Irregular Feedings Correspondence to Breeding?

[GarterGeek]

I am currently keeping three wild caught eastern garter snakes in the same aquarium; two males and a female.

I keep the aquarium on my enclosed back porch it gets partial sunshine and I've not had a problem with over-heating. I mention this primarily to show that the snakes are exposed to natural temperatures, and that their body cycles should not be altered by their captivity.

I keep a log of my feedings and have noticed some irregularities.
It started Aug7. One of the males did not eat, tried to bite me and musked (or pooped - not sure). This male used to be hand-fed scented pinkies and has never displayed aggressive behavior before.
Aug10, the same male who didn't eat mated with my female. I thought this might be an explanation because Aug11, that male ate 3 nightcrawlers however; he needed a lot of coaxing and was still trying to bite my hands when I took him out of the feeding bucket. Usually, in the feeding bucket he is excited about food but he seemed just freaked out.
Aug15 none of them would eat anything. The female hadn't eaten since Aug 2nd, and she turned down a salamander, which she usually eats with relish. Both males turned down the salamanders too. I have NEVER had this happen before. They also wouldn't eat worms or live, scented pinkies. They act normal in every other way. None are preparing to shed and they are still calm and inquisitive.

I have offered food since and none of eaten anything. I'm not yet worried about starving as I know they can go a long time without food, I'm just concerned as to whatever may be causing them to stop eating. I might add that the weather got considerably warmer at the beginning of this period. It's been a cool summer (70-80F) and over the past few weeks it's been getting warmer (80-upper90sF).


Is this normal and is the change in their eating pattern related to breeding? The male who did not breed also refused food. Could it have something to do with the rising temperature?

I'm sorry this is a lot of info and it's rather unorganized. I would be very grateful for some advice.

[aSnakeLovinBabe]

My guess is one of two things:

1.) it's just too hot at the moment and it's making the snakes uneasy... maybe they are more focused about it being too hot and finding cool spots than they are worried about eating. I noticed during the heat of the day on a hot day, garters are often nowhere to be found, unless you go deep under a pile of rocks or similar, where it's cooler. They come out again when the sun is setting and suddenly they are everywhere. Since yours are in a cage outdoors, they are forced to be in whatever the current ambient temperature is, and often I find that if my snakeroom reaches 90 on a really hot day that the snakes get antsy and uneasy, even mildly aggressive. Whatever the case, I would certainly expect snakes that are sensing the excess heat to go off feed until the weather favors their digestive tracts again.

2.) maybe they are sensing the upcoming change in seasons and know that fall is going to be coming shortly. I know that garters are observed to breed before the brumation and maybe that explains why your male went off feed, and the extremely late copulation. Sensing a change in the seasons will cause them to do things such as stop feeding, court one another, and if they were free to do so, migrate to the den.

Maybe, its one of those two things or maybe its a combination of all of those factors put together. I was not saying that having them outdoors is bad, but maybe if it's getting too hot, evne in the shade, or if you want to prevent them from going off feed due to shifting climates it would be a good idea to bring them inside. Even here, where my snakeroom is pretty stable, some of the pickier garters KNOW it's getting cooler outdoors and they stop eating. I go through it every year and it bugs the heck out of me!!

[GarterGeek]

Thank you sooo much! I was very worried. I'm betting on a mixture of the two. I'll try taking them in.

[ssssnakeluvr]

not unusual....end of summer is coming...I have a few going off feed already. unlikely on the breeding tho....some have been seen breeding in the fall, but won't produce anything til next spring. the female needs the cool down period to stimulate the breeding cycle and be able to produce eggs for the sperm to fertilize. I have seen wanderings breeding in the fall...but won't see babies until next year.

[GarterGeek]

So I won't be seeing any babies 'till spring!? I had my hopes up for a late fall litter. Is there any chance of that?

[ssssnakeluvr]

very slim....