Reptile & Amphibian Forums

I bought a garter snake a few weeks ago and at first everything was fine. He was very active, loved to swim! He went into his hide about 5 days ago and still hasent came out. He looked like he was going to shed before he disappeared into his hide but Now he has became extremely inactive. He hasent eaten either since I got him. Is he in hibernation? I checked with a flash light and he doesnt look skinny! I keep him at around 80*-82* and about 78 at night! Any help would be great!

Hes probably just ready to shed, and they do tend to get less active in winter. Try adding some moist paper towels to its hide box to help it shed.

Dave

so they shed inside thier hide?? He's been in there for 4 days now! I got a lot of experience with scorpions, but im a little new to snakes! I'll add some moist paper towels now! Usually how long does it take for them to start to shed? He does look very glossy and eyes are blueish! But he's been that way even before he went into his hide about 4 days ago. Lets say...he doesnt come out for another week or so, should I check on him???? If he went into hibernation or something im guessing he will not digest his food because I keep him warm and im going to have to force feed him?? I really hope this is not the case! Thanx for your help!

Everything sounds very normal with your garter. Cute little guy too. When snakes get ready to shed, their colors turn drab and you can see a milky color on their eyes and other clear scales like the belly. The cloudiness is actually caused by a fluid that is preparing the skin to shed. This period lasts about 3-5 days and is the prep time in which the new and old skin is seperating. Then the snake clears up, looks fairly normal, but shedding won't take place for another 2-4 days on average. Overall - expect about a week during this time period where they usually just want to curl up in a dark place and relax.
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Matt from Minnesota
Cornsnake, Eastern Kingsnake, IL Bullsnake - all girls.
One Pair of cute Crested Geckos.

Im so glad you told me that! I thought something might be wrong! Usually when my scorp are preparing to shed they tend to avoid the burrow or hide! I thought snakes might be the same way. I guess I'm going to leave it alone for a while and wait. thanks for your help! he's been relaxing for a while now so hopefully I'll have a freshly shedded garter snake in a few days!!

By the way the last pic was taken when I first got him about 3 weeks ago, he looked at the fish for about 10 minutes and then lost interest. I have also moved him into a 10 gallon tank since that pic was taken!

OMG I just looked and snake crawled out of the hide, The head is already out! He is rubbing his head in the substrate and crawling around in circles around the water dish! I am taking some pics right now. ill post them up as soon as I transfere them to my computer!

i wished it was fast..BUT DAM this happened fast!!

heres a pic

WOW thats it! He's practiculy done. That took only about 5 minutes!! wow!

YEAY!! He ate 6 rosie reds today! =0)

Looks like everything went as hoped! Mr. Garter looks very pretty now, and has a good appitite as normal. Good job!
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Matt from Minnesota
Cornsnake, Eastern Kingsnake, IL Bullsnake - all girls.
One Pair of cute Crested Geckos.

thank you! Now he's really "fishin"! lol

Great!

Glad you didn't rush to force feed. That's really a last resort and can stress the animal unnecessarily. Garters like things mellow, as do most creatures!

Nic

ye, i wouldnt have tried to force feed unless the snake lost a lot of weight! Since I got it until it shed...it didnt eat for 3 weeks! thats a bit of time so I was starting to get concerned! Im going to get a tadpole for him for next weeks feeding. I dont want to feed the same thing everytime! I can also get him small frogs or even newts from the petstore here! Do you think he would eat a newt?? That would be a great sight!! ;D

My snakes eat "shiners" from the bait shop. I get small or medium size and my adult garters eat 4 or so a week. If I find a big earthworm in the garden, that goes in too. They have done well on the shiners as the main food. Don't feed goldfish.

Enjoy!

I wont feed goldfish! They got frogs and tadpoles and even newts at the petstore here! Maybe next week ill give the tadpole a try!