VERY odd observation!

Zephyr · 05-09-2008, 12:36 PM

I let a few of the WC garters into the pen today, and after a few minutes they had adjusted to my presence. So I'm watching them and all of a sudden the little butler-like male starts flicking his tongue rapidly. I noticed there was a dead worm in the pen, and there were a whole bunch of ants around it. So the butlers slithers over to the carcass and starts eating the ants! A little later he browsed through the oak leaves and was doing the same!
What is going on here?!

Snake lover 3-25 · 05-09-2008, 01:23 PM

strange i didn't know that they could even eat ants??!!!!!

adamanteus · 05-09-2008, 01:37 PM

Kyle, I think you are mistaken in what you think you saw. Maybe an ant or two stuck to the snakes tongue while he was investigating the worm.
Garters don't eat ants. They would be unable to maneuver them to the back of their throat, and they cannot digest the exoskeletons.

Zephyr · 05-09-2008, 01:50 PM

I'm 100% sure he was eating them. I can't think of any other reason he would be making the swallowing "gesture" while rummaging through the oak leaves in a feeding fashion.

CrazyHedgehog · 05-09-2008, 03:04 PM

do it again, but this time film it!!

aSnakeLovinBabe · 05-09-2008, 08:56 PM

the ants smelled like worm carcass.... .. ..?

Lori P · 05-10-2008, 06:50 AM

Get pics, Kyle... you could revolutionize the garter feeding industry as well!!!

Thamnophis · 05-10-2008, 08:26 AM

I would not rule out that ants (or other insects) are sometimes eaten.

Some thirty years ago I had a terrarium (200 x 50 x 50 cm) in which different species of Thamnophis lived. There also was a Podarcis sicula (Italian wall lizard) in this terrarium because there was no other room for him. He always sat on top of the snakes under the lightbulb so he could get the most warmth.
There was never a problem between them.

But when I put a handful of mealworms in his foodbowl it happened that they were gone very fast (they could not escape). And it were too much mealworms for that one lizard to eat in one time.
I suspected a Thamnophis radix to eat them. Have never caught him in the act, but the times that it happened he was the only snake that was active on that moment.
Unfortunately I have never examined the stool of the snakes for chitineparts of the mealworms.

zooplan · 05-10-2008, 09:18 AM

Martin Hallmen reported that garters may eat thier own (sheded) skin because of the smell of feeder fish, so the garter may have eaten some ants, carrying worm pieces.

aSnakeLovinBabe · 05-10-2008, 10:22 AM

i have seen some of my baby garters eat their own skin! like, grab it, and start eating it. I wouldn't entire rule out that some garters have taken up a liking for insects... I've got one that'll eat waxworms... but then again she will eat anything I put in front of her if I present it like food.

05-09-2008, 12:36 PM	#1 (permalink)
Zephyr Thamnophis inspectus Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Dearborn, Michigan Posts: 1,701 Country:	VERY odd observation! I let a few of the WC garters into the pen today, and after a few minutes they had adjusted to my presence. So I'm watching them and all of a sudden the little butler-like male starts flicking his tongue rapidly. I noticed there was a dead worm in the pen, and there were a whole bunch of ants around it. So the butlers slithers over to the carcass and starts eating the ants! A little later he browsed through the oak leaves and was doing the same! What is going on here?!

05-09-2008, 01:23 PM	#2 (permalink)
Snake lover 3-25 "PM Boots For Custom Title" Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: NY Posts: 2,231 Country:	Re: VERY odd observation! strange i didn't know that they could even eat ants??!!!!! __________________ S h a n l e y 3.2.26 eastern garters 1 midland painted turtle 1 bernese mountain dog, and a half siamese cat. 34 pets is WAY to many

05-09-2008, 01:37 PM	#3 (permalink)
adamanteus Moderator Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Cheshire. (Near Manchester). Posts: 8,354 Country:	Re: VERY odd observation! Kyle, I think you are mistaken in what you think you saw. Maybe an ant or two stuck to the snakes tongue while he was investigating the worm. Garters don't eat ants. They would be unable to maneuver them to the back of their throat, and they cannot digest the exoskeletons. __________________ James.

05-09-2008, 01:50 PM	#4 (permalink)
Zephyr Thamnophis inspectus Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Dearborn, Michigan Posts: 1,701 Country:	Re: VERY odd observation! I'm 100% sure he was eating them. I can't think of any other reason he would be making the swallowing "gesture" while rummaging through the oak leaves in a feeding fashion.

05-09-2008, 03:04 PM	#5 (permalink)
CrazyHedgehog "Fourth shed, A Success" Join Date: Aug 2006 Posts: 809 Country:	Re: VERY odd observation! do it again, but this time film it!! __________________ Inge our house is like a zoo, too many to list here!

05-09-2008, 08:56 PM	#6 (permalink)
aSnakeLovinBabe Old and wise snake Join Date: Nov 2007 Posts: 1,031 Country:	Re: VERY odd observation! the ants smelled like worm carcass.... .. ..? __________________ Shannon<3Nicole 7.10 assorted adult garters. infinity baby garters. that which does not kill me , can only make me stronger.

05-10-2008, 06:50 AM	#7 (permalink)
Lori P The Purple Snake Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: VA Posts: 2,713 Country:	Re: VERY odd observation! Get pics, Kyle... you could revolutionize the garter feeding industry as well!!! __________________ Lori, New Hope Rescue-- rescuing equines and others www.newhoperescueva.com

05-10-2008, 08:26 AM	#8 (permalink)
Thamnophis "PM Boots For Custom Title" Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: Netherlands Posts: 1,320 Country:	Re: VERY odd observation! I would not rule out that ants (or other insects) are sometimes eaten. Some thirty years ago I had a terrarium (200 x 50 x 50 cm) in which different species of Thamnophis lived. There also was a Podarcis sicula (Italian wall lizard) in this terrarium because there was no other room for him. He always sat on top of the snakes under the lightbulb so he could get the most warmth. There was never a problem between them. But when I put a handful of mealworms in his foodbowl it happened that they were gone very fast (they could not escape). And it were too much mealworms for that one lizard to eat in one time. I suspected a Thamnophis radix to eat them. Have never caught him in the act, but the times that it happened he was the only snake that was active on that moment. Unfortunately I have never examined the stool of the snakes for chitineparts of the mealworms. __________________ Kousebandslangen.nl - Member of the EGSA It is always advisable to be a loser if you cannot become a winner. Frank Zappa

05-10-2008, 09:18 AM	#9 (permalink)
zooplan The red side of life. Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: Bonn Posts: 1,107 Country:	Re: VERY odd observation! Martin Hallmen reported that garters may eat thier own (sheded) skin because of the smell of feeder fish, so the garter may have eaten some ants, carrying worm pieces. __________________ best wishes bis bald Udo www.zooplan.net Member of the EGSA

05-10-2008, 10:22 AM	#10 (permalink)
aSnakeLovinBabe Old and wise snake Join Date: Nov 2007 Posts: 1,031 Country:	Re: VERY odd observation! i have seen some of my baby garters eat their own skin! like, grab it, and start eating it. I wouldn't entire rule out that some garters have taken up a liking for insects... I've got one that'll eat waxworms... but then again she will eat anything I put in front of her if I present it like food. __________________ Shannon<3Nicole 7.10 assorted adult garters. infinity baby garters. that which does not kill me , can only make me stronger.

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