can you feed them pork?

[adamanteus]

What about cheese, or houmous?

[Stefan-A]

Originally Posted by aSnakeLovinBabe

I can't see justification in feeding those things when there are plenty of other readily available and more natural sources of food for our snakes.

Nitpicking can be taken to the extreme in this case, too. Amphibians are the main food for most garters, not fish, worms or rodents. Most fish, rodent and worm species we feed garters aren't even their natural prey. Mus musculus and Lumbricus terrestris aren't native to North America. Neither is the natal rat, the brown rat, the gerbil or the hamsters.

The snake's body won't know the difference between natural and "unnatural" food items, as long as there isn't something about them that makes them unsuitable as garter food. Such as thiaminase, present in certain fish species that one could assume would be a part of the wild garter's diet. Or parasites, which amphibians can be expected to carry.

[aSnakeLovinBabe]

i had amphibians in that original list, but I took it out when I decided that someone would probably be up my butt about parasites.

[adamanteus]

Most years I feed my Garters on frogs that I rear from 'rescued' spawn. I never recommend it to others because I'm aware of the risks.... but I've never had a problem yet. Sometimes I wonder if it's something of an urban myth.....
Anyone have actual experience of parasite problems from using amphibians as Garter food?

[aSnakeLovinBabe]

Originally Posted by aSnakeLovinBabe

Fish, worms, and small rodents are all things that are both plentiful and inexpensive for us to acquire and are natural prey items of garter snakes

I would like to make very clear that my intention in writing this was not to say its what garters eat the MOST of, but they are things that garters do naturally predate on. When I am herping outside and I see a big robust female garter swinging from the tail or utters of a cow I'll think about beef

until then, its fish worms pinkies and the occasional wood salamander for my garters!

[Bay_area]

Originally Posted by aSnakeLovinBabe

When I am herping outside and I see a big robust female garter swinging from the tail or utters of a cow I'll think about beef

ROTFL!


I caught a bunch of tree frogs when I was out one time to feed to the garters, I fed a couple to them the next day & put the rest in an aquarium to feed to them later. The frogs are so cool looking that they have become pets, so I can not feed them to the garters now. I have the aquarium set up next to my bed now with the frogs, salamander, newt & a spadefoot toad. NEVER GET ATTACHED TO THE FOOD!

[Stefan-A]

Originally Posted by aSnakeLovinBabe

When I am herping outside and I see a big robust female garter swinging from the tail or utters of a cow I'll think about beef

I could show you a big robust female garter swinging from my finger. Doesn't mean I'm on the menu.

[aSnakeLovinBabe]

Originally Posted by Stefan-A

I could show you a big robust female garter swinging from my finger. Doesn't mean I'm on the menu.

well I would most certainly hope not... sounds like a very naughty garter snake needs some manners

[aSnakeLovinBabe]

Originally Posted by Bay_area

ROTFL!

NEVER GET ATTACHED TO THE FOOD!

HAHA, my mom does this way too often. she gets SO upset and calls me cruel and heartless when I feed things to the snakes. I keep explaining to her that I would be cruel and heartless if I let them starve!

[Stefan-A]

I bet if you genetically engineered a 30 gram cow, not a single garter could resist it either.