Thamnophis.UK
Dedicated to the captive husbandry of Garter Snakes.

Hello,

I have just returned to Gartersnakes after a small (15 year) gap. I purchased a baby Checkered Garter Snake. I was assured by my local reptile shop that the babies were feeding on earth worms. In the last 2 weeks the snake has only eaten 2 small earthworms, It has been offered more but was not interested.

Is this normal in baby garters?

Does anyone have any top feeding tips?

Regards.

I would try to feed something more substantial. Earthworms aren't going to give enough nutrients for good growth (Pet shop was not doing a good job there - and probably was not supplemented calcium and phosphorous either - a must on a purely earthworm diet). You should be aiming to feed small amounts of FT trout or salmon fillet as well as pinky parts every 2nd day at the moment (scent these with worms if need be). Tweezer feeding helps to invoke a feeding response and don't forget to supplement vitamins and calcium on a regular basis.

Once the little one is properly established you can move to feeding every 4 days or so.

Also ... did you buy the earthworms? I would srick to collecting them yourself from natural/pesticide free areas. Bought from baitshops/etc is not a good idea as they are usually compost reared (ie full of toxins) or a possibly toxic species.

I will try him with some trout / salmon and pinky parts, that sounds rather more nutritious.

The worms were purchased frem the same shop as the garter, they said that was what they had been eating while at the shop.

What vitamin suppliment do you use?

Have you used Garter Grub (if it is still available)?

Unfortunately 'Garter Grub' hasn't been available for quite some time. Alan Francis has a good recipe for making you own style of garter food but this can be a messy process and is probably more suitable for those with large collections http://www.gartersnake.co.uk/maintenance.htm#Feeding he also advocates cat food but I must admit I'm not a fan of this at all.

I use Reptasol (water soluble reptile multivitamin) and Calcimise (or any other suitable liquid calcium) at a quarter of the recommended dose at every water change.

I tend to make large quantities of this and store it in the fridge (2litre bottle with 2 drops Reptasol and 30drops calcium).

You can use powder based supplements on the food and James can advise you better on that ;)

Thank you for your help.

I purchased and sliced a trout and both  (i have just got a young albino checkered) ate no problems at all. Is there any risk of vitamin b deficiency using trout?

I have also got some pinkies and will try scenting with trout next feeding.

At the moment the albino is roughly double the size of the other baby. Once the sizes even out will I be able to keep both together (seperated to feed) as they are both the same species?

Regards.

Good news,  they do love their fish.

The chances are much reduced but still there. Also the fillet does not include the vitamins of the stomach contents or the calcium from the bones - so supplementation is still something that should be implemented.

They are both the same species (albinism is simply a colour 'morph'). Housing them together should not pose any problems. Do you know the sexes yet?

They certainly do seem to love their fish, though I am looking forward to them starting to take pinkies as they seem to be an easier more balanced food. I have started to dip one end of the fish piece in nutrobal to make sure it is a more balanced meal.

I am not sure what sex they are, the smaller one of the two (the normal colour phase) is only about 6" long, the albino is about 10", both too small for me to probe.

Will sex make a difference to keeping them together, (other then the obvious bonus if they are a pair). Do males fight?

You wont find any problems with these. They're perfectly sociable. I would take care if you have a pair and would suggest sexing them before they are 10-11months old(females are best bred from their second year onwards wheras males will reach sexual maturity by the end of their first year). Garters can be sexed visually but it helps if they are a little older. Get some good pics in a month or two and post them up. Are you a member on here yet - www.thamnophis.com ?