Reptile & Amphibian Forums

Hello forum. I am new to the herp world and need some advice. I have read many posts and I thank you all for the information.

Came home yesterday to find that my husband and little boy adopted two young garters. I believe they are the t. wanderer type. We live in PA.

Anyway, they won't eat the crickets... and now I know why after reading the posts, LOL. I have access to live pinkies. Can I just start them out on that? If I feed feeder fish or small guppies, do I have to have them in water for the snakes to catch? Do I have to freeze the pinkies or do I feed them live? Are common earth worms okay (free of pesticides and herbicides of course) something to try? And what are your feelings on commercial snake food such as Garter Grub?

We just found the snakes a day ago and I don't want them to go too long without food. Any help and advice is GREATLY appreciated!

MominPA

If you live in PA, they are probably eastern garters, wandering garters are a western species. garters can't eat insects. avoid goldfish, you can feed feeder guppies and rosies (minnows). earthworms are ok, stay away from the red wrigglers (compost worms) as they are toxic. earthworms aren't very nutritious, but are a common part of their diet. it's best to give them just a few here and there for variety. worms are mostly water and will pass fast and make a big mess. pinkie mice and rats are the most nutritious meals, however you may have to scent them with fish to get them to eat them...frozen/thawed are the best as they can't harm the snakes. since you just got them, it will generally take a week or 2 before they will eat, gotta get used to captivity. give them a couple days and put some feeder fish in the water bowl and leave them there. snakes can go for long periods with out food.

Thanks for the info. At least I know they won't starve while we are getting their menu together. Now that I look at them, one is rather big, probably a good 12 inches already and much rounder body than the other. I am able to get newborn mouse pinkies. How many of them do I feed?

Thank you for the advice. I will be picking your collective brains a lot on this forum I am sure!

MominPA

I'd start with the fish first and get them eating. Once they are eating, then you can rub fish on the pinkies to get make them smell like the fish. at 12 inches, 1 or 2 pinkies a week should be fine.