Reptile & Amphibian Forums

I have a valley garter snake about 18 inches long. He eats about 5-6 rosie reds(small) a week plus a frozen pinky. Is that enough or too much? Should I move up to a fuzzie? He still seems hungry a few days after he eats.

garters are pigs
you can feed him more. If he's on mice, you dont need to keep the fish going. Try several mice or larger.
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...and I think to myself, "What a wonderful world."

do that and ur snakes life expectancy will not reach a year mice are not a staple food feed fish worms mice tadpoles frogs lizards and crickets do not just feed one or ur snake will suffer nutrient deficientcies and do not feed micewider than ur snake or it will hurt it!

Where are you getting this information? It contradicts years of experience and academia. I have never seen it put forward in any writings at any scholastic level before.
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Randy Hallman
Firehouse Herps

talk about overfeeding ur crazy 5 feeders will be enogh for whole week remember captive snakes might and will gorge them selves out of curiosity if have opertunity feed 5 or 6 feeders monday and next munday feed a pinkie dusted with vitamins and repeat u can add some worms 2 superworms cut upo will last ur snake a week repeat this.

I thought that mice are really good for garter snakes? All the sites say that mice have all the needed nutrients that the snakes need, but I don't want to cut out fish completly because my garter loves to catch them! The fish are really small anyway because my petstore only has tiny size. Am I wrong? What SHOULD I be feeding him?

Just feed him one small fuzzy dusted with calcium powder(optional) and it will be fine.No more than once a week.You do not need to feed them anything else.

Believe what the sites say, they are right. And don't worry, you are doing fine.

I think you are on the right track. I do not agree with oslegend at all. Garters for the most part will do fine on a rodent diet and live for many years. I believe it is the healthiest captive diet you can provide. If your Garter feeds well on mice then that is all you need to feed it. I would always stay away from using any amphibians as food and use fish only if the snake refuses rodents. The reason for this is to reduce the effects of internal parasite buildup which is a greater health issue with captive animals than snakes in the wild. A couple of Garter species specialize in slugs or worms and they would benefit from a calcium supplement.

Feed yours a f/t rodent about once a week. Feed it a size that will put a slight bulge in the body but no so large the snake struggles with it. A fuzzy might be appropriate. I have Garters on everything from pinks up to sub adult mice. Do not handle the snake after it eats.
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Randy Hallman
Firehouse Herps

My garters do real well on rodents..... wandering garters are known for eating rodents in the wild also. Scott Felzer has been feeding his rodents for years and has some of the best garters out there!!!

wow tom u have an amozing flame garter its a beauty

I agree with the general concensus about rodents here, but would hesitate saying not to feed a variety. If the snake enjoys catching fish, it's a good dietary supplement and environmental enrichment. If parasites are a concern, bring in a fresh fecal sample into the vet several times per year for assessment

Ian

How did everyone that feed's there garters mice switch them over to them? I got my female ball to switch from gerbils to mice to rats by scent transfer but when i try and scent the fuzzies with worm scent(do worms have a specific scent?)the eastern garter refuses, but as soon as I put the worm in he eats them them. Can some one give me some tips?
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