Dog bit wild garter

[ConcinusMan]

Looks like a great set-up.

I thought a "set-up" (spelled like that) was when someone sets you up. Must be the law enforcement officer in you.

[dieselbaby]

Well now the feeding issues, she had been stalking a house fly that got into her tank, so i figured she had to be hungry. So caught her an earthworm, and she wont eat it, she stalks it, watches it crawling around in the dish, but she wont strike. Its not a big worm, and the darn worm keeps making a break for it, and then i have to wash it off and replace. She doesnt like it when it touches her and gets into a strike position but then stops and leaves again.

[guidofatherof5]

She won't eat the fly and is probably just curious.
Put the worm in a shallow dish with some moist dirt.
The worm should stay in the dish then.
Garters love to dig/hunt in dirt.

[ConcinusMan]

Not to mention that dirt has lots of beneficial probiotics in it. (lactic acid producing bacteria that aid digestion)

[dieselbaby]

wow okay, ill try that next then. its cold here today not easy finding the worms, i did find a big one and cut it up and placed on some of her rocks and in her dish. the other one is under the bedding somewhere now. Ill fish it out later.

[ConcinusMan]

I haven't been able find a worm for months but definitely not because it's cold. It's bone dry. Haven't had any significant rain in about 2 months. Now it's hot too. Big fat juicy Canadian night crawlers are available year 'round at the local variety store though. Walmart, Kroger, etc. or sporting goods stores sold as fish bait.

Dirt and worms are good. Even if you're a pinky kind of guy, worms and dirt now and then is a good idea. Without plenty of bacteria (the good kind) living in the guts of your snakes, they wouldn't be able to digest anything and that's a fact. It's the enzymes produced by bacteria that break down proteins, bone, etc.

[dieselbaby]

also, i figured she wouldnt eat the fly, but the way she was stalking it, made me think she was hungry. She hasnt ate since i, i guess you could say rescued her. I thought since she is doing so well with her injury, that she would be hungry and its been nice and toasty in her enclosure, and i read that the warmth makes them metabolize their food faster. all of which equaled feed her in my head. I do not like thinking or knowing one of my animals might be hungry.

I never understood how people can look at their skinny animals and not feel so badly for that, and not feed them. Our horses came from people like that, they were skin and bone when we got them. anyhow im rambling now, point being i hate thinking she might be hungry.

[dieselbaby]

wow you guys get our worms huh. Thats interesting, and yeah i keep seeing and hearing about all the droughts around the u.s. Its been a bad year for many. It will be warm again tomorrow after this cold front passes and i will go find a bunch, its rainy here today too so that will help bring them closer to the surface. Maybe i have to make her a "hunting enclosure"

[dieselbaby]

When you pick up a snake when its in a warm enclosure shouldnt the snake be warm? I mean i know they are cold blooded, but being in 80F temps shouldnt the snake feel warm to the touch? Sally feels cold. Im all worried again.

[guidofatherof5]

Are you suppling a heat source?