My snake NEEDS to eat

[nickermaker87]

Hey y'all, my wandering doesn't eat earthworms. Is that typical of the species, or is he(?) just a brat? Can I try scenting the worms with a guppy or something?
Also, he's a year old. I've had him since we was basically a newborn (captive-bred) but he doesn't seem to have grown much. Had a spell where he wouldn't eat, I think he was brumating even though I kept his temps up and offered food. Did brumating when he's so young possibly stunt him somehow? Or do you think he might catch up?

[ConcinusMan]

Brumating at a young age does not "stunt" growth. It merely puts it on hold during the brumation period, but that's true of any reptile, of any age. When it's brumating, it's metabolism is slowed and growth is put on "pause". This can only happen when temperatures are low. A snake cannot, and will not brumate without low temperatures. There is no "brumate, or not brumate", there is only slower metabolism and activity at lower temps, faster metabolism and activity as the temperature rises. Wild concinnus' in the northwest are born in summer, sometimes late. That only gives them 1-3 months before they are forced to brumate. Provided that they survive the winter, come spring, their chances of survival, and growth rate are largely unaffected by their being forced to brumate early in life. No, your snake won't "catch up" to one that was allowed to continue growing while yours was on pause but yours can grow at the same rate as any other. Just think of it like he was on "pause".

Certain species of garters are prone to prefer certain foods sometimes. It's sort of evolutionary "programming". That doesn't mean they can't learn to adapt to new foods when availability makes it necessary. Wanderings are good example. Their feeding preferences can be, and often are, a bit different than other garters, depending on location. Within their range, earthworms are generally not available most of the year and so they haven't developed a taste for them.

There are many reasons garters won't eat. Too many to speculate as to what to do to get yours to eat. A peak of summer fast for a month or two is fairly typical of garters, especially if they don't get a cold and long brumation in the winter.