Any Advice?

[EasternBlackNeckedGarter]

It's been a long time since I've posted on here, and I was just wondering what I could improve about my setup. I recently renovated Mort's tank, and at the moment it consists of a Zilla terrarium liner as substrate, a sterilized oak branch, grape wood, a log hide, cork bark, a rock hide, two potted succulents, a potted Christmas cactus (Schlumbergera), and a large ZooMed reptile hammock. He's very active during the afternoon and evening. I always leave the window next to his cage open, and the temperature fluctuates between 70-78 F. He was previously in a cage with 4 inches of Carefresh bedding, and was hibernating in a system of tunnels that he made. I woke him up about a week and a half ago to renovate his cage. He hasn't eaten since mid October, but still seems well-fed and healthy. I tried feeding him a few days ago and he's still refusing fuzzies. Any advice is appreciated, and I'll upload pictures when I get home.

[guidofatherof5]

Good to see you back on.
Explain "woke him up"

[EasternBlackNeckedGarter]

By "wake him up" I was referring to when I had to dig him out of his tunnels to redo his tank. Here's a few pictures.

[guidofatherof5]

Thanks for the explanation. I thought you might be referring to some kind of brumation.
Have you offered anything but fuzzies? Might be worth a try. When I had T. c. cyrtopsis (Western blackneck garter snake) they were picky eaters and from time to time went off food.

[EasternBlackNeckedGarter]

I used to feed him minnows and he ate those eagerly. I have some night crawlers on hand for feeding my newts. Should I try them with Mort, and if so, should I leave them in his water dish?

[guidofatherof5]

Minnows = Bad

Try the worms as long as the can't crawl out.

[d_virginiana]

I used to feed him minnows and he ate those eagerly. I have some night crawlers on hand for feeding my newts. Should I try them with Mort, and if so, should I leave them in his water dish?

Blacknecks like fish, but don't use minnows as they often contain thiaminase which can be harmful to garters. Try getting a pack of frozen silversides from petsmart or something. If he'll take nightcrawlers you can try those. If he won't take them from tongs, leave them in a shallow dish with a drop or two of water... If you put them in his actual water dish, they'll stop moving pretty quickly and just gunk up his water.

[guidofatherof5]

Blacknecks like fish, but don't use minnows as they often contain thiaminase which can be harmful to garters. Try getting a pack of frozen silversides from petsmart or something. If he'll take nightcrawlers you can try those. If he won't take them from tongs, leave them in a shallow dish with a drop or two of water... If you put them in his actual water dish, they'll stop moving pretty quickly and just gunk up his water.

and usually carry a hefty parasite load.

[EasternBlackNeckedGarter]

Heading into town here in a while. I'll try silversides, but could I set up a tank of feeder guppies as well?

[d_virginiana]

but could I set up a tank of feeder guppies as well?

You could, but it's more trouble than it's worth. Besides, guppies are too small for most adult snakes. Most snakes won't even bother with something that small once they're bigger.