I'm finally a garter snake owner! (For real this time!)

[BUSHSNAKE]

Checkered's are awesome first garters! If I were you since it is taking unscented pinky parts I would just stick to mice. It makes them grow fast and keeps the poop stabile. lol
Good luck
Ed

totally agree with Ed, pinkies are superior over worms

[drumcrush]

I wish I could mine to take pinkies -.-

[Floof]

Ah, but variety is the spice of life! If garter snakes' natural diet includes a large quantity of worms/fish, I'd love to provide that now and then. Not unlike how I've started switching my larger colubrids' mice/rats for chicks every few feedings.

I will be keeping a close eye on feeding response and cutting off the "extras" if he starts showing signs of getting "stuck" on a particular food item.

I did offer a few nightcrawler chunks tonight. Was cutting up nightcrawlers and had a couple that were a little too fat for the skink hatchlings. He loved them! So thrilled to have lucked out with a total pig for my first garter...

[guidofatherof5]

Ah, but variety is the spice of life! If garter snakes' natural diet includes a large quantity of worms/fish, I'd love to provide that now and then. Not unlike how I've started switching my larger colubrids' mice/rats for chicks every few feedings.

I will be keeping a close eye on feeding response and cutting off the "extras" if he starts showing signs of getting "stuck" on a particular food item.

I did offer a few nightcrawler chunks tonight. Was cutting up nightcrawlers and had a couple that were a little too fat for the skink hatchlings. He loved them! So thrilled to have lucked out with a total pig for my first garter...

Most garters are.

[Floof]

Even better! I was a little concerned when I was getting ready to feed him the first time--he was a pet store pick up, after all! I was totally prepared to start hacking bits off a salmon filet if he refused the pinky, lol!

[Floof]

So, it only took almost 2 months... But I finally got around to getting some decent tail pics. Would one of you wonderful folks mind helping me sex this baby?



S/he has settled in very well! Hasn't grown as much as expected, and has only shed once for me--but I think that's my fault. I'm used to feeding my hatchlings every 7 days! It's still brand new adjusting to the garter metabolism. S/he weighed 5.5 grams the other day.

Come to think of it, I think I neglected to ask before. How often is ideal to feed a garter of this size? Does prey item affect frequency.. i.e. more often for nightcrawlers, less often for pinks? I've mostly been feeding pinky parts, but the last few feedings have done nightcrawler chunks every 3 days.. Easy to remember, when you have to chop them up every couple days for the skinks!

Here's a pic of him/her before getting fed today...

[Floof]

Ooh, btw... Don't mind the weird, pushed-out vent in the tail pics... S/he was busy trying to musk the crap out of me. Yummy!

[rickymar81]

I want to say you have male

[BLUESIRTALIS]

I hate to confuse you, but i am going to say female looks like she has a nice little taper going. It's hard to say 100% with a young snake, but she looks female to me!

[guidofatherof5]

SHE is beautiful.