Scenting

[aquamentus_11]

my <1y is also being stubborn so I may not be the best source of advice, but my strategy is to have her tank right next to my desk so she sees me all the time and gets used to how i move and smell gradually. i'm not going to try to handle her or offer food for a week. i've only been doing this since yesterday and it already seems to be paying off: she's been staying out on her branches all night and basking out in the open in the day. actually, when i saw her still in the same spot that i saw her in last night, i was worried she was dead. she's not she's been out so often that i have delusions that she's giving me the "food now" look. even if she is, too #@$& bad: she had her chance(s). two can play at this game.

she also let me remove her food dish from the day before without moving: i had to reach right over her and jostle the branches she was on to get to it, so that's huge to me. try setting your snake up uncovered wherever you go most and only mess with him to change water and clean. I even keep the amount of peering into her cage at her to a minimum.

[JodiLeigh]

I'm not sure what you are saying. What long time snake owners? What did they say? Someone told you to leave him alone and cover him up? The timing can make a difference for feeding depending on the snake and when he is used to being fed and how skiddish he is. I found with my young albino when he wouldn't eat for me at first...that he liked to eat in the middle of the night. You could try putting some pinky pieces on a dish for him on a paper towel under his hide like I told you and try leaving it overnight. It can be risky because of the possibility of ingesting substrate...but he might come out and eat at night. What kind of substrate are you using?

When I say long time snake owners I just mean people on this forum who have had snakes longer then me, because no one on this site has mentioned about having too much isolation I figured it wouldn't be a problem.

I tried leaving it over night too and still nothing. I use aspen bedding.

He goes in his coconut hide the most so I put the pinkie parts in the dish on a paper towel in that hide, I made sure there's enough room for him to go into the coconut hide even if he didn't want to eat but he hasn't been in it at all and is just burrowing even though he has two other hides and a silk plant to go in/under.

[JodiLeigh]

my <1y is also being stubborn so I may not be the best source of advice, but my strategy is to have her tank right next to my desk so she sees me all the time and gets used to how i move and smell gradually. i'm not going to try to handle her or offer food for a week. i've only been doing this since yesterday and it already seems to be paying off: she's been staying out on her branches all night and basking out in the open in the day. actually, when i saw her still in the same spot that i saw her in last night, i was worried she was dead. she's not she's been out so often that i have delusions that she's giving me the "food now" look. even if she is, too #@$& bad: she had her chance(s). two can play at this game.

she also let me remove her food dish from the day before without moving: i had to reach right over her and jostle the branches she was on to get to it, so that's huge to me. try setting your snake up uncovered wherever you go most and only mess with him to change water and clean. I even keep the amount of peering into her cage at her to a minimum.

I have removed the towel now and the tank is and always was on my clothes cupboard which I have to walk passed to get into my room which I can see from my bed and chair so can check on him with out having to get up close and disturb him but he will know when I'm here and stuff.

He used to come to the corner of the tank and look at me but I guess giving him complete privacy has made him weary again.

It funny though because he burrows so well that I can't figure out where he's burrowed and get that split second of panic when I think he's got out HA HA

[JodiLeigh]

He's getting ready to shed, he's gone dull and his eyes are fogging over. I guess this is another reason he will be off his food.

Andy advice on shedding?

[aquamentus_11]

keep humidity up: 60-70% limit handling

[JodiLeigh]

keep humidity up: 60-70% limit handling

How do I keep it up so high with out having to drop the temperature right down?

I have a hide on the cool side with damp moss in, that won't be enough though will it?

[EasternGirl]

To keep the humidity up you want to take a spray bottle with water in it and mist the inside of his tank lightly a couple of times a day. Aim for the plants in his tank...because it is important that you do not get his substrate too damp. Keep a towel covering about 1/2 to 3/4 of the top of the tank lid to limit air circulation in the tank. All of this will increase the humidity. If he is getting ready to shed...that could explain him wanting to be left alone and being more jumpy, reclusive, etc. Garters do not like to be handled...they want to be left alone before a shed. It is when they are most vunerable to prey in the wild.

Jodi...do not worry too much about him being skiddish at this point. It takes time for garters to adjust to a new home. Some can be very skiddish at first. After he sheds, I would try taking him out a little each day and getting him used to you. Just hold him for a couple of minutes and then put him back. I would also try to feed him again, after his shed. He will come around. You aren't doing anything wrong...he just needs time. Don't worry...we're here and we'll keep helping you.

[JodiLeigh]

To keep the humidity up you want to take a spray bottle with water in it and mist the inside of his tank lightly a couple of times a day. Aim for the plants in his tank...because it is important that you do not get his substrate too damp. Keep a towel covering about 1/2 to 3/4 of the top of the tank lid to limit air circulation in the tank. All of this will increase the humidity. If he is getting ready to shed...that could explain him wanting to be left alone and being more jumpy, reclusive, etc. Garters do not like to be handled...they want to be left alone before a shed. It is when they are most vunerable to prey in the wild.

Jodi...do not worry too much about him being skiddish at this point. It takes time for garters to adjust to a new home. Some can be very skiddish at first. After he sheds, I would try taking him out a little each day and getting him used to you. Just hold him for a couple of minutes and then put him back. I would also try to feed him again, after his shed. He will come around. You aren't doing anything wrong...he just needs time. Don't worry...we're here and we'll keep helping you.

Ok thank you!

I have sprayed the plants and refreshed the moss and water, covered the cool half with a towel and moved the heat lamp as far to the right as possible so it doesn't dry out the plants straight away.

And thank you for the reassurance, I just worry because I've never had a snake before.

=]

[EasternGirl]

It's tough being a first time snake mommy . It's still tough even when you've done it for a little while. I still worry about my snakes...I get up at least once during the night to check on them...and if they are sleeping and I don't see them...sometimes I wake the poor things up just to make sure they are okay . Don't move the lamp away from the warm side. You need to have that gradient of a warm and cool side...just mist the plants every couple of hours. Like I said, just make sure you aren't making the substrate wet...because it isn't good for a snake to sit in wet substrate. Your worrying is normal...and you and your little snake will get through all of this. This time next year you will be sitting here typing and giving some new person advice just like I am with you!

[aquamentus_11]

if you cover half of the lid, your humidity should be fine. my house is dry (36%) and i can keep it at 60% in my tank with a piece of cork board over half of the lid. a broader water bowl will also help keep humidity up: larger surface area = more surface for evaporation