Wild caught baby Garter won't eat...

[Azurascender]

I'm sure this has been covered on multiple occasions, but I will ask anyways since I am getting nothing useful from the search function. I caught a baby garter snake on the beach in my back yard, he got to be no more than a week old. About 7 inches, and a little less than a quarter inch thick at it's meatiest point. How long do they usually go without eating before their first bite? I have been putting it in a separate container with chopped up worms, and still no go.

[Didymus20X6]

Give him a few days. If he doesn't eat the worm pieces, maybe try getting some live guppies, or scent the worm pieces with fish.

Wild caught snakes sometimes won't eat right away because the initial capture, new surroundings, etc., will put stress on them, causing them not to eat. But usually, if you can entice the snake to eat a small something, they will usually get their appetite back.

[BLUESIRTALIS]

I would love to see pics if you have some. Which beech did you find it near? Are you 100% sure it's a garter?

[RedSidedSPR]

What kind is it? Unless it's a northwestern I would try fish not worms.

Babies can take up to a month before they first eat. Wild caughts though is sometimes different. Often stresses them out so they don't eat.

I'd try some things like a container with LIVE feeder guppies, etc, and let him go if he doesn't eat. Of course its your choice.

[infernalis]

If you found him on a beach, try live guppies, cut up trout or pan fish.

[guidofatherof5]

Nice to have you on the forum. Be sure to introduce yourself in the "Welcome Lounge"
Welcome Lounge - Garter Snake Forum
It would be great to know what species/subspecies garter you're talking about. What part of the country do you live in. Any chance you can post a few photos of your snake?
Didymus was given some good advise.
Here's a link to the forum care sheet. It will help answer some question. Anything not covered feel free to ask on the forum.
Garter Snake Care Sheet - Caresheets

[Kantar]

Hi there,

what seemed to work for me and helps the snake reduce stress, buy a background for the back and the side of the tank. What I've done in the past for injured or frightened snakes is cover all sides of the tank with cardboard so they can't see out so they can explore or relax in their surroundings without seeing something 1000x their size move. Try to feed once every couple days, a nightcrawler cut 1" long.

Snakes can last a fairly long time without eating. One of my babies went 5 or 6 weeks, kept refusing to eat

[RedSidedSPR]

When i got my anery, he had never eaten. It took me almost 5 weeks before he finally ate. It's just how it is.

[Didymus20X6]

I've read that if a baby snake takes its time eating, it might indicate an abundance of yolk in its belly. If so, it's not going to be that hungry.

In other words, do what you can, but let the snake take its time.

[RedSidedSPR]

exactly. He'll eat when he's ready. He's got "food" in him. The yolk can last him quite some time