Issues with Mice...

[guidofatherof5]

Is this an adult mouse?

[EasternBlackNeckedMort]

I've been trying with small hoppers, but I'm going to change to pinkies.

[guidofatherof5]

Using pinkies will help with that "mouth feel" thing.
Some snakes don't like the fur and will avoid them.

[EasternBlackNeckedMort]

Thanks. I'll post back when I've tried it.

[RedSidedSPR]

You can also try taking a pair of scissors, cut up 2 or 3 minnows in like 3 pieces each, and do the same with the pinkies. Mix 'em up in a nice dish, and serve it on a platter.

[Steveo]

You can also try taking a pair of scissors, cut up 2 or 3 minnows in like 3 pieces each, and do the same with the pinkies. Mix 'em up in a nice dish, and serve it on a platter.

This is how I did it with my scrubs... mixed fish and mouse parts for a few weeks, then stopped adding fish. Triggering the feeding response with fish seemed to get them going. Only a few times did one eat the fish but not the pinky parts.

Something you could try is letting the food sit somewhere nearby where they can smell it for a little while before feeding. I thaw pinkies in air on top of their cages for an hour or two and it seems like the scent gets them cruising around. Often they'll grab a piece before I even get them out of my hand and into their feeding containers.

[Light of Dae]

All good advice given here.

If you must feed live fish go with guppies or platys as they are way safer then minnows n NEVER goldfish! You could freeze the minnows if you'd like. Either way the best scenting I find is to mush the item your scenting with(in your case a minnow or two). Mush it in a bag then add the pinkie mouse and let the pinkie thaw in the fish mush.

No warming of the mouse... Garters like cool food.

Since your Garter is used to being fed fish in his water dish try taking out most of the water just leave enough to cover the pinkie mouse. Dump the fish mush in the water with the pinkie. Everything will reek of fish lol It should work to excite him enough that he won't realize its a mouse till it half way down n then he'll just have to learn to enjoy it. lol

To help convert him after tricking him into it, try the same method that worked but cut into the pinkies head a little bit to help get the mouse scent mixed with the fish scent. Then slowly use less n less fish .


Oh and we require pictures if you can

[EasternBlackNeckedMort]

@RedSided
Eww.... I can cut up fish, but not mice. XD

@Dae
I think I'll go with your method, since he's so used to the dish. I'll post pics once I feed him again.

Thanks to everyone! :3

EDIT: Wait, if I'm feeding him 10-16 minnows a sitting, how many pinkies once I stop with the fish?

[CrazyHedgehog]

@RedSided
Eww.... I can cut up fish, but not mice. XD

I cut them while they are still frozen, decent scissors and no gloopy mess, they also defrost quicker in bits!

[RedSidedSPR]

Cutting up pinkies ain't that bad... Especially if you pay attention to where you're cutting

Well remember, fish is still an option. A good one in fact. Just not minnows. Guppies, Frozen/thawed silversides, Tilpia.. So by all means, continue the fish.

Also worms. Worms should be the bulk of any snakes diet, some fish thrown in there, and a good couple of pinkies once or twice a week. That's how I do it.

Don't go from minnows to pinkies. Go from minnows to worms, different fish, pinkies. Give him a good healthy, rounded out diet with neigh variety to

Feed him every few days, enough to give him a good sized, noticeable bulge, but not a overly large bulge, to the point of hindering his movement and looking exceptionally defigured