Question about feeding

[acovert]

Hello,

I have a little question about feeding my baby garter.

He's about 6-7 inches long right now - about 3 to 3.5 months old, I think. He was born September sometime.

The people who had him before were convinced that he was eating crickets. He wasn't. I couldn't get him to eat the ones they gave me for him. A few days later, when I had transported him to Montana for school with me, I started him on fish. He took to those pretty quickly and that's what he's been living off of for a while now. I keep them in his tank/cage constantly, so he can eat them when he gets hungry, but I want to vary his diet some so that he's getting enough nutrition. So far he won't take anything that doesn't move, even if it's fish. Mice aren't an option right now. Maybe later, when I'm settled back at home, but not now.

I'm trying nightcrawlers. I bought some at Walmart and I'm trying to introduce him to them. However, he doesn't seem interested at all. He checked them out once, and now he's completely ignoring them. I figure it will take some time, but he tends to be picky. Is there any way I can encourage him to take the worms?

Also, are there any other foods that I can try? Or any supplements that I should be using?

[infernalis]

What kind of fish are you feeding, Certain fish contain the enzyme Thiaminase that can be harmful over the long term.

[acovert]

I'm honestly not sure. There isn't a label at Petco (at least not a legible one) and they just call them feeder fish here. The ones I usually get are grayish in color and relatively small. Petco's the only viable pet store in town. There's another store, but it looks....bad.

[guidofatherof5]

You might try scenting the worm pieces in fishy water.
Best of luck. Keep us posted on your progress.

[infernalis]

I'm honestly not sure. There isn't a label at Petco (at least not a legible one) and they just call them feeder fish here. The ones I usually get are grayish in color and relatively small. Petco's the only viable pet store in town. There's another store, but it looks....bad.

Sounds like Rosy reds, They contain Thiaminase. Ask and see if you can get feeder guppies.

I feed my snakes quite a bit of chopped up trout, other members feed tilapia & salmon.

[acovert]

I tried giving him some salmon that my roommate had bought. He wasn't interested in it if it wasn't moving. The fish the jerk at Petco gave me was the first thing I managed to get him to eat. Right now I'm trying to coax him into eating the nightcrawlers (which are extremely unpleasant to cut up).

I leave for home this Thursday. Portland is large enough that there are plenty of options when it comes to pet stores. I'll see if I can find feeder guppies when I get there - he won't eat much before then, and if I can get him onto the nightcrawlers for a few days then he won't need the fish. I'll see if I can find some chopped up fish that he will take at home as well - I'll have a lot more freedom there.

[EasternGirl]

Also...make certain they are nightcrawlers and not red wigglers...not trying to insult your intelligence if you do know the difference...some people do not. Red wigglers are very toxic to garter snakes. I didn't know the difference when I was first learning about snakes . You will get used to cutting up the nightcrawlers...it just takes a little time . Try scissors...easier than using a knife.

[acovert]

They are Nightcrawlers! I found this forum trying to figure out what kind of worms to get and where to get them. I got these ones from Walmart and the package says nightcrawlers.

[EasternGirl]

Okay...just checking . Good...now you just have to get him/her to eat them...lol. Don't worry...all my snakes would eat at first were worms...and now I have them eating pinkies and fish all the time! When you get home you will have more options...the people on this forum will work with you to help you getting your snake eating a well-rounded diet.

[acovert]

I want to know as much as I can before I go home because his brothers and sisters with his old owner aren't doing well and the owner wants me to look at them and see if I can give advice on how to make things better for them. They lost one of the babies recently, and I'd like to be able to tell them what they're doing wrong.

I tried the fish water. He ignored them and now he's looking for the fish that are normally in his water dish. I think the worm that I cut up is dead now, anyways. He probably won't take it if that's the case. He showed a little interest when they were still moving.