Please help me with my garter snake!

[kibakiba]

Force feeding CAN kill him, it's worse to do that than to keep offering food. Do not force him to eat.

[amcutem]

Maybe im not doing it right.

So far, Ive tried to feed him worms from a lid and the other in soil. I've also left two fishes swimming in there with him. Ive tried to wiggle food above his face, but he gets scared and move's his head back. But maybe the worms are too big?

What else can I try?

I heard guppies are good or toads, tadpole. Anything, Ill get it. Please. I would really like to keep this snake.

[kibakiba]

What kind of food items are there where he was caught? Using one of those to fill his belly, then another to scent the food would be a good idea.

[RedSidedSPR]

Your not doing wrong, I'll tell ya that.

There's only so much you can do...

I know you want to keep, and I totally understand, and it would really suck. But if he's not gonna eat, you have to let him go.

Now, on the possitive side, how long has it been since you caught him?

EDIT: chantel posted, yeah I was gonna say that. Maybe a frog or something, than scent with it.

[amcutem]

Your not doing wrong, I'll tell ya that.

There's only so much you can do...

I know you want to keep, and I totally understand, and it would really suck. But if he's not gonna eat, you have to let him go.

Now, on the possitive side, how long has it been since you caught him?

EDIT: chantel posted, yeah I was gonna say that. Maybe a frog or something, than scent with it.

I found him July 18, last month around two weeks ago.

Do they sell small frogs in the petstore?

[kibakiba]

I'd catch them outside, since those kind would be what he would have ate.

[amcutem]

What kind of food items are there where he was caught? Using one of those to fill his belly, then another to scent the food would be a good idea.

Bugs, worms, insects, frogs, etc.....

[ConcinusMan]

I found him July 18, last month around two weeks ago.

Then there's nothing to worry about. The best thing you can do at this early stage is to make the snake comfortable and stop messing with it. A nervous snake will not eat. That goes even for captive born snakes.

They need to feel confident that they will not get interrupted or messed with. Once they feel at home, they are much more likely to eat.

Comfortable temperatures, plenty of plants or other visual cover to make them feel safe, and time. Several weeks if necessary.

This might be a case where the snake just can't seem to get any privacy or comfort. That's the first step. Intrusions into it's new surroundings should be kept at a minimum until it eats.

I guess what I'm trying to say is that you might be trying too hard. The snake probably feels insecure. Any snake that feels insecure will not eat. Best to give the snake as much privacy as possible and no intrusions for a couple of weeks, and then try feeding only once or twice a week.

[kibakiba]

They don't eat bugs or any other insects. So, frogs would be your best bet.

[RedSidedSPR]

2 weeks isn't that bad. It took 3 to get my adult eating, 4 to get my baby eating.

Just catch the frog. Petstores won have them, plus they won't be the right kind.