Eastern Garter Not Eating

[surfstevo]

Thanks to all for the information. I assumed change of seasons could likely be the issue, but this did not happen last Fall so it was a bit perplexing. Thanks so much again! By the way, here's a photo of my handsome little devil...Petey_log crop2.jpg

[snakegirl909]

Good looking garter

[guidofatherof5]

Good looking garter

Agreed.

[chris-uk]

I agree that it's just the season. Right now I have some of mine going off food and most have slowed down, and all mine are in vivs that I haven't altered the temps in (they sense the length of day too, and although I have lights that come on during the day they aren't getting ambient light in the room from the early sunrises).

As for why your guy didn't go off food last year, if he was recently into captivity then he was probably adjusting to that change.

For my Mexican species I brumate them by just turning off the heat and light and they go for a couple of months with ambient room temps and no food. Other's I brumated fully last year.

[snipstedy]

I just got back after being gone for a couple of days and my snake is still on the cold side of the tank fully brumating under the driftwood hide. I think its my fault for not having enough heat on the warm side(I've just been using a mini heat pad b/c the weather has been so warm) . Hear in Louisiana its still fairly warm but much cooler weather has moved in. I'm thinking of buying a larger heat pad and maybe a heat lamp so that hopefully he will come out of brumation. I'd like him to come out of brumation atleast till the severe colder weather moves in or possibly not brumate at all.

[chris-uk]

How cold is your cold side Snipstedy? Unless it's pretty damn cold it's not going to be enough for full brumation, and I'd suggest that all the time the snake has heat available then you can't consider he's brumating.

[snipstedy]

I only have one of those cheap stick on thermometers on the opposite side of the cold side. Yesterday was cooler and I flashed a small light into the hide where he was and he moved a bit but that was it. Today was warmer and he actually had turned around towards the sun in the window (warmest time of day). I'm thinking I'm going to go get a heat basking(tropical) lamp or a bigger heat pad to add to the mini heat pad thats already in the tank to keep it warmer till the coldest weather moves in.

Are all the garters in the wild semi brumating now and not eating being that its cooler but not real cold yet ? The days here are still kinda on the warm side or about average room temp.

[snipstedy]

Nice colors! My favorite colors on snakes for some reason.

[snakegirl909]

I would recommend getting a digital thermometer, or even better, a temp gun. I have a temp gun, and I couldn't live without it.
As for the wild garters, the ones around me are still up and active, and i live in new england. I saw a bunch out this morning basking and hunting.

[snipstedy]

Must be nice to have them all around like that! I rarely see them ever.

Why a digital or temp gun? Is it b/c enclosures vary so differently from the room temp?