How do I switch to f/t mice?

[Topaz]

I'm sure I probably have a long ways to go before considering to switch my baby garter to prekilled mice, but when the time comes I'd like to be prepared. I thought that maybe the sooner the better, but she's obviously way too small for it now (about 4 weeks old.) She's eating vigorously on worms right now (will be getting feeder guppies this weekend.)

For those of you who switched to a rodent diet, how did you do it? Braining? Scenting? Is switching them to mice healthier? Any advice and/or sites with info would be appreciated!

And just for fun, a picture of Inyoka eating a worm

[Elliot]

Just scent the mouse with worms or guppies. And yes, mice are a balanced diet, but I'd still supplement with at least calcium, and I still use a multivitamin powder every once in a while too.

[crzy_kevo]

i agree with elliot scent with w/e they are used to eating if they dont take the pinks right away and use a multivitamin every one in a while the calcium might not be needed as much because of the bones in the pinks but it wouldn't hurt

[Elliot]

i agree with elliot scent with w/e they are used to eating if they dont take the pinks right away and use a multivitamin every one in a while the calcium might not be needed as much because of the bones in the pinks but it wouldn't hurt

Well the reason I mentioned the calcium is because the bones in the pinks aren't very well developed.

[crzy_kevo]

ahh yes very true

i dont have the money to pay for f/t pinkies so i tend to use f/t w/c frogs but if you are to do that then i would suggest going to several different ponds to get the frogs as to not wipe them out

[Topaz]

ahh yes very true

i dont have the money to pay for f/t pinkies so i tend to use f/t w/c frogs but if you are to do that then i would suggest going to several different ponds to get the frogs as to not wipe them out

No ponds around here. I've read different things from different sources. I've read that feeding amphibians increases the chance of the garter getting a disease, and I've read it's better to go with a natural diet. I feel more comfortable using rodents if it's a complete diet instead of worrying if the snake is getting everything she needs.

Before I got the garter, I read it's best to get them on f/t pinkie parts. I tried it once scented with worms and she ignored it.

[jitami]

Sorry was letting the dogs out while you posted that you had tried "parts" already...

Topaz, if you have other animals already eating pinkies or fuzzies and have the pinkies on hand, you can start mixing in a little bit with the worms and fish now. What I did today was cut the back legs & tail off of a frozen pinky. My adult was offered the rest of the pinky and the babies got the legs/tail with some fish fillet. One of the babies, same age as yours, ate one of the legs/tail. It's hard to describe, and if you're easily offended please quit reading now, but I just cut straight across the anal area of the mouse, which left me with two back legs and a tail connected, which in a straight line was no bigger than the small worm you're feeding. I find it easier to cut the pinky while it's frozen, or very slightly thawed, other's disagree I watched the baby eat it and it was a bit large, but not too bad.

[crzy_kevo]

actually frogs are a natural part of many garters diet they love them thing and yes frogs can carry parasites but it isn't totally proven that those parasites can be transfered over to the snake as well freezing the frogs for a few days kills the parasites inside them and a frog has problably just as much goodness for a garter as a pinky with less fat

[Topaz]

We tried legs and the tail with chopped worms and she just went for the worms. We now have no other animals eating pinkies or fuzzies, so the rest of the mouse would end up getting tossed (just switch the little BP to adult f/t mice.) We broke the legs and tail off while it was still frozen, and they came off easily and thawed quicker than anything else we've had to feed.

I have another question about fish. I know most people feed the live fish, which is what I plan on buying this weekend. Are there any frozen fish that can be bought from a pet store to feed? I saw some in the same freezer with the frozen rodents, but they looked way too big for the little baby.

[Stefan-A]

Actually Kevin, it's pretty well established that some can be transfered to the snake and freezing doesn't kill all parasites.