Garter poos in water dish--always

[bulrush]

I have an eastern garter snake. Every other day I feed him 2 minnows from a bait shop (fatheads?) in a cat food dish full of water, which is big enough for him to lay in. The last 5-6 feedings I noticed he has eaten the minnows, then promptly pooed in the water dish in which I placed the minnows. The last feeding I noticed he pooed in the water dish without eating the minnow. So I removed his food and the dish.

What is going on here? Is he protesting something?

[Stefan-A]

It's easier to poop in water. Sometimes the snakes seem to notice this and make a habit of doing it. I have one garter that does that very often and another three that just have bad aim; They barely miss the water dish.

[infernalis]

Look at it this way, It's easier to change the water, and not have to buy fresh substrate all the time

[ssssnakeluvr]

REALLY common....disgusting, but common. mine do it all the time!!!

[dashnu]

Mine tend to poop all other the place including the water dish

[anji1971]

I wish the babies would use the water dish.
It's incredibly hard to find all those teeny, tiny poos to scoop out!

[Aundrea]

Mine poops sometimes in the water but she does poop on the side of it lol But my boxie turtle poops in her water ALL THE TIME

[bulrush]

Actually I use clumping cat litter (I know some people don't like the dust it may have) but cleaning the litter is easier than scrubbing and disinfecting the water dish.

So, my other problem was his apparent lack of appetite. I remember I have not had his light on over his cage for about 7-10 days. Do you think that is it? Temperature is about 74-76F for the past 7 days also. Perhaps temp is a bit low?

Icky, nasty, dish pooper.

[Snake lover 3-25]

lol i have 2 water dishes in the cage and the first one to be pooped in becomes the communal litter box lol then they just use the other one for drinking

[Loren]

lol i have 2 water dishes in the cage and the first one to be pooped in becomes the communal litter box lol then they just use the other one for drinking

You got some smart snakes there, Shanley. They already understand the difference between the toilet and the sink !

Bulrush, I have noticed some snakes like to go in water as well. I dont see it as a problem. Saves money on bedding, since it lasts longer.
Just make sure and clean it as soon as you can so they dont drink it.