Reptile & Amphibian Forums

Found this tiny little guy while I was out back cleaning out my kingsnake cages. If I'm correct, I believe it's a juvenile Eastern Garter Snake. Admittedly, Garters are not my area of expertise, so perhaps someone can confirm my guess? (I live about 20 miles southwest of Atlanta, GA.)

Anyway, what's the easiest thing to feed to a Garter this small? I don't have a source for tadpoles, and unfortunately I got rid of nearly all my swordtails and platies, so I don't have any baby fish on hand at the moment. One of my books lists crickets as a food item...would pinheads sustain him?

Thanks in advance!

Okay, maybe I was wrong about it being a Garter...a Brown Snake perhaps?

Try to feed him earthworms. I think Brown snakes, like Garters, will eat those readily. I am not positive that it is a brown snake though. Maybe someone else can help you i.d. him.
Bish

It is a brown snake.
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Justin

>>It is a brown snake.

I agree. Try feeding it earthworms and slugs.
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Chris McMartin
www.mcmartinville.com
I'm Not a Herpetologist, but I Play One on the Internet

Hi there:

Yes, it is a brown snake, AKA DeKay's snake. While individual personalities vary, most of my specimens have made excellent vivarium subjects, responding well to their keepers. One example was a juvenile male who was offered baby white or brown slugs on a plastic spoon every other day. The snake would take the slugs from the spoon as it was being held by human hands, and it became noticeably less secretive at the scheduled feeding time. Small redworms or medium sized earthworms are accepted greedily by the Northern Brown snake. It is known well for its ability to coexist with humans. The scientific name is Storeria Dekayi.

DAVE

that is a nice looking little snake.

I had some success with red worms (eisenia foetida) and live guppies. I found brown snakes did better with higher humidty,
> 65 percent, and lots of cover.
I kept them in the upper 70s F. There are several discussions of these snakes in the small snakes forum.

That is most certainly a Dekay snake. They are illegal to keep in the state of Iowa and if I remember right a couple of other states too. I used to find them all the time as a youth. Even with a feeding of worms I found they didn't last long in captivity. My recomendation would be to let it go where you found it (maybe not as close to the kings cages lol) and maybe you'll get the chance to see it again some time. I am a person that is opposed to wild collecting of any reptiles unless an albino or other unique morph is found. I'm not preaching at you, just letting you know my feelings on wild caughts.

Arik