Snake Update

[abcat1993]

Well that would make sense as mine is wild caught

[abcat1993]

I'm congratulating myself for feeding my garter what was possibly it's first fish, and definitely it's first rosy red (unless they are wild and in Wisconsin)

[Sid]

Don't feel alone over the pickie eaters. I have two female T.s.sirtalis than I never managed to get to eat anything but frogs prior to burmation . Hoping as I bring them out in a couple of weeks they are hungry enough to eat something else!! I've tried scenting and every other trick that has been posted on the forum.

Sid

[zirliz]

I just feed mine live fish minnows and goldfish they eat some dead thawed stickleback I got from college also

[Snaky]

For very poor eaters, I'd certainly try some worms. I've noticed every garter has a very high response to their smell. Except for cyrtopsis, I've yet to see a cyrtopsis eat a worm...

If they eat that, you can always cut them open and rub it on the pinkies... this has never failed me.

[abcat1993]

He's not a picky eater, I just didn't explain it enough. That was the second time I've even tried to feed him (once before he started eating and one after).

[abcat1993]

Hmm, somethings up with my snake. He hasn't eaten for over 2 weeks (2 weeks and 2 days to be exact). If he was about to shed would it make him not eat for that long? Last time it was a couple days before he shed. I just tried again today, so I'll wait till tuesday and try a mouse.

[Stefan-A]

How active is he? More than before, or less? Mating season is approaching and the males can go off-feed for a long time.

Right now I'm regretting that I didn't document my own male's behavior from last spring. But I think it stopped eating at about this time and didn't eat at all for a couple of months. It didn't come as a surprise to me, but it was still a bit unnerving to see that already tiny snake go off feed and race around the terrarium almost nonstop for that long.

[abcat1993]

Yeah, mine is still pretty active. About the same as before, maybe a little more. Too bad I don't have a female also.

[Cazador]

Matt,

Stefan's probably right with breeding season approaching, but please remind us what you're feeding him. You might also want to weigh him if you have a scale that accurately measures 0.1 oz or 1.0 grams. That way you can keep track of whether or not that lack of food affects him. Just to be doubly safe, you might also want to check for a swelling in front of the vent. I don't mean to spook you, but it's always better to have a look for something possibly wrong than it is to simply hope nothing is wrong. Again, Stefan's probably right about breeding season. We'll probably hear a lot more about males refusing to eat over the next few months.

Rick