Please help me with my garter snake!

[Mommy2many]

Well, not so much lately - for some reason, Little Dude and Scarlett have both stopped eating regularly. Neither of them seems ready for a shed, either.

Not to worry. Mine do that in the summer as well. They will eat sporadically from now until very early spring. Kinda like binge eating at times. They will go a few weeks sometimes without me actually witnessing them consuming food.

Keep offering and make sure they have fresh water.

[Mommy2many]

As for substrate, the shredded aspen can be obtained at Walmart for under $3.00 a bag. It will more than last your tank for a couple changes. It is easy to clean and one of the better substrates (easier) to use and believe me, I think I have used them all.

The reptibark is nice (expensive).
The cocofiber is also nice but tends to be dusty. If you buy this in bricks, you have to soak it and then dry it before you can use it.
I have also used wood pellets. They work really well for cleanups.

Your snake will like to tunnel and burrow. The aspen works really well for that.

Good luck. You have a nice looking snake there!

[Didymus20X6]

Not to worry. Mine do that in the summer as well. They will eat sporadically from now until very early spring. Kinda like binge eating at times. They will go a few weeks sometimes without me actually witnessing them consuming food.

Keep offering and make sure they have fresh water.

I'm guessing that, in the spring, they gorge themselves to make up for fasting over the winter. Both Little Dude and Scarlett were little pigs earlier in the year, but have tapered off to hardly eating at all, except for the occasional worm. (Though I bet they'd go nuts if I dropped a frog in there).

As for water, they have a whole enclosure full of the stuff, which I change at least once a week, more if they make a mess in it. I do occasionally spot them taking a swim.

[RedSidedSPR]

My snake isn't eating, so i just froze a frog to see how he likes it in a few weeks.

[amcutem]

Or save yourself some time, give yourself a break, and just stick with newspaper until you happen to be at the store next. Newspaper is fine. The rocks in the tank are fine. The hide & fake plants are fine. Your snake is already set up better than half, or more, of the snakes kept in captivity. I know you've gotten conflicting information and know how frustrating it can be with repeated trips to the store. Read the care sheets, learn from forum members, but then use common sense to determine what will work well for you and your snake. You're on the right track

Thank you for giving me a break.

Im so stressed and about to go crazy becuz of this snake. I just want him to be healthy and happy, but all this stuff, like putting him in the tupperware, then taking him out; then changing his substrate just about every day for the past week has gotten him a little upset and stressed too. I can tell because before he just chills out under the box or even outside where the rocks and plants are. But after changing his substrate twice yesterday, now he's been hiding behind the box and he's still there when I checked on him this morning. Its as if he doesn't want me to find him:-( im sure of that.

Im also still a little stressed he hasnt eaten and I dont know
If i should.

But thanks

[amcutem]

Im gonna try and find some live nightcrawlers after work.


Y dont i just use carpet for substrate? We have tons of those at work.

[RedSidedSPR]

Not sure about carpet...

And like i said, try letting him settle in before throwing him in another shoe box... may be better to let him get used to captivity then worry about him eating.

[amcutem]

Not sure about carpet...

And like i said, try letting him settle in before throwing him in another shoe box... may be better to let him get used to captivity then worry about him eating.

Ok.

I keep thinking im gonna find him dead when i wake up.

So just leave him alone and not evem touch him for a few days.

[RedSidedSPR]

He's got a looooooong way to go before starving. Don't worry about that.

My snake just purposely went off food, and has not eaten in several months. So, they even do it when they're perfectly NOT stressed.

[amcutem]

He's got a looooooong way to go before starving. Don't worry about that.

My snake just purposely went off food, and has not eaten in several months. So, they even do it when they're perfectly NOT stressed.

Finally. Peace of mind.