Reptile & Amphibian Forums

two days ago my boyfriend found what we think is a comman carter snake. We decided to keep him( i think) because we already have a long tailed grass lizard, and a oriental fire bellied toad. so I looked up all sorts of imformation on the web and we went out and set up a tank for him. Well its been two days and hes doing great, hes moves around his tank alot and getting used to it, but he hasn't eaten. What should I feed him? The pet store said to give him crikets, but none of the sites I went to said anything about those. I put a couple of goldfish in his tank and even some earthworms. I live in grass valley, ca near sacramento. please help! He is about a footlong and has a black head with two black strips down his back and one yellow srtipe down the middle, with little red dots on his sides.

I also just caught my first garters (4 of them, story a few posts below). I heard that they MAY eat crickets, but unlikely. Pet stores usually hire pot-head teenagers with NO IDEA what's going on in the herp world. (The one I used to work in was full of coke-heads... but that was in Houston, so... )

Anyway, one site said that goldfish are the worst feeder fish as they will lead to a vitamin B deficiency. Try minnows or large nightcrawlers from a "fish and tackle" type place, if availible. My garters refused the fish, but devoured earthworms with a fury. But then again, mine are eastern garters from southern Michigan, so it may be a whole 'nother story for yours. That one site also said they like leeches, pinky mice occationally, crawfish, slugs, small frogs, toads, salamanders, and even newts, and seem to be tolerant of their toxins (newts and toads). Which of these prey items fits your area?

Just trying to help, but don't take what I say too much to heart, as I only started 4 days ago.
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~Venom~
Hybrid Breeders Association

Garters don't eat insects. They eat a variety of fish, worms, slugs, amphibians, and rodents. Garters will need calcium supplements if fed only worms, plus they are quickly digested and you will need to feed them more often, not to mention clean up a lot more!! I do feed goldfish, and have had no problems with it, however I don't feed them strictly. I work mine on to rodents as soon as they are big enough. Babies are started on guppies and minnows. I buy catfish filets and freeze them and thaw what I need for feeding. I use trout for the more finicky eaters. I prefer not to feed amphibians as they can carry parasites. Also, I wouldn't try the newts, some garters are immune to their toxins, but if they aren't from the same area, the snake might not hae the immunity.