Reptile & Amphibian Forums

Hey,
I dont usually post in the snake forum, because i hardly ever have trouble with my snake.
But she is a Garter snake, 27 inches long, about 2 yrs.
and just gave live birth to 13 babies
what do i feed these buggers?
they are thinner around than a pencil. and anywhere from 3-7 inches long.

I am planning on releasing them soon, as their mom was wild caught, and just kept with me for a short time. (few days)

any advice would be appreciated.

Jilly

Depends on what kind.

Try earthworms, feeder fish, crickets, or baby frogs.

You could try the gartersnake forum.

Or just let them go.

Cheers

JPD
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I am so not lesdysxic!

0.1 Creamsicle Cornsake "Yolanda"
1.0 Bairds Ratsnake "Steely Dan"
0.1 Desert Kingsnake "FATTY"

I plan on letting them go but i live in the middle of a city, and would rather let them go in the country side where i found their mother.
i highly doubt feeder fish would be small enough, but then again i could be wrong.
Thanks for the advice.

Not feeder fish, baby feeder guppies (or small tadpoles).
If you go into a pet store and ask for baby guppies, they'll know what you are talking about. At least they should.

Oh - definitely do not let them go in the city. If you are going to release them, do it where you collected the mother.
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3.0 WC; 0.1 CB L. getula californiae
0.1 CB L. pyromelana pyromelana
0.1 WC; 10 eggs (7/11) Elgaria multicarinata multicarinata

Also, you can chop up the fish into small enough pieces and do the same with worms.

Good Luck,

John D
-----
I am so not lesdysxic!

0.1 Creamsicle Cornsake "Yolanda"
1.0 Bairds Ratsnake "Steely Dan"
0.1 Desert Kingsnake "FATTY"

Baby feeder guppies, or when in season in your locale - very small treefrog tadpoles (pacific treefrog tadpoles are what I used when i had garter snakes birth).
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3.0 WC; 0.1 CB L. getula californiae
0.1 CB L. pyromelana pyromelana
0.1 WC; 10 eggs (7/11) Elgaria multicarinata multicarinata

>>... very small treefrog tadpoles

Second that!

I have observed that very thing in the wild.

JPD
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I am so not lesdysxic!

0.1 Creamsicle Cornsake "Yolanda"
1.0 Bairds Ratsnake "Steely Dan"
0.1 Desert Kingsnake "FATTY"

The advice you have already received for feeding baby Thamnophis is on target. However, I would like to address any plan you might have to release the offspring or even the female back into teh wild, as most state wildlife agencies harbor regulations regarding the release of wildlife, even native species, once such have been taken into captivity.
If it is legal to release the offspring your female produced, try doing so as close to the area you captured the female as possible, but you may wish to consider giving the offspring to others interested in keeping such, including educational entities, as there is the possibility of introducing pathogens to wild populations, which they have not been subject to. This is especially true if you have other animals within your collection, especially exotic specimens…

Best regards,

Jeff
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Jeff Snodgres
University of Arkansas
snodgresjeffreys@uams.edu
501.603.1947

it is not illegal to re introduce garter snakes to the wild after bneing caught. Not where i am. And i already dtated i was going to release them where i had found the mother.

I'm curious as to what state you reside in, as such regulations are never species or even genus oriented, but rather blanket oriented. After conducting a bit of research, I have yet to find a state that allows the general public to release even native specimens back into the wild, regardless of location...

Best regards,

Jeff
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Jeff Snodgres
University of Arkansas
snodgresjeffreys@uams.edu
501.603.1947