New Snake-help?

[Saphyre_rose]

Hey all, I have just recently aquired a lovely baby garter snake from some friends of mine who were rock climbing and although I have kept garters before, it was full grown ones not a young one like this one.
My snake appears to not be eating and I am starting to get worried-is this normal? I have her in a small enclosure with fresh water, a plant, and a hidey-hole which seems to be suiting her fine. I have been feeding her (or trying to at least) baby nightcrawlers cut up because thats all I have been able to find around here. I would really like to try her on some crickets but there are no local pet stores that sell them and I am wary of buying crickets online in large quanties if she is not going to eat them.
Suggestions, comments, or any help would be much appricated! Thanks!

[KITKAT]

You can add thiaminase safe fish (see below) to her diet immediately, as there are plenty of different ways to provide this food:

1. Trout strips cut to appropriate size.
2. Bait store minnows, frozen and thawed, and cut to appropriate size, or released live into the water dish.
3. Rosey Reds, bought from the pet store. If not appropriate size, follow the idea of #2 above. If the size is OK, then release them live into the water dish.
4. Feeder guppies are available at most pet stores and can be fed in the water dish.

Other members will post about feeding scented pinkies. I find it helpful to scent pinkies with fish, so adding fish to the diet is a first step towards this anyway.

Here is the information about thiaminase and fish:

http://www.thamnophis.com/caresheets...C_.26_GOLDFISH

[adamanteus]

Brenda, maybe she isn't eating because she is newly acquired and hasn't settled down yet. How long have you had her?

Forget the crickets, Garters don't eat them at all. KITKATs advice about the diet is good.

[Saphyre_rose]

What would be approiate size for trout strips because I think this is all I am going to be able to get for the time being untill I can drive an hour to a real pet store

[Saphyre_rose]

I'v had her for about a week now-whats normal settling time?

[KITKAT]

Originally Posted by Saphyre_rose

What would be approiate size for trout strips because I think this is all I am going to be able to get for the time being untill I can drive an hour to a real pet store

How big is your snake?

[adamanteus]

A week isn't very long, so don't worry just yet. I'm sure she'll start to eat very soon. As for the size of trout strips, that would depend on the size of the snake...I guess about half an inch long and as wide as her head.

[Saphyre_rose]

Lets see... I would put her at around 8'' long and maybe 1-2cm around?

[Saphyre_rose]

I was also wondering about heat lamps/heated rocks-should I use them? The dorms are kept heated in the winter and so far she seems to be doing ok but as it gets colder I am considering it

[adamanteus]

Originally Posted by Saphyre_rose

Lets see... I would put her at around 8'' long and maybe 1-2cm around?

I would just cut the trout strips to the size of her head.