Reptile & Amphibian Forums

I just rescued a little garter (about 12" from a home in Austin. They were going to chop it up (like they did to another one a few days ago). I was going to relocate it, but I'm also considering using it in the reptile presentations that I do at one of the local elementary schools.
I used to keep ribbon snakes as a kid, and I currently keep a number of larger colubrids. My question is about feeding. I know these guys normally eat frogs and fish. I've heard that some people feed them small gold fish, but that too many goldfish can cause health problems. Is that true? Would a combination of goldfish and bait fish (shiners) be appropriate, along with some nightcrawlers? I'll most likely start scenting pinkie mice as well.
One other question: how should I offer the fish? In a bowl of water? With tongs? On a moist paper towel?

Thanks,
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http://www.mikefoux.com

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Well, thats a nice find/rescue for sure!! I am not a garter guy, but I hear the black necked garters make great pets. I kept garters, ribbons, and water snakes many moons ago. I used to trap my own minnows from local canals and ditches, or ponds. Minnow traps are pretty easy to find at major hunting and fishing/sporting goods stores. DO NOT feed goldfish exclusively. I'm not 100% certain why, but I believe it is due to lack of a certain nutrient the snakes need. I used to feed fish in the water bowls, where they would get "hunted" out. However, over time most garters/waters I kept would be happy to take them flopping on the cage floor. Just make sure substrate doesnt stick to them. In fact, I had some feed on frozen fish that were defrosted, and one ribbon I had took hotdog rubbed with canned tuna fish!!! Also, check to see what the black necks prefer. They may be more terrestrial and inclined to take worms, and maybe even small mice over fish.

Good Luck!!

E. blacknecks - frogs or young toads are preferred. Fish may or may not be taken. Flopping around is preferable, as they will rarely hunt in water, in my experience. They will take to frog-scented mice after several tries.
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Jack Jeansonne

My blackneck likes her minnows in her water bowl, I put a few pinks in the water as well, and she eats the pinks as well as the fish.

They are a beautiful species of garter, I had to pay a hundred bucks for mine.
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Regards,
Wayne A. Harvey
Thamnophis US
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Eastern blacknecks are the most awesome looking garter there is. I like them even more than infernalis! Goldfish are definitely a big no-no. you would have to check out the particular species of baitfish you are using, but generally, a lot of them are okay to use. I use silversides myself. Eastern blacknecks are one of the more aquatic-prey-focused garters, from what I understand and have learned from my 3, they will not touch worms. They often want an amphibian scent as their first meal and even fish are hard to tempt them with at first! When I got mine, they had been started on rosies and I quickly graduated them to scented pinkies and silversides. They now will eating anything I offer them aside from worms. Mine get mostly silversides and other types of fish, with small mice as an occasional treat. They also LOVE frog legs. When they are season at the grocery store I buy tons of them!!!

That's a good rescue story!I would love to see one in the wild!My blacknecks are some of my favorite critters!! Jeff