Caught a garter, should I keep it?

[ssssnakeluvr]

welcome to the forum...everyone has pretty much covered it!!

Yes, you can successfully keep a garter without feeding it mice, it's just not really the optimal thing to do when in captivity. Many garters in the wild rarely, if ever, dine on mice frequently. I am sure there are a lot of wild garters out there that have never had a mouse and never will.
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wanderings take mice in the wild on a regular basis.....my super checker takes unscented rat pups...refuses fish. they are the only on I know eats them regularly in the wild....they are also found away from water a lot..hence the name...wandering garter.....

[Odie]

Hi, from Oregon, Mr Goodbomb

[Aundrea]

Hi and welcome to the forum!!!!!

[mr_Goodbomb]

I got him some red roseys today and put them in his water bowl. I've seen him in the bowl before, so I know he knows what's up. He hasn't eaten the crickets, and I had put some fish meat I had in there with him and he didn't eat it, either. I got home about five hours ago and he still hasn't touched the fish. I got him Friday night, it's Monday night and he hasn't eaten. I'm worried about the poor little guy.

[Hornets23]

I wouldnt be worried yet. That really isnt very long. It could take him that long just to settle in. Garter snakes shouldnt eat crickets so I would stop giving him those. You could try some earthworms chopped in half if youre still having trouble. Those are probably the food that my snakes go the most crazy over.

[mr_Goodbomb]

I guess I should find some earthworms tomorrow. He didn't eat today, either... The roseys I got him are dying faster than he's eating them (by default, since he's eating them at a rate of 0). Will he eat dead fish, if they're just a day or so dead? Wouldn't want him to eat em if they were any deader than that...

[Odie]

Sometimes it takes 2-3 weeks for them to settle in
So don't worry just yet

[infernalis]

Freeze the fish as soon as they die, Yes they will eat dead fish. Freezing prevents the rot.

Must be getting the rosies from Petco.

I noticed that rosies from Wal Mart lived until I wanted them dead, but from petco they were dying before I even got them home.

Rosies are not a good source of permanent food, once your garter is eating, I'd rub a rosie onto some Tilapia or Salmon and try switching it over.

[mr_Goodbomb]

Yeah, they're from Petco. Walmart was out.