Newborn feeding strategy

[BChambers]

I just recently got my first litter out of my female codom hypo checkered, and like my other checkereds, most of the babies (90%) started off fine on unscented pinky parts. I think most terrestrial garters (Checkereds, wandering, radix, etc) aren't missing out nutritionally on an all-rodent diet. I'm very interested in trying the "trout gelatin" on blacknecks, however.

[guidofatherof5]

Welcome to the forum.

[BChambers]

Welcome to the forum.

Thanks Guido! I'm glad I found this forum-I've been breeding garters since the 90's-in fact, I and my partner (Gary Lorio) were the first in the U.S. to obtain some of the first "Flames" from Phil Blais of Quebec (he used to bring some of his neos to the Syracuse, NY expo, and stayed with us). I was not previously aware that this online community existed.

[drache]

welcome to the forum
glad you found us

[DrKate]

I'm happy to report that my baby Pugets seem set to have overcome whatever their early eating issues were. I offered them each a half-inch guppy yesterday as a "test," which they both readily inhaled. Then they each got another half-inch guppy and a small worm (maybe 2mm diameter, less than 2 inches long) today. That meal made a visible bump in their bellies, but they were nosing around afterward like they would have eaten more.

So, question for anyone out there with newborn experience... How much do you feed a baby garter snake? I didn't want to overstuff them tonight, since they haven't eaten much yet in their lives and I figure their guts should get a little time to adjust. But after they get going, should I really just offer food every day and let them decide whether or not they're hungry? I don't want to end up with morbidly obese babies. Can anyone give me some kind of ballpark, volume-wise, for what a baby garter "should" be eating? Thanks!

-Kate

[Stefan-A]

So, question for anyone out there with newborn experience... How much do you feed a baby garter snake? I didn't want to overstuff them tonight, since they haven't eaten much yet in their lives and I figure their guts should get a little time to adjust. But after they get going, should I really just offer food every day and let them decide whether or not they're hungry? I don't want to end up with morbidly obese babies. Can anyone give me some kind of ballpark, volume-wise, for what a baby garter "should" be eating? Thanks!

I doubt that babies can get obese. I've let mine eat as much fish (sometimes mouse pieces or a fish/mouse mix) as they can eat 2-3 times a week for the first month and I just started them on a diet of one pinky twice a week. I kept their mother on the same diet when she was young and it worked just fine. Until she was about 50cm long, the only thing that changed was the size of the pinkies, from tiny half-gram newborns to week-old ones of 2-3 grams.

[Didymus20X6]

Sorry guys, but every time I hear "pinkies", I can't help but think, "POIT! NARF! ZORT!"

[guidofatherof5]

Sorry guys, but every time I hear "pinkies", I can't help but think, "POIT! NARF! ZORT!"

I'm lost. Could you explain? I feel l am missing out on something

[Didymus20X6]

THIS should explain it.

[guidofatherof5]

THIS should explain it.

Yes, now I'm in the groove.