Reptile & Amphibian Forums

My wild caught 12 inch garter isn't eating. I've tried minnows and worms. any other things to feed it

It could be the time of year and where you live. Fall is hitting and temps are dropping in more northern areas, so your baby may be prepping for brumation. Do you have a heat source to keep it warm?? If not, provide a heat source at one end of the cage to keep that portion about 85 degrees. Any undertank heat source should not be so hot that you cant leave your hand on it indefinitely and feel pain. Just nice and warm. It may also be triggering on the decrease in light cycles with the days beginning to shorten.

As far as other prey, try small slugs if you can find them. Some have luck putting the minnows in the water dish and letting the snakes see and hunt them. Also, if the cage is too big it may have problems finding the prey.

Just a couple of suggestions. Good luck. If you cant get it to eat within another week or so, it may be best to just release it where you found it.

Do you think it would harm it to release it after it being in a warm tank for two weeks and then going to southern wisconsin where it is fairly cold?

Has the temperature/weather changed that radically in the two weeks since you caught it? If not, then it should be fine. If it was out and active when you found it in the same temp conditions, then it should be fine to be released in the same temp conditions. Was it active and out when caught, or did you find it buried under something?

I found it under a large stone (well, my grandpa did) and it looked up and opened its mouth when I tried to grab it

If the temps are the same, and the snake wasn't buried deep (like found when pulling out a big stump or something), then it should be OK releasing it in a similar situation. Put it back under the same rock if you can.