Garter snake won't eat

shiloh · #1 (**permalink**) 10-25-2005, 03:14 AM

my garter snake won't eat.so i was wonderin' if i should buy some live mice,
and what size of mice?

garrett · #2 (**permalink**) 10-25-2005, 03:21 AM

How girthy is ur snake? A pic whould help. And no to live.

shiloh · #3 (**permalink**) 10-25-2005, 03:39 AM

girthy? ill try to get some pics tomorow.But hes about 2ft long are so.

louise · #4 (**permalink**) 10-25-2005, 03:51 AM

no. try worms or fish. garters eat fish and worms. you have to try to switch them over to rodents. so far i cant get mine to eat rodents. he would have got pinkies. try live minnows in a bowl of water or buy a can of earth worms. cut the earth worms up a bit. he will eat.

shiloh · #5 (**permalink**) 10-25-2005, 04:09 AM

awsome that will be cheaper!!!
thanks Louise

louise · #6 (**permalink**) 10-25-2005, 04:10 AM

you are welcome

CRG · #7 (**permalink**) 10-25-2005, 02:43 PM

This is funny, Ive had two wild caught garters, one was an adult redsided(very calm I almost kept her) and the other was a common garter about 3ft long(very nasty and aggressive) and both ate frozen thawed mice without a problem..And I kept them for several months each...Im not saying they dont eat fish or worms Im just surprised that this is a problem..Maybe its because they were older?

Livia · #8 (**permalink**) 10-25-2005, 05:02 PM

Their diet depends entirely on which species of garter you're referring to, there are nearly 30 different species in the Thamnophis genus, that live in widely varying habitats and climates. Some are from areas where there are fish and amphibians as easy prey, and some are more dry-land species where rodents are more common food sources.

louise · #9 (**permalink**) 10-26-2005, 01:55 AM

mine is a butler garter. i used to have an albino rescue and he loved fish. he didn't make it though

only snake i ever lost.

gemisnake · #10 (**permalink**) 10-26-2005, 02:14 AM

I used to be really into garter snakes and have had sirtalis, radix, and marcianus. All have eaten a varied diet that included fish and earthworms but was mostly compromised of mice. It is a myth that they wont eat mice without training as far as I know. Every breeder I know gives a diet compromised mainly of mice, but never live!!!!
It is very likely that a garter that doesnt eat has a bad case of intestinal parasites. Call around to find a cheap reptile vet that can take a fecal sample in to be checked. It is usually not expensive to diagnose and treat. Garters that are fed a diet of fish usually have parasites because of this. Also fo fish please avoid goldfish, go for minnows.
Do try other food items though, your garter could be one of the stubborn ones that wants earthworms or minnows, plus it is so much fun to watch them "go fishing", just remember that live fish carry parasites and an overload of these parasites can make the snake sick.
Anyways good luck. Garters are so much fun becaus they are so active in the environment.

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