Gail's garter - the snake kind silly.

[mikem]

Don't worry about the water. She knows it's there and will drink/soak whenever she wants. Pooping updates are always welcome!

[kueluck]

I would like to feed her Mon pinkie, Wed worms, Fri fish. I figure this way it's balanced and with feeding her pinkies should I still use calcium? Are the bones in the mice enough? I also plan on using a multi-vitamin on the 1^st and 15^th of each month. Here's a photo of the water dish.
water dish.jpg


And this is what I found on craigslist yesterday for $25 (29 long critter keeper) and spent today cleaning all the items. The only thing I added was the aspen and the small hide on the left. And hope to add more snakes after this coming weekend. Also got a fogger which my frogs will enjoy.
29 long.jpg

[guidofatherof5]

Variety is good but I'm not sure switching the foods around like that is what you should do.
I feed one food source for awhile then switch. I also think Mon, Wed, and Fri. is too often.
Just my opinion.

[kueluck]

Thanks Steve, I need input on this. The care sheets give you basic info and since most of you guys have been doing this for quite awhile I need your input on this so I can keep her healthy and happy. I'm use to feeding my frogs,toads,cats and husband every day so it's kinda hard for me NOT to feed her.

[kueluck]

*sigh* All I find is conflicting info about feeding. Some say feed one huge meal once a week, others say feed 2 to 3 small meals once a week. Ok, what's a small meal then? One pinkie, one worm, one piece of fish filet? What would she do if she was in the wild? Is there a science to this or is it hit and miss with each individual snake? I gave her a pinkie tonight and she took it will no problem. I just put her on the kitchen counter on a napkin and pinkie taken. Worse case scenario?

dinner.jpgdinner II.jpgdinner III.jpg

[guidofatherof5]

I think for many garter snakes it feast or famine. During good times they probably fill up and during the lean times they starve.
The conflicting info. is due to the fact most keepers adjust feeding amounts to each snake. I would think your snake could eat 5 of those pinkies without any problem.
Most garters don't even look like they've eaten 24 hours afterwards. Your will need to try some different eating schedules and see what works for her. If they get a nice bulge at eating time they should be fine.

[kueluck]

So there really isn't any set rule for feeding then, as long as I feed garter approved items, i.e. pinkies, earthworms, tilapia. And as long as what goes in comes out I'm good to go......sorta speaking. And should I still use calcium supplements even though the pinkies have bones in them which would supply calcium to her in a natural way. Multi vitamins twice a month? I'm just trying to write out a schedule for her as I have done with my amphibians. This way I don't have to second guess my self. Oh and by the way, she is a BLAST to hang out with. I love watching her watch my cats, and she is NOT afraid of them at all!

[guidofatherof5]

From what I could see.
Supralabials 7
Lateral rows 2 and 3
This is consistent with T.sirtalis.

[kueluck]

Not sure what language you are speaking, but ok?

From what I could see.
Supralabials 7
Lateral rows 2 and 3
This is consistent with T.sirtalis.

[guidofatherof5]

Not sure what language you are speaking, but ok?

Sorry about that. Hope this helps.



The lateral stripe runs the length of the snake and is located in a particular row of scales.
In the case of this snake it would be said the lateral is contained in row 3 and 4 and has a dorsal scale count of 22, 11 on each side of the snake.