Please help me with my garter snake!

[Didymus20X6]

The Wal-Mart where I'm at carries Panfish Worms, Trout Worms, and Red Wigglers - aren't they all pretty much the same creature?

I just get Nightcrawlers. I know what they are, and the snakes gobble them up.

Well, not so much lately - for some reason, Little Dude and Scarlett have both stopped eating regularly. Neither of them seems ready for a shed, either.

[guidofatherof5]

The Wal-Mart where I'm at carries Panfish Worms, Trout Worms, and Red Wigglers - aren't they all pretty much the same creature?

Yes, all different names for compost worms.

[Mommy2many]

Well, not so much lately - for some reason, Little Dude and Scarlett have both stopped eating regularly. Neither of them seems ready for a shed, either.

Not to worry. Mine do that in the summer as well. They will eat sporadically from now until very early spring. Kinda like binge eating at times. They will go a few weeks sometimes without me actually witnessing them consuming food.

Keep offering and make sure they have fresh water.

[Mommy2many]

As for substrate, the shredded aspen can be obtained at Walmart for under $3.00 a bag. It will more than last your tank for a couple changes. It is easy to clean and one of the better substrates (easier) to use and believe me, I think I have used them all.

The reptibark is nice (expensive).
The cocofiber is also nice but tends to be dusty. If you buy this in bricks, you have to soak it and then dry it before you can use it.
I have also used wood pellets. They work really well for cleanups.

Your snake will like to tunnel and burrow. The aspen works really well for that.

Good luck. You have a nice looking snake there!

[Didymus20X6]

Not to worry. Mine do that in the summer as well. They will eat sporadically from now until very early spring. Kinda like binge eating at times. They will go a few weeks sometimes without me actually witnessing them consuming food.

Keep offering and make sure they have fresh water.

I'm guessing that, in the spring, they gorge themselves to make up for fasting over the winter. Both Little Dude and Scarlett were little pigs earlier in the year, but have tapered off to hardly eating at all, except for the occasional worm. (Though I bet they'd go nuts if I dropped a frog in there).

As for water, they have a whole enclosure full of the stuff, which I change at least once a week, more if they make a mess in it. I do occasionally spot them taking a swim.