Reptile & Amphibian Forums

Hi
I am pretty new with garters. I have kept and bred various snakes for many generations, but I don`t have propper experience with garters and has a few questions.
I am the keeper of tetrataenia and parietalis. Théy are raised on a diet of gubbies, earthworms and later larger freshwater fish, newborn mice and eathworms. They accept this diet and grows rapidly without any additional vitamins. Im one year they are about 75 cm for males and 90 cm for females.
So looking at the possibility of breeding next year, I would like to hear something about adequate feeding for juveniles. My problem is that gubbies or imilar fish isn`t present in a number sufficient for one large clutch. Is is possible to raise them on another diet like earthworms alone? A friend of mine tried with tadpoles but the snakes died after a few months. Gubbies are fantastic but I cannot find so many as needed.
What are your experiences?
Best wishes
Søe
Reptilia-Denmark

You can always start them on earthworms. Once they get used to you, you could even feed them pieces of fish. That would save you from having to find live food for them. But if you started now and just bred guppies, you should have tons in a very short time. Same with mollies...they are pretty prolific fish. Andy
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Andy Maddox
Houston Herp Key
The Reptizone

Burgundy baby, With your blue eyed soul, You play the hits and I'm on that roll, Capricorn sister, Freddie Mercury, Jupiter Child cry

Hi
I allready have a pond at 6x 2 meters filled with gubbies, but if I get a normal or large clutch of sirtalis tetrataenia, I wouldn`t have enough. That is why I am asking about experiences with other food items.
Best wishes
Søe

You could still try the pieces thing. If you get some fish and slice and dice, you can feed the pieces to the garters. A lot of time my Thamnophis seem more smell oriented than water snakes. You could try feeding pieces. Nightcrawler pieces also tend to work well. Pinky parts could also be used. Andy
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Andy Maddox
Houston Herp Key
The Reptizone

Burgundy baby, With your blue eyed soul, You play the hits and I'm on that roll, Capricorn sister, Freddie Mercury, Jupiter Child cry

There is a secret to feeding baby garters, but I don't know if it works for all species. People have been closed-mouth with this for awhile. I am going to tell this secret:

Fish-flavored cat food. The moist kind from a can. (Shhh!)

I have gotten my babies to eat frog/toad scented pinky mice right away, but it takes about 5-6 feedings until they accept unscented pinkies.
-Jack
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...and I think to myself, "What a wonderful world."