eastern blue ribbon snake.

EXTASY · 01-29-2008, 12:28 AM

i think thats whats it called..
hi I'm new to this forum and garter snakes..
i really need help in trying to feed my ribbon..because he hasn't eaten for more than a week!

hes over a foot..i think a foot and 3inch or 2inch?
i tried to give him pinkies but nothing. gave him minnows in his water bowl nothing. tried crickets? nothing.
i cant get nightcrawlers here so thats a problem.. i live in Hong Kong by the way. as you can see my ribbon is called extasy.
help me please i really like my snake. never had a snake before.
got it as a present. thanks

Stefan-A · 01-29-2008, 03:21 AM

Welcome aboard.

It's not uncommon for a snake to wait a week or more before eating for the first time after moving in.

Don't bother with crickets and other insects, they aren't ribbon food. You can possibly get it to take pinkies, but it takes a lot of effort since it's a ribbon snake (specialized in fish, newts and tadpoles). I'd focus on trying to get it to take fish. Are you offering live or dead fish? Live fish, in a shallow bowl with water that doesn't cover the fish entirely and makes them splash around when they swim, might do the trick.

There is a Bluestripe ribbon snake (Thamnophis sauritus nitae), a subspecies of the Eastern ribbon snake (Thamnophis sauritus).

Sid · 01-29-2008, 03:42 AM

Stefan's advice is right on the money. I had a Ribbon in the past and one of his favorite food items was salamanders if you can get any small enough. Welcome to the forum.

Sputnik · 01-29-2008, 04:08 AM

Don't worry. Most snakes only get fed once a week or even less frequently. I have a garter who's been on hungerstrike for 3 months, but has otherwise been active and alert, she has now finally taken a pinkie. I know how worrying it can be when they refuse food, but really, a week is nothing to be concerned about.

EXTASY · 01-29-2008, 05:28 AM

i tried live minnows..he didnt go for it..
would you advise me to use floating frogs to feed my ribbon?
or what types of newts? fire?

do i need to keep it in a quarintine? before feeding

Odie · 01-29-2008, 07:14 AM

Hi, from Oregon, Extasy

Snaky · 01-29-2008, 07:44 AM

You've already given good advice, so:
Welcome from Belgium, have fun here!

drache · 01-29-2008, 08:34 AM

welcome to this forum
don't worry just yet
your snake is still settling in and you've already gotten some great advice
also peruse this
http://www.thamnophis.com/caresheets...ake_Care_Sheet

GarterGuy · 01-29-2008, 08:40 AM

Welcome to the forum. I agree with the advice that Stephan gave you. Ribbons can be a bit more tricky then other Thamnophis, so have patience with it. Something else to try is to just put a live fish in the bottom of the tank so that it's flopping around. Sometimes the movement will entice the snake to go after it. Also, I'd check you temps. and such and make sure that all the conditions are good for the snake. An "uncomfortable" snake is usually not going to feed well.

adamanteus · 01-29-2008, 11:51 AM

Hi Issac, and welcome the forum.

Stefans' advice is spot on. As others have already said, your snake just needs a little time to settle in.

01-29-2008, 12:28 AM	#1 (permalink)
EXTASY Hi, I'm New Here! Join Date: Jan 2008 Posts: 6 Country:	eastern blue ribbon snake. i think thats whats it called.. hi I'm new to this forum and garter snakes.. i really need help in trying to feed my ribbon..because he hasn't eaten for more than a week! hes over a foot..i think a foot and 3inch or 2inch? i tried to give him pinkies but nothing. gave him minnows in his water bowl nothing. tried crickets? nothing. i cant get nightcrawlers here so thats a problem.. i live in Hong Kong by the way. as you can see my ribbon is called extasy. help me please i really like my snake. never had a snake before. got it as a present. thanks

