Garters Not Eating

[mikec205]

Hi I have a problem I have four oregon garters two males and two females. One of the females is a blue one not that it makes a diffrence. When I took them out of brumation the females were eating like pigs. They would east frozen thawded rat pinks like they were going out of style. The males would eat chopped up rat pinks. After the females had babies they ate a few times and then stooped eating along with the males. The females are big and they don't look like thet are loosing any weight. The males still look good to even though none of them have eaten in a good two months. Should I try to force feed them or does anybody have any other ideas.
Thanks
Mike

[gibble888]

Your females might be gravid and soon ready to give birth.

[guidofatherof5]

I would advise against force feeding at this time. How long has it been since they ate?

[gibble888]

I misread that post....whats your temp? How much light? I started using cool white light bulbs to replicate mid summer sun which seemed to help my girls.

[BLUESIRTALIS]

Do you house them together of separate?

[mikec205]

They were together but have been seperated for about a month. They last ate about three months ago. They get 14 hours of light a day and they have a temp gradient from 84 to 75.

[michieldewit]

what do you normally feed them, and have you tried any other foods?

[michieldewit]

nvm, I already know what you feed them. I would try a fish or worms, just to see if they'll take it. If they do, try to slowly get them back to pinks

[guidofatherof5]

Have you tried slugs?
If the worms you are feeding are night crawlers, have you tried and earthworms?
Get some guppies and try live fish. Garters as a rule can't resist a flopping fish.

[mikec205]

I will go and get some worms and a few fish. I have tried frozen silversides but maybe live will work.
Thanks
Mike