Baby Garter's Not Eating?

[Jack Neary]

Hello!
I'm new to the forum. I have found a couple of very small (4") baby gaters. I have cut up some earthworms I found to try and feed them, but they won't eat them and I have had them for 2 weeks? I have them both housed together in a 5 gallon bucket right now.
Any advice?
Thanks!
Jack

[adamanteus]

Hi Jack, and welcome to the forum.

[adamanteus]

The housing may be the problem... 'bucket' doesn't sound like you have created a habitat for them. Do you know the species you have? Where in the US are you, Jack?

[crzy_kevo]

welcome to the forum jack and i agree the james a bucket is not a good habitat for a snake

[Stefan-A]

Welcome aboard, Jack.

[Garter_Gertie]

An empty 5 gallon bucket but for the snakes? If so they're probably very stressed with no hides and staring at each other 24/7 and unable to soak. Two weeks in a 5 gallon bucket is a very long time in a 5 gallon bucket...

And welcome!

[Jack Neary]

The housing may be the problem... 'bucket' doesn't sound like you have created a habitat for them. Do you know the species you have? Where in the US are you, Jack?

Please don't misunderstand. I have an aquarium that I have a deecent set-up with several garters that I have caught near Rittman/ Wadsworth, OH and also 2 Garter's from near Plymouth Michagan.
I put these 2 young garter's in a seperate 5 gallon bucket becuase they do not appear to be eating the earthworms I caught for them...?
My thinking was seperating them from the other may help them eat the worms which would be always located near them?
Thoughts?
Thanks again! This is a great forum!

[jitami]

Welcome Jack! If you decide to keep these little guys I'd work on the housing a bit and then try some live guppies in a dish. The idea for now is to get them to eat something. You can, and probably should, switch them to different food once they're reliably eating for you. Good luck.

[crzy_kevo]

well my snake george wont eat an earthworm that is placed in front of her
for some reason she only eats them from my hand
any thoughts on that to?

[adamanteus]

Separating them is a good move, but I would personally give them a smaller version of the other Garter's 'proper' set-up, complete with hides, water bowl, climbing opportunities, temperature control etc.
I find that babies who present problems with feeding often respond well to a temporary increase in temperature and humidity.... not enough to steam them! Just a little.