01-29-2008, 03:21 AM	#2 (permalink)
Stefan-A The Prince of Insufficient Light. Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Southern Finland Posts: 5,077 Country:	Re: eastern blue ribbon snake. Welcome aboard. It's not uncommon for a snake to wait a week or more before eating for the first time after moving in. Don't bother with crickets and other insects, they aren't ribbon food. You can possibly get it to take pinkies, but it takes a lot of effort since it's a ribbon snake (specialized in fish, newts and tadpoles). I'd focus on trying to get it to take fish. Are you offering live or dead fish? Live fish, in a shallow bowl with water that doesn't cover the fish entirely and makes them splash around when they swim, might do the trick. There is a Bluestripe ribbon snake (Thamnophis sauritus nitae), a subspecies of the Eastern ribbon snake (Thamnophis sauritus). __________________ No cutesy.

01-29-2008, 03:42 AM	#3 (permalink)
Sid Thamnophis Addict Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: South Carolina Posts: 1,650 Country:	Re: eastern blue ribbon snake. Stefan's advice is right on the money. I had a Ribbon in the past and one of his favorite food items was salamanders if you can get any small enough. Welcome to the forum. __________________ Sid 6.7 T. s sirtalis- Eastern Garter 0.1.5 T. s pinkeringii- Puget 1.1 T. e vagrans- Wandering Garter 1.0 T. s sackenii- Peninsular Ribbon

01-29-2008, 04:08 AM	#4 (permalink)
Sputnik "Third shed, A Success" Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: North Wiltshire Posts: 553 Country:	Re: eastern blue ribbon snake. Don't worry. Most snakes only get fed once a week or even less frequently. I have a garter who's been on hungerstrike for 3 months, but has otherwise been active and alert, she has now finally taken a pinkie. I know how worrying it can be when they refuse food, but really, a week is nothing to be concerned about. __________________

01-29-2008, 05:28 AM	#5 (permalink)
EXTASY Hi, I'm New Here! Join Date: Jan 2008 Posts: 6 Country:	Re: eastern blue ribbon snake. i tried live minnows..he didnt go for it.. would you advise me to use floating frogs to feed my ribbon? or what types of newts? fire? do i need to keep it in a quarintine? before feeding

01-29-2008, 07:14 AM	#6 (permalink)
Odie "Third shed, A Success" Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Oregon Posts: 525 Country:	Re: eastern blue ribbon snake. Hi, from Oregon, Extasy

01-29-2008, 07:44 AM	#7 (permalink)
Snaky "PM Boots For Custom Title" Join Date: Dec 2006 Posts: 1,638 Country:	Re: eastern blue ribbon snake. You've already given good advice, so: Welcome from Belgium, have fun here! __________________ Greetz, Hans Fear can hold you prisoner. Hope can set you free. -The Shawshank Redemption- www.kousebandslangen.nl

01-29-2008, 08:34 AM	#8 (permalink)
drache Ophiuchus rhea Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Brooklyn, New York Posts: 4,005 Country:	Re: eastern blue ribbon snake. welcome to this forum don't worry just yet your snake is still settling in and you've already gotten some great advice also peruse this http://www.thamnophis.com/caresheets...ake_Care_Sheet __________________ rhea

01-29-2008, 08:40 AM	#9 (permalink)
GarterGuy Brother Snake Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Lancaster,PA Posts: 1,356 Country:	Re: eastern blue ribbon snake. Welcome to the forum. I agree with the advice that Stephan gave you. Ribbons can be a bit more tricky then other Thamnophis, so have patience with it. Something else to try is to just put a live fish in the bottom of the tank so that it's flopping around. Sometimes the movement will entice the snake to go after it. Also, I'd check you temps. and such and make sure that all the conditions are good for the snake. An "uncomfortable" snake is usually not going to feed well. __________________ *Roy* 1.1 T.s.pickeringi 0.1 T.s.concinnus 0.0.2 T.s.pallidulus

01-29-2008, 11:51 AM	#10 (permalink)
adamanteus Moderator Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Cheshire. (Near Manchester). Posts: 8,055 Country:	Re: eastern blue ribbon snake. Hi Issac, and welcome the forum. Stefans' advice is spot on. As others have already said, your snake just needs a little time to settle in. __________________ James.

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