All the feeder insects are not recommended as a food sourse for the garter snakes ??

[TiercelR]

... or are there exceptions to this rule ?? i am talking about feeder-roaches as are the lobster-roaches, Blatta lateralis roaches, etc, mealworms, crickets offered for sale in the reptile stores, etc.

I am not talking about of the feeder insects as their main diet, but instead if they are used only as a minor percentage of their diet. Thanks in advance for your replies. Regards.

[katach]

Garter snakes are not able to digest the exoskeleton of insects.

Serpientes de la liga no son capaces de digerir el exoesqueleto de los insectos.

[kibakiba]

They need to be fed an insect free diet. Earth worms, fish and pinkies would be a good, balanced diet.

[EasternGirl]

Yes, what the other members have told you is good advice. Garter snakes cannot digest insects...they should not have any insects in their diet. As Chantel said, the best diet is a mix of frozen/thawed pinky mice, fresh fish fillet, and earthworms.

[TiercelR]

Garter snakes are not able to digest the exoskeleton of insects.

Serpientes de la liga no son capaces de digerir el exoesqueleto de los insectos.

Hi Kat, thanks for your reply.

They need to be fed an insect free diet. Earth worms, fish and pinkies would be a good, balanced diet.

Hi Chantel, thanks for your reply.

Yes, what the other members have told you is good advice. Garter snakes cannot digest insects...they should not have any insects in their diet. As Chantel said, the best diet is a mix of frozen/thawed pinky mice, fresh fish fillet, and earthworms.

Hi Marnie, thanks for your reply.

[TiercelR]

I understand the reasons you said about the garter-snakes are not able of to digest the exoskeleton of the insects, so i understand that is not a good idea giving them in a future.

But curiously each fresh WC garter-snake i had keeped go inmediatly after the crickets just in the first moment they see them fall into their terrariums (since their very first minutes of life in captivity) without any doubts about to prey on crickets just as if the crickets were a common part of their own diets in the wild previous of their captive life. I don´t pretend to say that is right to give insects anyway to the garter-snakes, but ever i had observed this.

And is good to give them as food the captive breeded small arboreal green frogs (which have a dark mask on their eyes) that are sold in bulk in the reptile stores ?? thanks, regards.

[EasternGirl]

Roberto, I do not know anything about those frogs. I would stick to pinkies, fish, and earthworms to be safe. Perhaps another member may be able to tell you something about the frogs though. The garters probably were going after the crickets because they were attracted to the movement of them. I think this is why it is dangerous to give insects to garter snakes. The snakes may try to eat them, but then they would not be able to digest them if they did. I think that if a snake is in the wild and has a choice of something else to eat, it will not eat an insect. However, if a snake is in captivity and very hungry and is only offered crickets, the snake might eat the cricket and then become ill. I could be wrong about this though. I am only guessing. Maybe another member could answer that question better.

[mb90078]

I'm not sure if that specific type of frog is poisonous to garters (as some amphibians are), but as a general rule, most people advise against using any amphibians just for the reason that they typically contain a lot of parasites, that may be transferred to your garter.

I would not be shocked to find out that some garters occasionally eat some insects in some settings (wild or otherwise), even though it may be bad for them. What was suggested above is probably true. When something that moves is dropped into the tank, they are probably automatically thinking "food", without realizing what it is that is being dropped in. I certainly don't question that garters may take them, but I know it certainly isn't the best item for them to eat.

[katach]

Mi primera preocupacióncon la alimentación deuna ranade una especie noserían lassecrecionesde la piel, posiblemente,es venenoso.Mi segunda preocupaciónseríaranassuelen teneruna gran cantidad deparásitos enlos que noseríasaludable para suserpiente.

My first concern with feeding a frog of unknown species would be the secretions in the skin possibly being poisonous. My second concern would be frogs usually have a lot of parasites in them that would not be healthy for your snake.

[ConcinusMan]

No insects. Insects are not part of a garter snake's natural diet. Not recommended.