Reptile & Amphibian Forums

One of my adult garter snakes is behaving strangely. She moves around moving her head in awkward motions and sometimes moves with her head upside down and the rest of her body right side up. I had one of my other garters behaving this way a few months ago. He died shortly after behaving that way. She is wild caught. What do you think this could be and how can I treat her?
Thank you,
James
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James

Sounds like the snake is not getting enough vitamin B1. Search the current and old forums for thiamine and thiaminase for the answer.

Guess I better switch back over to worms. I didn't think they would get a thiamanse problem so quickly. Now I can be more cautious and feed them a variety of different foods. Thanks for the reply.
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James

What have you been feeding the snakes? Please post the outcome for this. I'd be interested in learning if the switch back to worms corrected the problem and how quickly. Maybe you can try pinkies, mouse parts, or other fish as well. I also keep a lot of garters.

Thanks

They were on frozen smelt. She isn't doing it anymore and I haven't even tried anything yet. I did geve her a couple red worms until I can pick up some night crawlers. We only have one bait shop in this town!(Walmart) I'll let you know the outcome.
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James

I have fed numerous eastern garters up to six months on fish with 0 problems.However I did have a neonate eastern blackneck die in a month.He would not switch to the scented pinks I was offering.I am sure different garters are more tolerate than others.
Tom

I believe it is a Maritime garter. So maybe it's not a thiamanse problem. But they have been on Frozen smelt almost the entire time I have had them.
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James

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James

I feed my fish live.I have heard the thiaminase(spelling)is worse with frozen.Somebody correct me if I am wrong.
Tom

Yes, I also heard the thiaminase is worse with frozen fish. I have some worms for them. I'll probably feed them worms until I brumate them, then switch back to fish and rotate their diet. I'd like to just feed them mice, but I have to take the time to do it.
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James