump around and drives him wild. I use this method with a thawed pinky to get him to eat that as well.

[ssssnakeluvr]

feeder guppies in a shallow clear water dish works good, also very small worms works well with some problem snakes. most garters take worms, fish, amphibians, and rodents....another possiblility is to get some frogs or salamanders, get some pinkie mice, (frozen, thawed) and cut the legs off, then rub the legs on the sallies or frogs to make them smell like them and put them in the cage.

[MasSalvaje]

I had a baby Valley Garter that I couldn't get to eat anything but Chorus Frogs. I raised the tadpoles to froglets to avoid some of the parasites that might come with using adult specimens. After it was eating those, it easily took live guppies from shallow dish and then on to fish from forceps and fillets. Keep us posted on your progress and what you find out.

-Thomas

[ssssnakeluvr]

do you find valleys very often???? they are frog specialists....although the adult male I have eats anything I throw in his cage

[MasSalvaje]

That is actually the only one I have seen from the wild and I din't even catch it. Somebody brought it to me because they couldn't get it to eat, I got it started and through the first winter and then gave it back to them.

-Thomas

[Quibble]

Welcome, Kate!

You have a good question, I would also like to know what kinds of foods baby pugets like. Im going to a reptile show in Ohio and im planning on getting a pair from a breeder I've been in contact with.

I was planning on feeding guppies, pinkies and worms. Also, I wanted to give the famous 'jello' a try!

[ssssnakeluvr]

guppies, pinkies, worms....fish jello...all are good for them. would bbe a decent diet

[jitami]

Welcome Kate. Please keep us posted on how the babies are doing. There are a few of us not too far from you who could help out if need be.