Garter Snake feeding woes and the reason why

[Bottomfeeder]

Some of you guys might remember my Garter Snake, and the problems I had with feeding, with my reservations against live fish and my eventually doing it. See thread http://www.monsterfishkeepers.com/forums/showthread.php?t=295236
Well lately he has been on a steady diet of live Goldfish... I know it's not the best diet, but I figure it's better than plain old starvation... even prekilled ones. Last night I was flipping through a Garter and Water Snake care book and I found out that he is not a Nortwestern Garter Snake, Thamnophis ordinoides, as I previously thought, but actually an Eastern Ribbon Snake, Thamnophis sauritus. I know by the coloration, head shape, and the yellow spectacle mark in front of the eyes. So I'm a bit pissed that I didn't get what I paid for, and even from a big respected store like my Snake came from, but at least I know it's not a medical reason that he's so picky. Supposedly they are almost strictly fish eaters.
So my future plans:
Stop trying to feed chopped worms, he actually seems scared of them.
Upgrade to 15 gallon tank.
Just thought I would write up an update, for everyone who helped me out in the December thread

 

[coura]

Dude Squeletor (sorry couldnt resist) now that your snake is feeding try to wean him of goldfish as soon as you can to either guppys or mosquito fish wich you can breed yourself cheap, other wise she will get very soon tyaminase poisoning wich this guys are very prone to...unless you were willing to cook the golfish before feeding wich doesant seem a very good idea

 

[krichardson]

I'm not much of a snaker but lets see it.

 

[Bottomfeeder]

Dude Squeletor (sorry couldnt resist) now that your snake is feeding try to wean him of goldfish as soon as you can to either guppys or mosquito fish wich you can breed yourself cheap, other wise she will get very soon tyaminase poisoning wich this guys are very prone to...unless you were willing to cook the golfish before feeding wich doesant seem a very good idea

I'm gonna go get some silversides from the bait store as soon as they start getting fresh ones

To be honest, I'd rather not feed Mosquitofish, as I actually keep them, one of my favorite fish, and no stores here sell feeder Guppies, so I guess SIlversides are my best option?

 

[BlackShark11k]

Worth a try, and you'll probably want to supplement them too.

I have a feeling you won't want to do this, but my old garter went nuts for live frogs. He would grab them the second they dropped in the tank, and killed them by banging them on the side of the tank.

 

[Bottomfeeder]

Worth a try, and you'll probably want to supplement them too.

I have a feeling you won't want to do this, but my old garter went nuts for live frogs. He would grab them the second they dropped in the tank, and killed them by banging them on the side of the tank.

lol Not really my thing. And anywho, we are talking about a Snake that is afraid of nightcrawlers here...

 

[gigas12]

Hi,in the past I also had problems feeding garter snakes.

 

[coura]

I'm gonna go get some silversides from the bait store as soon as they start getting fresh ones

To be honest, I'd rather not feed Mosquitofish, as I actually keep them, one of my favorite fish, and no stores here sell feeder Guppies, so I guess SIlversides are my best option?

"Now thats some idea"

 

[CTU2fan]

I agree with coura about the goldfish. Will he take prekilled fish or only live? If he'll take dead ones you could stock up on baitfish like shiners/minnows whatever in the summer and freeze a bunch.

 

[Bottomfeeder]

He eats fresh killed Goldfish, and readily took them both times I tried. Nice avatar.