Issues with Mice...

[guidofatherof5]

Is this an adult mouse?

[EasternBlackNeckedMort]

I've been trying with small hoppers, but I'm going to change to pinkies.

[guidofatherof5]

Using pinkies will help with that "mouth feel" thing.
Some snakes don't like the fur and will avoid them.

[EasternBlackNeckedMort]

Thanks. I'll post back when I've tried it.

[RedSidedSPR]

You can also try taking a pair of scissors, cut up 2 or 3 minnows in like 3 pieces each, and do the same with the pinkies. Mix 'em up in a nice dish, and serve it on a platter.

[Light of Dae]

All good advice given here.

If you must feed live fish go with guppies or platys as they are way safer then minnows n NEVER goldfish! You could freeze the minnows if you'd like. Either way the best scenting I find is to mush the item your scenting with(in your case a minnow or two). Mush it in a bag then add the pinkie mouse and let the pinkie thaw in the fish mush.

No warming of the mouse... Garters like cool food.

Since your Garter is used to being fed fish in his water dish try taking out most of the water just leave enough to cover the pinkie mouse. Dump the fish mush in the water with the pinkie. Everything will reek of fish lol It should work to excite him enough that he won't realize its a mouse till it half way down n then he'll just have to learn to enjoy it. lol

To help convert him after tricking him into it, try the same method that worked but cut into the pinkies head a little bit to help get the mouse scent mixed with the fish scent. Then slowly use less n less fish .


Oh and we require pictures if you can

[EasternBlackNeckedMort]

@RedSided
Eww.... I can cut up fish, but not mice. XD

@Dae
I think I'll go with your method, since he's so used to the dish. I'll post pics once I feed him again.

Thanks to everyone! :3

EDIT: Wait, if I'm feeding him 10-16 minnows a sitting, how many pinkies once I stop with the fish?

[RedSidedSPR]

Cutting up pinkies ain't that bad... Especially if you pay attention to where you're cutting

Well remember, fish is still an option. A good one in fact. Just not minnows. Guppies, Frozen/thawed silversides, Tilpia.. So by all means, continue the fish.

Also worms. Worms should be the bulk of any snakes diet, some fish thrown in there, and a good couple of pinkies once or twice a week. That's how I do it.

Don't go from minnows to pinkies. Go from minnows to worms, different fish, pinkies. Give him a good healthy, rounded out diet with neigh variety to

Feed him every few days, enough to give him a good sized, noticeable bulge, but not a overly large bulge, to the point of hindering his movement and looking exceptionally defigured

[chris-uk]

What I've found helps when I've had a snake with a strong preference for a particular food is to give them a single piece of their preferred food (in your case I'd try a different fish rather than minnows) and then offering the scented new food once they are in feeding mode and hunting for more.
Also, the suggestion of leaving it hungry before trying is good - makes a garter less fussy.

[CrazyHedgehog]

@RedSided
Eww.... I can cut up fish, but not mice. XD

I cut them while they are still frozen, decent scissors and no gloopy mess, they also defrost quicker in bits!