Greetings from Michigan

[Selkielass]

Hello, Thought I should introduce myself- this is the first reptile forum I've joined, but I've kept reptiles off and on for years (Turtles, anoles, chameleons and short-term garter snakes and toads.) Last week, while working my beehives, I found a young Garter snake under a hive I was moving. It started to run, but I picked it up and handed it to my son, who was enthralled. 'Aberforth' came home and was soon set up in an old 5 gallon acrylic aquarium I'm here for tips on keeping her(?) comfortable and *hopefully* coaxing her to eat soon. (Crickets, Guppies and worms have failed to impress so far.) Aberforth is an 11' common Eastern Garter snake who was caught in a meadow on the edge of a damp, swampy area that only has standing water during very moist times of the year. She's been a real charmer- calm and easy to handle, but the food thing has me concerned.

[infernalis]

now we can talk YAY!

[mustang]

fixed it?!
welcome!!!!!
nice job of copy and paste (see above)

[infernalis]

Here is what you missed so far....

Throw out the crickets. Garters don't eat them.
Guppies and earthworms/night crawlers are good. A week without food is nothing to a garter snake. Give it some more time and it will probably start eating.
Tell us about your setup for your son's new buddy.
Almost forgot. WELCOME.

The first post was made in the wanted section so no replies could be made.
http://www.thamnophis.com/forum/wanted/7150-breeder-michigan.html

Steve- Did you have trouble replying to her thread? I did, so Ill post here...

Welcome from a fellow Michigainian Ellen! Steve is right, give it time and the little guy will probably be a great pet.
I went to the reptile show in Taylor last week, someone had a whole litter of checkered garters $15 each. And I think I know of someone who may be expecting blackneck garters in the future.

Welcome to your newest addiction!

crickets BBBBAAAAADDDD very bad idea trust me...(i have to repeat this many many times at petco now that the cool manager left and the idiots in charge of killn em)(no selkielass this does not mean your an idiot (only the idiots at petco are idiots))

[Hollis_Steed]

Welcome Michigan, from Utah!

[Selkielass]

Whee! Thanks for the fast replies! (I've been looking at all the pretty pictures around the site and reading lots of tips and fact sheets.) Current set up is a 5 gallon tank with paper towel substrate, 2 dishes (one for water and one for the food-du-jour.) and a chunk of wood to climb on and hide under. Tank has a custom lid and inner lid, which I've made reptile proof. Temp with just the light on seems to be in the 80's. She just molted a few days ago. (Found the skin when we cleaned out the starter sphagnum moss and rejected crickets) Could this be contributing to her lack of appetite?

[guidofatherof5]

She's been a real charmer- calm and easy to handle, but the food thing has me concerned.

No need for concern, yet.
Some need an adjustment time before they start eating.
Ditch the crickets. Keep the guppies and earth worm/ night crawlers.
Here's a link to the care sheet. A lot of good info. there.
Garter Snake Care Sheet - Caresheets

[Charis]

Hello & welcome from Idaho! Sometimes snakes will refuse food while in shed. It's an individual thing & not all snakes will. But adjusting to it's new home & being in shed probably are the reasons it hasn't eaten yet.

[Napta]

Welcome !

[drache]

welcome to the forum