Garter Snake Forum - View Single Post - Wild Garter -- Care Suggestions

gwynhwyfar · 03-01-2008, 08:55 PM

I'm bringing this thread back from the dead with an update and a new set of questions!

Snakey-snake seems to be doing quite well. She likes to hang out in her substrate, occasionally takes a little swim around the water bowl, lies on the rock and branch I gave her, and generally appears content. She's shed twice since I brought her home in November and has grown a -lot- since then.

My current excitement is that I finally convinced her that her food doesn't have to be alive when she starts to swallow it, so I want to switch her over from the fish of dubious safety to something that I know doesn't have thiamianese in it. I have the list of safe/unsafe fish but I'm wondering if there are any favorites of garters?

Also, can I buy it, cut it up into Snakey sized pieces, and freeze it?

My ultimate goal is to get her onto mice, but there are no stores around here that carry live feeder mice and I know that with the lack of scent in frozen, it's going to be a challenge to get her onto them. I'm just exited that we've moved to 'it doesn't have to be swimming around in the water.'

Outside of feeding, she's a sweetie. She isn't overly fond of being handled, but from time to time, she actually seems to enjoy hanging out with me. She'll curl up around my fingers like some weird kind of jewelry (I know that it's all about my body heat) or she actually crawls up into my sleeve. Which is a bit unnerving, but still kind of sweet.

Yep, I am attached to the little slither. Even if I were allowed to release her, I don't think I'd be doing so. *grins wryly*

*ETA -- For both of the sheds, they weren't clean, but I filled a bowl with warm water and she sat draped over my hands and largely in the water ... I was able to gently get the unshed portions off, including the whole tail. She's remarkably patient about the process!

03-01-2008, 08:55 PM	#35 (permalink)
gwynhwyfar Hi, I'm New Here! Join Date: Nov 2007 Posts: 17 Country:	Re: Wild Garter -- Care Suggestions I'm bringing this thread back from the dead with an update and a new set of questions! Snakey-snake seems to be doing quite well. She likes to hang out in her substrate, occasionally takes a little swim around the water bowl, lies on the rock and branch I gave her, and generally appears content. She's shed twice since I brought her home in November and has grown a -lot- since then. My current excitement is that I finally convinced her that her food doesn't have to be alive when she starts to swallow it, so I want to switch her over from the fish of dubious safety to something that I know doesn't have thiamianese in it. I have the list of safe/unsafe fish but I'm wondering if there are any favorites of garters? Also, can I buy it, cut it up into Snakey sized pieces, and freeze it? My ultimate goal is to get her onto mice, but there are no stores around here that carry live feeder mice and I know that with the lack of scent in frozen, it's going to be a challenge to get her onto them. I'm just exited that we've moved to 'it doesn't have to be swimming around in the water.' Outside of feeding, she's a sweetie. She isn't overly fond of being handled, but from time to time, she actually seems to enjoy hanging out with me. She'll curl up around my fingers like some weird kind of jewelry (I know that it's all about my body heat) or she actually crawls up into my sleeve. Which is a bit unnerving, but still kind of sweet. Yep, I am attached to the little slither. Even if I were allowed to release her, I don't think I'd be doing so. grins wryly *ETA -- For both of the sheds, they weren't clean, but I filled a bowl with warm water and she sat draped over my hands and largely in the water ... I was able to gently get the unshed portions off, including the whole tail. She's remarkably patient about the process!