Reptile & Amphibian Forums

Yesterday my father randomly brought a baby eastern garter snake he got on a job in NH. Normally I don't like keeping wild caught herps but I don't want to let I go because it's from a different locality and I don't want to contaminate the local population, plus it's just cute honestly haha. I did some reading online to learn as much as I could about the keeping of garters because he probably going to stay here now even though my brother and I just got 2 frogs and my mom's not thrilled about the snake lol. Now the snake is about 4 and half inches long and is missing part of its tail so it could be maybe 5inches if you include what's missing. I have it in a 2 and a half gallon vivarium (which is in fact quit spacious for him) my brother and I made from spare parts from the frogs vivarium. Now I found information on the care of garter snakes but I couldn't find anything on the care of neonates. All I know is they are born 5-9inches long so this little guy must be a new born. I know I should leave him be for a week for him to get used to everything. But the reason I'm posting here is I want to know what is best to feed a very young garter and if there is anything else I should know about their care. Thanks

It's good that you are doing your homework and researching.
Make sure your two and a half gallon vivarium is escape proof, baby garters can fit thru very small spots. Make sure it has a water dish with clean water at all times, preferably big enough for the snake to soak in, you should change the water every couple of days and wash the dish every week or two. You can wash the water dish with liquid antibaterial hand soap, just make sure you rinse it really, really well. You could start them off by feeding guppies or small worms, and then as they get bigger you could rub the scent of a guppie or worm on a small frozen/thawed pinkie mouse and switch them over to eating small mice. That is how I raise up baby garters, but it is not the only way, hopefully others will offer their suggestions for you as well.
Good luck and enjoy.
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Jeff Benfer

1.0 pastel Python regius
1.1 mojave Python regius
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1.3 Terrapene carolina thriunguis
2.3 Terrapene carolina carolina
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1.1 triple heterozygous for amelanistic,carmel, and stripe Pantherophis guttatus
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0.1 Okeetee Pantherophis guttatus

Thanks for the help, and trust me I checked every cornor of that tanks and taped all the openings in the tank, I'm not taking any chances. My 20" corn snake is always looking for an escape route and is very percitant and can fit threw surprising small openings, I was like this snake is going to be 10X worse and sure enough shes looking for an escape route too lol. Thank youn for the help though.

Make sure not to have a sticky side of the tape possibly exposed to the snake. If the snake comes in contact and it is not a EXTREMELY weak adhesive then it can be dangerous to the snake. You don't want to have to worry about pulling skin off or heaven forbid if it got it's eye stuck.

Sean.
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1.1 BRB
1.1 Triple Het TPRS's
0.1 Silver TPRS
1.1 Amel Bloodred Corns
0.1 Abbott Okeetee Corn
0.1 Blizzard Bloodred Corn
1.1 Thayeri Kingsnakes
0.1 Reeve's Turtle
0.2 Amstaff's
1.0 Pudytat

don't worry its either taped on both sides so theres nothing the snake can get into

feed chopped up earthworms in a small shallow dish