Help?

Chickenman · 08-30-2007, 06:40 PM

Hi. Last July I caught a garter snake in the wild and decided to keep it. I didn't know that the snake was pregnant. Last night, she gave birth. I still don't have a good count, as they like to hide, but I've got about 5 or 6 newborns. Now the problem is feeding them. I'm not sure what. I bought small crickets and mealworms, but so far they seem uninterested. They won't touch them. I really don't want them to starve to death, can anyone help me?

GarterGuy · 08-31-2007, 12:39 AM

Your better off giving them fish or earthworms, garters won't touch insects. You can either give them small feeder guppies in a shallow water dish or try cutting up some fish and worms for them and giving it to them in a shallow plate or such. This seems to work pretty well, and several people who've had babies has used this technique.

Roy

Snaky · 08-31-2007, 01:57 AM

I concur with Roy. Live fish in a shallow dish with water ( so they'll splash a bit ) or earthworm of the appropriate size ( no red one's ), those are the best to get them started. If they've eaten once, you can try scenting with what they ate on other food items like pinkies.

Watch them if they eat, it can become quite a fight for the same food. And they'll also eat faster when they're in a group. If they see another snake eating, they'll try it themselves....

You've probably done that, but seperate the young ones from the adults.

Sid · 08-31-2007, 03:25 AM

I agree with the other advice. Follow it and you should have no problems.
Welcome to the forum.

Snaky · 08-31-2007, 03:30 AM

Damn, before I wrote my resonse I thaught "dont forget the welcome"... I've got alzheimer or something

Welcome to the forum, enjoy it here

LushLulu85 · 08-31-2007, 04:17 AM

welcome to the forum chicken. im Lulu. you are in safe hands on this forum. it already sounds like you have been given some good advise so i wont repeat what the others have said but i hope this works for you. xxx

drache · 08-31-2007, 04:56 AM

welcome to the forum
may your babies thrive

ssssnakeluvr · 08-31-2007, 11:22 AM

as they said above, no insects as they cannot digest them....also, they will not eat until after their first shed, which happens the first day or so. then, worms or feeder guppies in a shallow water dish, preferably a clear one so the movement will attract them. may be a few days before the eat.

adamanteus · 08-31-2007, 11:26 AM

Hi John, and welcome to the forum.

You've already been given all the advise you need to get your new babies started. Enjoy it here, and don't forget to post some photos!

Chickenman · 08-31-2007, 06:45 PM

Thanks a lot guys. Now I'm just having trouble finding worms in my backyard. It's weird, they used to be all over the place. How long do you think they can go without food?

08-30-2007, 06:40 PM	#1 (permalink)
Chickenman Hi, I'm New Here! Join Date: Aug 2007 Posts: 2 Country:	Help? Hi. Last July I caught a garter snake in the wild and decided to keep it. I didn't know that the snake was pregnant. Last night, she gave birth. I still don't have a good count, as they like to hide, but I've got about 5 or 6 newborns. Now the problem is feeding them. I'm not sure what. I bought small crickets and mealworms, but so far they seem uninterested. They won't touch them. I really don't want them to starve to death, can anyone help me?

08-31-2007, 12:39 AM	#2 (permalink)
GarterGuy Brother Snake Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Lancaster,PA Posts: 1,355 Country:	Re: Help? Your better off giving them fish or earthworms, garters won't touch insects. You can either give them small feeder guppies in a shallow water dish or try cutting up some fish and worms for them and giving it to them in a shallow plate or such. This seems to work pretty well, and several people who've had babies has used this technique. Roy __________________ *Roy* 1.1 T.s.pickeringi 0.1 T.s.concinnus 0.0.2 T.s.pallidulus

08-31-2007, 01:57 AM	#3 (permalink)
Snaky "PM Boots For Custom Title" Join Date: Dec 2006 Posts: 1,468 Country:	Re: Help? I concur with Roy. Live fish in a shallow dish with water ( so they'll splash a bit ) or earthworm of the appropriate size ( no red one's ), those are the best to get them started. If they've eaten once, you can try scenting with what they ate on other food items like pinkies. Watch them if they eat, it can become quite a fight for the same food. And they'll also eat faster when they're in a group. If they see another snake eating, they'll try it themselves.... You've probably done that, but seperate the young ones from the adults.

08-31-2007, 03:25 AM	#4 (permalink)
Sid Thamnophis Addict Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: South Carolina Posts: 1,360 Country:	Re: Help? I agree with the other advice. Follow it and you should have no problems. Welcome to the forum. __________________ Sid 7.6T. s sirtalis- Eastern Garter 1.0 T. s concinnus- Oregon Red-spotted 1.1 T. e vagrans- Wandering Garter

08-31-2007, 03:30 AM	#5 (permalink)
Snaky "PM Boots For Custom Title" Join Date: Dec 2006 Posts: 1,468 Country:	Re: Help? Damn, before I wrote my resonse I thaught "dont forget the welcome"... I've got alzheimer or something Welcome to the forum, enjoy it here

08-31-2007, 04:17 AM	#6 (permalink)
LushLulu85 "PM Boots For Custom Title" Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: stockport, Greater Manchester, uk Posts: 1,522 Country:	Re: Help? welcome to the forum chicken. im Lulu. you are in safe hands on this forum. it already sounds like you have been given some good advise so i wont repeat what the others have said but i hope this works for you. xxx __________________ Lulu 1.1.16T. M. Marcianus (Albino), Sissle & Kia and the sprogs 1.1. T. S. Tetrataenia, Clyde & Bonnie

08-31-2007, 04:56 AM	#7 (permalink)
drache Ophiuchus rhea Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Brooklyn, New York Posts: 3,426 Country:	Re: Help? welcome to the forum may your babies thrive __________________ rhea "Life is just one damn thing after another" - Mark Twain this place is one damn beautiful snake after another - me

08-31-2007, 11:22 AM	#8 (permalink)
ssssnakeluvr "PM Boots For Custom Title" Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Salt Lake City, Utah Posts: 1,478 Country:	Re: Help? as they said above, no insects as they cannot digest them....also, they will not eat until after their first shed, which happens the first day or so. then, worms or feeder guppies in a shallow water dish, preferably a clear one so the movement will attract them. may be a few days before the eat.

08-31-2007, 11:26 AM	#9 (permalink)
adamanteus Moderator Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Cheshire. (Near Manchester). Posts: 6,690 Country:	Re: Help? Hi John, and welcome to the forum. You've already been given all the advise you need to get your new babies started. Enjoy it here, and don't forget to post some photos! __________________ James.

08-31-2007, 06:45 PM	#10 (permalink)
Chickenman Hi, I'm New Here! Join Date: Aug 2007 Posts: 2 Country:	Re: Help? Thanks a lot guys. Now I'm just having trouble finding worms in my backyard. It's weird, they used to be all over the place. How long do you think they can go without food?

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