Checkered garter?

[jamromhem]

finally got a good feed. 5 very small fish. fed her with a pair of tongs that she now instantly searches for food when it is waved in front of her :P I am going to try to keep it that way. She struck at them fast and swallowed them down. they were very small so she didn't have to put much effort to swallow them while my wife held her.

She is very relaxed with us now after that feeding and lets us move about without getting jumpy.

[mustang]

i put a sock over my hand and she jumps for fish and also plays a split second yug of war

[jamromhem]

I'll try to get more pics for everyone today. She is doing well. After we got through the feeding strike she is happy and active in her cage and enjoys lounging with us. She is taming very well actually. she enjoys the sun lamp and the hollowed tree branch in her enclosure.

Every time you look at her she is at a different spot in her cage.

The warm side is sitting about 80 degrees about. I'll have to get another thermometer for the other side.

The lid has a 25W UV light on one side and a 15W normal bulb on the other side over the water.

I'll get some pics and see if anyone has any suggestions.

[drache]

sounds like you're doing a good job with her
congrats on her feeding off tongs

[jitami]

Great job getting her to eat. Sounds like she's doing well. With just a 10 gallon tank I wouldn't worry about another thermometer. Just make sure it doesn't get too hot on the warm side(anything over 90) and you'll be ok. The smaller the tank is the quicker it warms up and you won't see a huge gradient with just a 10 gallon tank.... which is ok, just don't let it overheat

[jamromhem]

Ok got a bunch of minnows today. some a little large but most are a good size. I did learn one thing.

Leave the snake alone after feeding..

Didn't get bit. she puked up 2 fish on me :P..

out of everything I have waved in front of her. She can't help herself with fish. I do now know that I can't just leave a few fish in a bowl to let her have when she wants.

She went on a feeding frenzy and downed 4 fish in a few minutes :P..

[jamromhem]

Just a note. (since I haven't figured out how to edit my posts yet)

A couple of the minnows I got died shortly after getting home. I am considering it due to throwing some 24 of them in a small travel carrier and them not having enough to breath with all of them there.

I put the ones that died in the freezer for later use.

Does this sound like a good idea?

Also reading around I see strips of salmon, talapia(*spelling) and such are good feeding foods. (if you make sure no protruding bones are there)

Any other suggestions for me?

I'll be hitting up the reptile store (on the other side of town) when I get the chance.
If you have ever been to san antonio you will understand why that is a trek to do.

I am going to try to convince her to eat a pinkie again soon. I have to try to make it smell like a fish, might wrap one of the small minnows I froze around it to entice her.

[mustang]

dont feed her dead feeder fish and feed 1 fish every 2 days and dont handle her after feeding also put a sock over your hand so she dosnt associate youur hand with food. o get some b1(talk to ur vet)

[jamromhem]

ahh ok good call. I'll get rid of the frozen feeder fish I put up. I am still looking for a good vet for reptiles. I'll have to find an alternative for feeding minows, With hope I will have a tank set up with a breather, so the fish will live longer :P

[drache]

one of my snakes that refused to eat anything but live minnows and nightcrawlers, switched to those frozen SF Bay silversides that pet stores carry as food for large fish
she never went for salmon strips, or trout, or fish jelly
needs the extra fishy smell perhaps?
it was a bit hesitant at first, but now she reliably recognizes them as food
I really like it when I can give them something I can keep in the freezer, aside from some of the other issues with feeding live prey