Not actually a garter but close, question on feeding dekayi

[Gaius Iulius Tabernarius]

My plan on acquiring a garter snake fell through due to them being sold out from every website I could find. So I grabbed the first dekayi I found while doing my normal springtime yard cleaning. He's a little guy and he's mostly kept under the left most wooden hide I made.

That said I'm unclear on what he can/should eat, my plan for a garter was pinkies and if that doesn't work earthworm/feeder guppie combo. Obviously the one I found is way too small for any size of mouse, and probably small fish. I tossed a handful of nightcrawlers in there which I also found while gardening. but since the set up is bioactive I also ordered isopods. I was wondering if dekayis would possibly eat them, I know garters don't typically eat insects, but not sure about brown snakes. It would be great if they did since then I wouldn't have to worry about my snake not eating.

This is what the enclosure looks like, https://scontent.fbos1-1.fna.fbcdn.n...d9&oe=5B6BD653

Also related point, my plants are dying, not clear on why. I have a full spectrum lamp aimed at the terrarium, and I mist every day. The soil is damp but not wet.

[Reedsbreeds]

Brown snakes eat mostly insects, slugs, and small earthworms,
not sure on why the plants might be dying without a bunch more info, like temp, bulb distance, humidity, substrate depth and bedding depth, what is being used as the growing medium? I used to garden but I'm not familiar with terrarium type plants, look into those factors first, and compare against what the general consensus online says is ideal

[Gaius Iulius Tabernarius]

I think I was over watering it, the bulb is in a desk lamp a foot away from the left side of the terrarium. The growth medium is miracle grow potting soil. There is a mesh at the bottom with a layer of rocks for drainage.

One of the plants is an African violet, the other I'm not sure about.

[guidofatherof5]

Storeria dekayi are a wonderful little snake. Slug and snail eating specialist.

[Qwerty3159]

Get a cheap LED strip light from Walmart and put it on the lid, the plants will love it.
Also is that aspen shavings above the dirt? Be careful if so as Aspen doesn't take well to moisture and will probably mold like that

[Zdravko092368]

Plants will die easier from overwatering than under watering, I use hardy species like Pothos/Ivy/etc, however I would be cautious about plant choices if you are going to keep the slugs in the enclosure as many common household plants are toxic and the slugs would eat the plants then the snake would eat the slugs. If you want to use potentially toxic plants youll have to feed the Dekays by tong or in a small container. Various grasses, dandelions, lettuce, etc, would be good if you want to keep the slugs in the terrarium and have the snake hunt on it's own. Many of these plants won't grow well without a full spectrum light though, unlike houseplants which don't need anything special.