Reptile & Amphibian Forums

Hello! I just signed up because I have a quesrion regarding my garter snake. I bought her from a pet store a little over three months ago and she's a really good girl.

She's been eating Tuesdays and Fridays since I got her, 2-4 live guppies each of those days (depending on their size). A couple weeks ago she started refusing fish on Fridays. I think the past two Fridays she hasn't eaten, and yesterday was the first time she's refused a fish on a Tuesday.

I've been handfeeding her since I got her, since she loses interest if she has to hunt. A couple times she struck at the fish when they jump, and occasionally fights with them, but usually just gives up.

She hasn't shedded yet since I've had her, and she's grown from about 6 inches to about 10. Does this have something to do with hibernation, shedding, or what? I'm quite concerned!

(Here's a picture, too.)

that looks like a northwestern garter, nice. A lot of snakes go off feed this time of the year. It is normal. When I have non feeders, I make sure they haven't eaten anything for at least 2 weeks and then put them down for hibernation for a month or so. I cool mine down to 45-50 degrees (I leave them in the garage) and check on them at least twice a week. If I notice them losing weight I take them out otherwise they are in for at least a month. This generally will stimulate their appetites.

Wow, thanks! She does look like a Northwestern, too. I'll look up more about hibernation and see how to do it. Thanks!

Don't feed for 2 weeks, don't want any food left in the digestive tract, it will ferment and kill the snake. I then put them in a plastic sweaterbox witha small water dish. I put some wadded up newspapers for them to crawl in. I put them out in my garage where the temps stay cool, around 40 to 50 degrees. I check on them at least twice a week to make sure they are ok. If I notice definite weight loss I warm them up. Breeders spend 3 months hibernating and non feeders are down for about a month (to stimulate their appetites).

Wow! That's really interesting. I read that I'm supposed to give her a warm bath, too, to make sure she defecates before hibernating. While she's resting is it okay to handle her to make sure she feels and looks right, or do I leave her alone?

You're so helpful! Thanks!

Probably both reasons make that she will not eat.
A snake of that size should shed skin in a period of three months.
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Dutch Thamnophis Forum

Should I go ahead and hibernate her, do you think? Or wait for her to show signs of shedding?