Everyone's tank setup.

[guidofatherof5]

I would think a snake that size needs more then 1 pinky a week.
Just my opinion.

[angrygamer]

I would think a snake that size needs more then 1 pinky a week.
Just my opinion.

uh, really? I've read in more than one source that a pinky a week is sufficient. Otherwise I seriously would have asked. As I understand it if it's fish and/or worms you need then to feed more frequently.

[guidofatherof5]

uh, really? I've read in more than one source that a pinky a week is sufficient. Otherwise I seriously would have asked. As I understand it if it's fish and/or worms you need then to feed more frequently.

Garter snakes have a high metabolism and 1 pinky a week seem like too little food for a snake that size.

[EasternGirl]

Travis...yeah, I don't know what's going on with the whole using tape to catch snakes thing...I would never advise it. Richard lost a snake because the snake was injured so badly from getting stuck to tape. Made the same boo boo myself when setting up one of my tanks...but luckily the members on here caught it and I got it out of the tank before any injuries could occur. The wooden bowl in the middle of the feeding section with the hole in it? What is that? That looks cool.

How big is your snake? I know I feed my adult snakes every 4-5 days. My small male gets about a pinky's worth of food...and my big Cee Cee gets 2-3 pinky's worth of food.

[angrygamer]

Well I put tape around the cardboard because I didn't want him to go over the rough edge. But it's out now.

The wooden bowl was originally a water bowl for him but it leaked...so, a hide was the next best thing!

I would put him at about 24 inches right now.

These are some of the sources I consulted, in case you are interested:

Alan's Garter Snakes - Maintenance of Garter Snakes
Chequered Garter Snake Care Sheet
Feeding - gartersnake.info

[EasternGirl]

Oh...I forgot to add that in my experience...and my easterns are very skiddish...putting a towel over their tanks actually makes them feel more secure. I also read in that book you recommended that it can be a good idea for skiddish snakes...because seeing everything around and people passing by can scare them a bit. I will look at the sources but I really think it depends on the snake. Seeley is probably 2 1/2 feet now...but he's so small around...he won't eat more than a pinky's worth of food every 4-5 days...sometimes he eats even less than that...he isn't a hearty eater. Cee Cee is big...and she would eat everyday if I feed her everyday...but I would say...2-3 pinky's worth every 4-5 days gives her a nice bulge and time to digest. Hermes is 6 mos...and maybe 10 inches if that...he eats a half a pinky's worth of food every 2-3 days...the younger they are, the more food they need to grow. Feed your snake until you see him get a nice bulgy tummy...then watch him and see when the bulge goes down...that will give you an idea. But honestly, you could feed him a pinky every 4-5 days. Maybe 2 pinkies.

[EasternGirl]

The sources seem to have very accurate info! Good finds. They do say once a week for pinkies...but again, I think it depends on the snake...size, age, etc. And...what are we defining as a week? 5 or 7 days? Granted...most people would say 7...but I think you can either feed more food and feed less or feed less food and feed more often...for digestion, it's probably better to feed smaller meals more often. There are also different sizes of pinkies...you have small and extra small...and I think large too. So, you could feed a small pinky every 4-5 days and I think your snake would be good.

[angrygamer]

*sigh* now you guys have me worried that I'm not feeding him enough.

I forgot to mention that I feed him the occasional night crawler, but after thinking about it I realized that I probably give him one once a week.

I have memory problems stemming from an injury I had about 10 years ago, and the last couple of months have been a blur because have been really busy, with the holidays and what have you didn't help. It's like I have 20 million things to do at any given time, and they are usually menial tasks, but they have to get done. So I had to sit there and think about it.

As of right now he's about 75 grams and 24 inches, I don't know what that translates to, I haven't found a guide for this.

What also concerns me is that the vet could be COMPLETELY wrong in that Glyph is a female not a male and still maturing, as I understand it female grow roughly 1 1/2 times as a male. In that case I would be underfeeding Glyph.

[EasternGirl]

Okay...Travis...don't get worried. Lets take this one step at a time. First of all, Glyph sounds like he is at a good healthy weight to me. Seeley is probably longer than Glyph and he is only 38 grams...very thin...not a hearty eater at all. Can you post a pic of the vent area? We can probably tell you if Glyph is male or female. I don't think you are severly underfeeding him or anything like that. He is not going to starve on a pinky a week. He just may be able to eat a little bit more. Post a good up close pic of him so I can see him...his whole body. I have a crappy memory too. Get a cheap calendar and write down when you feed him...that is what I do. Then offer him another pinky or the equivalent of that in worms or fish in 4 or 5 days...that should be sufficient. Cee Cee eats 2-3 pinkies every 4-5 days...but she is 133 grams...almost twice the size of Glyph...so I think you will be fine feeding him one pinky's worth of food every 5 days.

[GarterGuy17]

Well I setup a little feeding enclose until she gets bigger and have to get another one. has a coconut half hide , fake plant and a little bottle cap water bowl. I will leave her there over night and switch her into her regular tank in the morning.She almost gave a a heart attack when I thought I lost her , She escaped and I went looking for her in the bathroom , living room and my bed room and still nothing I went back to where I was preparing everything on the kitchen counter and there she was behind a container of chocolate

Well here it is P1300074.jpg

This for ventilation a couple of holes and a rectangle covered by a piece of thin tissue P1300072.jpg

And yes yes yes the spot on the side of the coconut is that jade already marked her territory !