Thamnophis ordinoides feeding

[Steven@HumboldtHerps]

Hello from Eureka!

I am curious if anyone on the forum has experience with Northwestern Garters in captivity. In the wild these small garters appear to have a preference for slugs and earthworms. Before I embark on the endeavor of acquiring some wild-caughts (NOT for breeding purposes) I would be interested in others' experiences. I have a Sharp-tailed Snake and a Northwestern Ring-necked Snake who feed exclusively on Batrachoseps salamanders in captivity; I would like to avoid additional ectothermic diets (other than fish) if I can help it!

Thank you,

Steven Krause

[adamanteus]

I kept a group of T. ordinoides years ago. You're right, their preferred diet is earthworms. I was able to persuade them to take fish strips and scented pinky parts too.
I would love to keep them again someday, but they're rarer than hen's teeth in the UK.

[Odie]

I am curious if anyone on the forum has experience with Northwestern Garters in captivity. In the wild these small garters appear to have a preference for slugs and earthworms.

I have 5, 4 WC & 1 WB/CB. Yes they do like slugs and earthworms
The earthworms they seem to like best are the ones from the yard
The older ones seem to like the slugs(go on the small side) a bit more then the babies but they all will eat strips of fish or small Fish and Pinkies
About half the time I have to scent the Pinkies
Cat food works in a pinch

[ssssnakeluvr]

the few I have had have taken fish and scented pinkies. I want some for breeding!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[Steven@HumboldtHerps]

I have 5, 4 WC & 1 WB/CB. Yes they do like slugs and earthworms
The earthworms they seem to like best are the ones from the yard
The older ones seem to like the slugs(go on the small side) a bit more then the babies but they all will eat strips of fish or small Fish and Pinkies
About half the time I have to scent the Pinkies
Cat food works in a pinch

Do you use the local garden variety slug, or are they native species? I've heard they also eat small snails. I have been told that an earthworm only diet can lead to calcium deficiencies.... I feed small pieces of fish to my Oregon Garter, but do the ordinoides eat live fish from a bowl? And what do you do with cat food exactly (scent pinkies?).

Since you do have Northwesterns I am of course bombarding you with questions. How long have you had them? Where in Oregon did you find them? What morphs are they and what are the Oregon laws regarding native snake acquisitions? How big are they?

Anything you can mention would be helpful.

Steven

[Loren]

I have only had mine for a short time, but they took scented pinkies the first time I fed them, after leaving them alone with it- now they aggressively take them from me. I use pacific treefrog for scenting.

[Odie]

In order: yes, yes. Snails, I have not seen it but heard too. We use a calcium powder if... Yes. The cat food "fish" was used to start the feeding of a newborn That was the first thing little Five would eat No problamo dude "strip" about 2.3 years(hillsboro)single strip morph[30"], "Midge" & "Red" about 1 Year(Florence)What I would say is red dorsal strip morph[30"][28"], "Five" since Aug 1st (born here in the house)What I would say is 3 yellow strip morph[12"] and "Wi" about 2.5 months (Florence)What I would say is checker morph[9.5"]. So far, nothing but animal cruelty laws for the snakes
"("they ARE escape artist")"

[Steven@HumboldtHerps]

In order: yes, yes. Snails, I have not seen it but heard too. We use a calcium powder if... Yes. The cat food "fish" was used to start the feeding of a newborn That was the first thing little Five would eat No problamo dude "strip" about 2.3 years(hillsboro)single strip morph[30"], "Midge" & "Red" about 1 Year(Florence)What I would say is red dorsal strip morph[30"][28"], "Five" since Aug 1st (born here in the house)What I would say is 3 yellow strip morph[12"] and "Wi" about 2.5 months (Florence)What I would say is checker morph[9.5"]. So far, nothing but animal cruelty laws for the snakes
"("they ARE escape artist")"

Do you generally house them individually?

[Odie]

The little ones have one and the older ones have the big viv