Please help with my snake

[OCMotoDad]

Hi Guys! I found this site while searching the internet on Garter Snake info about how to identify and take care of them. Im pretty darn certain that this is a Garter (not the same shaped head like a rattler) and my kids walked in the house with him saying that they caught him. After my initial shock, and seeing them holding this docile creature, they begged me to keep it.

Im normally a fish guy and don't know much about snakes. So we went out and bought a snake kit, but this guy doesn't seem to want to eat, maybe it hasn't been long enough since his last meal. Ive offered him fish as well as frozen mice (heated up in hot water).

Can anyone tell me what type of Garter this is? We live in Orange County, which is in Southern California, and back up to a wilderness area that has lots of mountain lions and rattle snakes and deer.

Any help or advice you can give will be greatly appreciated. I did attach some pics. We have also only had him for 2 days.

Thank You!

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