Mouse Question

[Stefan-A]

They absolutely are. So, what would be the next step? Cat food or chicken?

Seriously, I can't understand why people over here say that garters are "difficult" compared to the North American rat snakes (Pantherophis). They seem to eat pretty much anything, even in captivity.

[Cazador]

Congratulations Stefan! One more bit of variety to add to their diet . As you know, beef is very fatty, so you're wise to exercise restraint. Yet, fat is also a good energy source for times when it's necessary or desired, like pre- and post-brumation and during gestation. Cheers to your success,

Rick

[RedSided]

My red sided garter eats almost anything, I feed her once a week on fuzzies (slighty bigger mice than pinkys) and occasionally give her worms and and slugs between her main feeds, she is in great shape so far being about 6-7 years old now her diet has not let me down.

I don't like to go overboard on slugs as I find they tend to slime up her mouth and face.

I also slip in rabbit kidneys and hearts when I manage to shoot one, but thats mainly in the spring and summer.

[Thamnophis]

Stefan-A wrote: Seriously, I can't understand why people over here say that garters are "difficult" compared to the North American rat snakes (Pantherophis). They seem to eat pretty much anything, even in captivity.

Stefan, to some point I agree with you.
Most garter snakes eat almost everything. That is indeed easy.
But...

When you feed Pantherophis species well fed mice (or rats), they do well and get everything they need.
The "problem" with garter snakes is to balance their food and add sufficient amoents of calcium, vitamins, minerals, etc.
That is not that easy. Especially for a beginner.

Thus... I find Pantherophis species much easier than Thamnophis if you want to give them a balanced diet.

[crayguns]

For whatever it's worth dept. If your garter or other snake is big enough, one can often buy "culls" at a chicken hatchery rather cheaply. Culls are chicks that hatch out with something wrong. These are usually destroyed or sold to people with hungry critters. I use to freeze them. My snake didn't care if they were thawed out or alive. I would wriggle it in front of Desmond, his attention would awaken and he'd eat the others I put in his cage.

[Stefan-A]

Definitely too big for my snakes, but perhaps not in a couple of years.

[Thamnophis]

Newborn chicks are too big for my snakes to, but you can use a pair of scissors to cut it to pieces. And than feed it.
But you will have to add every now and then some vitamin/minerall powder. Because they are not suited as mainfood.
When you feed them beside fish and mice... perfect!

[Stefan-A]

Hatchling quails might be the right size for a large garter snake?

[Thamnophis]

Quails (and other small birds) are the right size, I agree.
And it would not surprise me if these groundnesting birds are every now and then on the menu in the wild to.

[Stefan-A]

I was just thinking about quails, since they are a commonly farmed type of bird, which would make them easier to find. Very expensive, though, if I remember correctly, but maybe you could get your hands on a few culled ones.