Mouse Meat and activity cycle

[aquamentus_11]

i'm just going to leave her alone until she starts to cruise around looking for food.

[EasternGirl]

Well...do you think that maybe she isn't eating because she is being skiddish? How do you normally feed her? For my skiddish snakes...I put a paper towel down over the substrate and then I put a little plastic lid down with food on it and put their hide on top of the lid so they can eat inside the hide. You just have to watch that they don't drag the food out and go under the towel and into the substrate.

[aquamentus_11]

The one time she ate, I offered a piece of worm on hemostats and she scarfed it down then went and hid. The next time I tried, I went with pinky pieces and she struck, but then released them and hasn't been interested in any food ever since. I've been leaving the worm/mouse slurry in a little lid for her every day, but she never touches it. I've even seen her go right over it without so much as a sniff. I've tried leaving it right next to the entrances of her hides, but still nothing. I think if I put the hide over the food, I'll NEVER see her. I want her to learn that I = food time and goodness, but if it gets to the point where she absolutely has to eat something I'll definitely toss the food and lid under a hide for her. Right now, I think I'm just being impatient and she's still freaked out about me hurting her. What a disastrous mistake on my part...I hope it doesn't end in her never eating again.

[guidofatherof5]

The one time she ate, I offered a piece of worm on hemostats and she scarfed it down then went and hid. The next time I tried, I went with pinky pieces and she struck, but then released them and hasn't been interested in any food ever since. I've been leaving the worm/mouse slurry in a little lid for her every day, but she never touches it. I've even seen her go right over it without so much as a sniff. I've tried leaving it right next to the entrances of her hides, but still nothing. I think if I put the hide over the food, I'll NEVER see her. I want her to learn that I = food time and goodness, but if it gets to the point where she absolutely has to eat something I'll definitely toss the food and lid under a hide for her. Right now, I think I'm just being impatient and she's still freaked out about me hurting her. What a disastrous mistake on my part...I hope it doesn't end in her never eating again.

Any chance you can get some guppies?

[EasternGirl]

I don't think you should worry so much. I have been giving my poor Cee Cee injections...so she now has to associate me with a lot of stress and pain...yet somehow, through it all...she, one of the most skiddish snakes, is still trusting me more and more. Garters are smart, don't get me wrong, but she may not be thinking.."hey, that is the guy that hurt me". She may not be associating you with that. She may just be scared in general and still adjusting. If it were me, but this is just my opinion, I would just be concerned with getting her to eat at this point and worry about building trust later...you will have plenty of time for that. I would go ahead and give her the food any way she will eat...again, this is just my opinion. But with my very skiddish wild caught garters...I had to feed them on dishes and let them adjust for a while before I could begin to work on feeding with hemostats...they were just too scared and would not have eaten. You need to be patient with her for a while and let her adjust...let her be skiddish and hide out for a while...she will come around, you can't rush it or force it...she has to do it on her terms . If anyone disagrees with me...please say so...

[aquamentus_11]

oh definitely. i've been waiting to let her loose on some guppies for awhile, but hoped that I could get her to eat pinkies before I got her stuck on fish. that would be a fun study break tomorrow though. i'll head to the pet store and grab some.

[guidofatherof5]

Put the pinky parts in with the guppies.
That way she might grab some mice parts instead.

[aquamentus_11]

i will do so. she's out right now hanging out on her plants. if she doesn't need UV to convert vitamin d, i might just skip the UV bulb and go with a CHE. she only comes out when the tank is in the low 70's and dark. I tried low 70's with light and she still hid. she might just be a night owl. the light from the windows should be enough to keep her circadian rhythm in line.

[aquamentus_11]

I don't think you should worry so much.

I agree. Unfortunately, I always jump to the worst conclusion first and then rule things out as I go. Thanks for all the advice and patience.

How warm do garters need to be to effectively digest? I don't want to cause problems in that department if I start to drop temps for her.

[EasternGirl]

I completely understand your worrying...I am totally neurotic when it comes to my snakes...so I get it. As far as the UV light goes, there is research that has found benefits in the use of UVB light in garters. Some people believe they need it, other don't. I have a UVB flourescent strip light for my easterns...I try to put it on for a couple hours a day. They don't seem to like the bright light all that much...but I try to put it on for a little while so that they can get the benefits from it...if there are any to be had. As far as heat goes, I think it depends on the species, and on the particular snake and what that snake prefers...but most people recommend a warm side in the low to mid 80's and a cool side in the low to mid 70's...with a drop in night temps. Some people recommend heat at night, and others do not. I keep my warm side around 82-84 and my cool side around 75 during the day for my eastern garters. I do use heat at night in the winter...letting it drop to around 78 on the warm side and to around 70 on the cool side at night. For my albino checkered...I keep it between 82 and 86 on the warm side and around 75 on the cool side during the day and at night...he likes his temps warmer. Keep in mind that garters can handle and need a night temp drop...as long as the temp doesn't go below about 66...she should be fine at night. Some members don't use any heat at night...as long as your house doesn't get too cold...it's not always needed.