Is it normal for my garter snake to eat 5 minnows in a 15 hour period?

[Phishie]

Hello, I am new to the Garter Snake Forum and I have a question. Snakey is about three months old (I think... not really sure). He is about 10 inches long. I've been feeding him rosy red minnows. He went about 1 day without any food and then I went out and bought 14 minnows. After only a couple of minutes he went to the water dish and attacked and ate one. Then only about five minutes later he was back at it eating another one. And then he ate a third one before I went to bed... when I woke up I counted the fish and there are two more missing. So he ate five fish in about 15 hours.

Is that normal? Is my snake going to become overweight? Should I take him for a walk or something? I am only joking... but it seems like he is eating a lot. Is there something wrong with my snake?

[Thamnophis]

Garter snakes tend to eat as much as possible when they can find food. There will always be period that there is no food available (in the wild).
So, this behaviour is normal.

[enigma200316]

I try to feed mine once a week or once every other week and last meal
she ate 10 rosy reds and 4 worms and that was in about an hour so....
she seems to do well like that.....so don't worry about it......

[adamanteus]

Hi Phishie, and welcome to the forum. It sounds like normal feeding behaviour to me.

[Sid]

Hi Phishie, and welcome to the forum. I have to agree with the other responses. Garters, as well as any other snake, are opportunist by nature. They feed whenever prey is available. With young Garters, I feed what they will consume in a 30 minute to an hour time frame, twice per week.
What species do you have? Would love to see a photo.

Sid

[enigma200316]

yes...yes......must see photos......

[Stefan-A]

Welcome aboard, Phishie.

[Lulu Bennett]

welcome phishie

[Phishie]

I'm not really too sure about the species. Me and my g/f would go to Petco a lot and I saw these little garters swimming around in their water dishes and when I went up close to look at them they would pop their heads out to look at me.

They were too cute so I had to buy one... hehe.

I have some photos of it and I also have a video of it eating a fish! I'll upload them soon. =]

[Lulu Bennett]

cant wait to see pics