Reptile & Amphibian Forums

I have a W/C Eastern Garter. The only thing I have been able to get him to eat are worms. I have tried pinkies and minnows but he doesn't seem at all interested in them. Do worms fill all the nutritional requirements for him? If not should I try scenting either the pinkies or fish with worms to get him to eat them? Any other tips or info is appreciated.

TIA

PS: This pic was taken outside when I first caught him, I am using aspen substrate with a large water bowl, a large rock for sunning, and a hide box.

Try scenting pinkies with worms. Keep some fish in the water bowl and if the snake wants them it'll get them. You could also try some frogs or toads if you want. Worms are not nutrionally fit for a staple diet.
Michael

Michael's Place

How do you figure that? They have an excellent cal/phos ratio, and they're high in protein and low in fat. That would seem to be an ideal feeder, to me....
Certainly goldfish are horrible feeders in all respects, and it's hard to find fish with a low thiaminase content to feed to snakes.

I'd keep him on nightcrawlers until he's large enough to take fuzzies, then use worms to scent him into taking fuzzy mice. Dip their hindquarters in calcium to make up for their less well calcified bones. An adult garter can easily take adult mice, and they eat on a schedule closer to that of a corn snake when you get them eating mice.