Reptile & Amphibian Forums

Well, as if I wasn't asking enough questions about my garter that I found last year. I now found a baby garter! It's about 10 inches long. Poor thing was in the snow (it's in the 30's here today and just a few days ago was in the 80's) As most of you know, I live in Northeast Ohio.
I would imagine I care for it pretty much like I am doing with my other garter, just on a smaller scale, right? How often and what should I feed it? (If anyone can tell from the pic if it's male or female, please let me know)
Also, should I be gradually warming it up, or put a heating pad under the tank I have it in right away!

Thanks in advance for your help!

Cyndi

I would warm it up gradually without a heat pad for a few days. as for sex from the pic looks male. you should feed it the same as your other snake just smaller prey. I'd try a FT pinky, if it doesn't take it try a worm or fish. get it eating something and then scent the mouse with whatever you are feeding it. good luck keep us posted
wayne

You can feed the baby feeder guppies to get started...pinky mice are a little big for baby garters. As for the sex, without a knowledgeable person with experience probing or popping the baby, you can't really tell by looking at pics.

I've kept and reproduced a lot of eastern garters "back in the day." For me, the food babies and juveniles preferred the most was earthworms. You can set young garters up just like adults, but in a smaller enclosure.

Tim

Third Eye

for food i would give itworms and small fish, maybe even mouse tails.

and i would just keep it at room temperature (~65-80 degrees)
-----
jake

my addiction:
0.2 normal ball pythons (lazlo and izzy)
0.1 amelenistic corn snake (maizy)
0.1 blizzard corn (blizz)
1.0 albino cal king (zeus)
0.0.1 wc garter (zim)
hybrid breeders association
hybrid haven

Well, I tried cutting up a pinky (which was VERY gross, by the way) and put it in with him and no luck. So, today I went and bought some feeder guppies or minnows or whatever they are, and I put the baby in a small critter keeper thing with the fish in a bowl. He's a fiesty little thing now that he's warmed up. I did turn a heating pad on low under his enclosure today. Not even sure if it did anything, but he's sure moving around alot more today than yesterday when I found him. He was barely moving yesterday. Guess I was in the right place at the right time, when my dog found him.
So I guess I'll just wait and see if he eats any of the feeder fish. I put the enclosure in a quiet room and covered it up. Guess I'll have to try earthworms next, if he doesn't eat any of the fish.
Thank you, everyone, for your help! I really appreciate it!

Cyndi

a 10 inch garter should defineately be able to get down a pinky. so you really shouldn't have to cut it up. snakes heads are desinged to take prey larger than them. a good rule i use is twice as thick as the snake is.
wayne

Unless this garter has an unusually small head, the pinky just seems too big for him! I am glad you said that though, because I am NOT cutting up another pinky. That was just way too gross, lol!

I'll try later to get another pic of him with something else in the pic for size reference.

Cyndi