Garter-newbie needs advice!

[Odie]

Hi, from Oregon, Carolyn

[Purplegrrl666]

Hi guys! Thank you for the advice I really appreciate it, I'm such a worrywart when it comes to my pets so this makes me feel a lot better. I just have one more question about feeding...

-Is there ANY danger of Jack not realizing that the fish in his water bowl is food?(Note: he was raised on these fish, so it doesn't seem likely.) It sounds stupid but since I put the fish in there on Monday it hasn't moved much (still alive though,) and I was concerned that he wouldn't notice it. Would it be a waste of time to add 1 more fish to try to get them moving? I keep telling myself that he just isn't hungry yet, but like I said I tend to over-worry.

[adamanteus]

It's quite common for them to refuse food for the first few days, or even a couple of weeks. Don't worry about it yet. Personally I'd release the fish.... it's maybe suffered enough!

[Cazador]

I'll second James' comment. Just introduce live fish for a few hours and then remove them. It makes for a cleaner environment and the new sight at feeding time can be exciting (for the snake).

Rick

[drache]

yeah
I think after a while they get used to the scent of the food being around
then it's not so interesting

[Purplegrrl666]

Good news! Jack shed yesterday so that's why he wasn't hungry. About him getting used to the scent of the food being around though, I find it kind of hard to believe. Why would he allow himself to starve to death? (seeing as animals have an intense instinct to survive.) If he's really hungry, he won't think "Oh well, I'm just going to sit here and die," right? Last night I saw him swimming in his water bowl, so he knows the fish are there...

[adamanteus]

Water in the water bowl soon becomes oxygen poor, so the fish suffer. Also the drinking water becomes foul, with fish swimming around in it for any length of time.