Reptile & Amphibian Forums

Hello forum members,

I normally post on the pit or king forum but a recent rescue has me here asking for help. My boss brought in a very emaciated garter snake today she found in her basement. Half of the poor guys body was covered in old shed which I removed with a good soaking today when we got home. My main concern was getting him to eat which he finally did unassisted. I had some red snapper in the freezer that I cut a very small piece off of. Now my question is what to feed it going forward if he makes it? I know that gold fish are not a food so can I continue to feed him the fish I have in the freezer? I have Talapia, catfish and the Red Snapper. Will an assortment of fish for human consumption suffice or will I need to figure out a way to get frogs and worms? Once I get some weight on him I will attempt to switch it over to rat pinks or mice pinks. He is big enough to eat small rat pinks or mice pinkies currently. Oh and any idea which species of garter he is I live in Chicago.

Any help appreciated,
Miller
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1.1 Florida King
1.1 Eastern Kings
1.1 Black Milksnake
1.2 Kankakee Bull Snakes
2.2 Still Water Hypos
1.1 Possibly stillwater x Red Bull
2.2 N. Pinesnake
0.1 Tangerine Honduran
0.0.1 Black Ratsnake
1.0 Chow Chow (2003 Papi)
0.1 Cats (Shug)

Keep feeding him pieces of fish, forget the catfish, contains thiaminase... trout and salmon are good for them. in that area, you have easterns (thamnophis sirtalis sirtalis) and chicago garters (thamnophis fasciatus). could be either....need photos to id him. good luck on the snake!!!!

Try not to feed it too much. I've seen starving snakes regurge food because their digestive system couldn't handle it. So resist the urge to overfeed it and let it slowly get its weight back. For now I'd feed it fish and nightcrawlers (if it will take them). There's bait shops and chain stores that sell nightcrawlers and I've had garters live their first two years eating nothing but worms/nightcrawlwers occasionally dusted with vitamin/calcium supplement.

Tim

Third Eye

could have a plains garter as well Tham radix.
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2 tham radix
1 Chicago Tham s. semifasciatus
2 elaphe vulpina
1 gray tiger salamander
4 Aphonopelma hentzi
1 G rosea
1 Haplo minax
1 Brachy angustum
1 Brachy sabulosum
1 Brachy vagans
1 Cent. hentzi scorp

LOL!! plains garters are thamnophis radix..... =)

Thanks for the replies. I have been feeding him very small portions which he/she takes. He/she even drinks water while I am holding him. I am sure once the garter starts to get a bit more energy the calm attitude will change but I hope not. I just got my internet back so here are a few pics I took. I figured it was one of the species mentioned just don't know how to tell the difference from the pics I was able to find.

Thanks
Miller
>>-----
>>1.1 Florida King
>>1.1 Eastern Kings
>>1.1 Black Milksnake
>>1.2 Kankakee Bull Snakes
>>2.2 Still Water Hypos
>>1.1 Possibly stillwater x Red Bull
>>2.2 N. Pinesnake
>>0.1 Tangerine Honduran
>>0.0.1 Black Ratsnake
>>1.0 Chow Chow (2003 Papi)
>>0.1 Cats (Shug)

-----
1.1 Florida King
1.1 Eastern Kings
1.1 Black Milksnake
1.2 Kankakee Bull Snakes
2.2 Still Water Hypos
1.1 Possibly stillwater x Red Bull
2.2 N. Pinesnake
0.1 Tangerine Honduran
0.0.1 Black Ratsnake
1.0 Chow Chow (2003 Papi)
0.1 Cats (Shug)

nice plains garter
-----
2 tham radix
1 Chicago Tham s. semifasciatus
2 elaphe vulpina
1 gray tiger salamander
4 Aphonopelma hentzi
1 G rosea
1 Haplo minax
1 Brachy angustum
1 Brachy sabulosum
1 Brachy vagans
1 Cent. hentzi scorp

that is a nice little plains garter, thamnophis radix