How is it that these little guys will attack a little earth snake and want nothing to do with a baby garter snake? Both are common here and I assumed were part of their diet. Yet they eat gekos which are not even close to being a local species. Crazy little things!
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Picky little easterns
joecop
Sep 23, 2008 06:26 PM
Replies (6)
MikeFedzen
Sep 23, 2008 06:51 PM
What kind of earth snake? Smooth or rough?
I would assume their pickyness would have to do with the scale texture.
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Mike
KingPin Reptiles Inc.
www.kingpinreptiles.com
joecop
Sep 23, 2008 07:22 PM
Never thought of that. Was a smooth scale earth snake. I heard ring neck snakes were toxic. I think I can find some of those but not sure I should feed those to them. The little king snakes I have didnt want the baby garter either.
Jeff Schofield
Sep 25, 2008 02:57 AM
Come on Mike, you should know this one by now....Garter and water snakes have a PUNGENT MUSK gland that earth snakes, green snakes and redbellys dont. Now, I dont know if they would take baby garters with their musk glands(and tails)removed....but its something on my list of things to do..
MikeFedzen
Sep 25, 2008 02:33 PM
That was something I was gonna suggest as well, but everything I've ever had that ate snakes went for baby garter snakes just as fast as anything else.
Eastern milks are just too picky. :]
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Mike
KingPin Reptiles Inc.
www.kingpinreptiles.com
Jeff Schofield
Sep 25, 2008 02:51 PM
Ringnecks?? LOL, maybe you have some special garters that dont musk....
MikeFedzen
Sep 26, 2008 02:35 PM
Psh. I've had a lot more snakes than ringnecks that eat snakes. Loads of picky kingsnakes and milk snakes.
But actually you're right, the garter snakes I usually use for feeders are not the Eastern Garters... They're the Shorthead Garters, their musk isn't strong to the least bit..
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Mike
KingPin Reptiles Inc.
www.kingpinreptiles.com
