Garter snakes typically eat frogs, tadpoles, and earthworms in the wild. The best solution is to feed them earthworms coated in vitamins to get them the proper nutrition in captivity. Earthworms are easy to find around your home after it rains, and you can also find them for sale at most fishing stores where they sell them as bait.
What is the Diet of a garter snake?
What do you feed a baby garter snake?
- Mice offsprings. Mice are their most favorite form of food. ...
- Amphibians. Garter snakes are very deadly reptiles and are renowned for their killer instinct. ...
- Earthworms. Earthworms are one of the most preferred choice s of food for the garter snake babies as they are complete in proportion, easy to catch, and even easier ...
- Fish. ...
- Other food sources. ...
How do you care for a garter snake?
Garter snakes, as with most pets, require a clean environment to thrive. We recommend a spot clean as often as possible (every day) and a full clean every 4 weeks or so. If you are keeping the snake in a bio-active enclosure you can spot clean and monitor the enclosure. It may still be a good item to change out the bedding a few times per year.
What are facts about garter snakes?
- Western blackneck garter snake, T. c. cyrtopsis (Kennicott, 1860)
- Eastern blackneck garter snake, T. c. ocellatus (Cope, 1880)
- Tropical blackneck garter snake, T. c. collaris ( Jan, 1863)
Do garter snakes eat birds?
Garter snakes also feed on small rodents and mammals when they are easy to hunt. They generally don’t go for big rodents since these snakes are not very wide. The list includes mice, voles, small chipmunks, and shrews. They also eat small birds that are easier to hunt.
Do garter snakes need live food?
Live fish can be advantageous because some garter snakes will refuse to eat anything else. They can also be a great way to get a baby or smaller garter snake feeding, particularly if they need to see their food move (and they're not comfortable with you wiggling food at them; see Problem Feeders, below).
Do garter snakes eat veggies?
Garter snakes are carnivores. They don't just prefer meat; they must eat meat. In fact, their bodies can't digest vegetables.
What do garter snakes eat and drink?
Their diet consists of almost any creature they are capable of overpowering: slugs, earthworms (nightcrawlers, as red wigglers are toxic to garter snakes), leeches, lizards, amphibians (including frog eggs), minnows, and rodents. When living near water they will eat other aquatic animals.
How often do garter snakes need to be fed?
Adult snake needs meal every 7 to 10 days while a baby garter and pregnant female eats every 4 to 5 days. Provide fresh water daily. Allow your pet to hunt by placing a live fish in water and letting it catch it. Avoid overfeeding since snake can quickly become obese.
Do garter snakes eat lettuce?
Garter snakes are carnivores. They don't just prefer meat; they must eat meat. In fact, their bodies can't digest vegetables.
Can garter snakes eat raw chicken?
Snakes can consume human food like eggs, poultry, fish, pork, and beef when they are unprocessed. This means that the food should be given in its basic and raw form. You cannot give fried or saucy food to your snake as there are already other ingredients in the food that may make your snake sick.
Can you keep a wild garter snake?
Wild garter snakes usually live only four or five years, but a well-cared-for snake can live for over 10 years. We don't advise buying a wild-born garter snake, as they are shy of people and may never acclimate to living as pets. Catching wild snakes to keep as pets can also be illegal.
Do garter snakes need water?
But even though garter snakes are often found near water in the wild, they should not be kept in semi-aquatic conditions. Garter snakes aren't aquatic; it's their prey that's aquatic. They don't need to swim; a water dish large enough for the snake to curl up in is enough. The cage needs to be kept dry.
Do garter snakes eat cat food?
"Snakes do not like cat or dog food, but these foods usually attract rodents, and a snake's primary diet consists of eating mice and rats," Tabassam explains.
How long can a garter snake last without eating?
How Long Can Snakes Go Without Eating?Pet snake typesRegular feedingHow long can they go without eating?Garter SnakeEvery other day juveniles Once a week adults2 to 3 monthsSmooth Green SnakeOnce or twice per weekA few weeksCape House SnakeOnce a weekA few weeksKenyan Sand BoaOnce a weekUp to a year9 more rows
Will a garter snake bite you?
Though garter snakes will use their sharp teeth to catch prey, it's very unlikely these pests will choose to bite a human. They typically only lash out at humans when they are provoked or feel threatened.
Are garter snakes friendly to humans?
Despite being skilled carnivorous hunters, they are generally fearful and non-aggressive towards humans unless provoked. Notably, they are closely related to water snakes within the genus Nerodia. As a group, garter snakes are some of the most common and widespread snakes in North and Central America.
What Foods Do Garter Snakes Eat?
Like all snakes, the 30+ unique species of garter snakes are strict carnivores. This means they don’t eat plant matter and subsist solely on meat from other animals.
What Animals Eat Garter Snakes?
Because they are so small and lack much in the way of defense mechanisms, garter snakes are commonly preyed upon by a number of larger animals, including other snakes!
Do Garter Snakes eat Mice?
Absolutely! Garter snakes have been known to eat Mice on many occasions. Although mice are too big for baby Garter Snakes to consume, they make a great meal for an adult Garter Snake.
Do Garter Snakes Eat Rats?
Rats are one of the meals that Garter Snakes do not typically eat. Rats tend to be larger in size and they sometimes fight back.
Do Garter Snakes Eat Chipmunks?
Chipmunks are not a common staple in the Garter snakes diet, but they can eat chipmunks if they are available.
Do Garter Snakes Eat Crickets?
The short answer? No. Pet stores may tell you that Garter Snakes will go after Crickets, but t hey don’t actually like crickets that much.
Do Garter Snakes Eat Slugs?
Slugs are a favorite treat for Garter Snakes. In the wild, slugs can be a pest to many gardeners, so Garter Snakes take care of the slugs for them.
Do Garter Snakes Eat Chicken Eggs?
Most snake species find chicken eggs to be a delicacy. The Garter snake however, is not one of them.
Do Garter Snakes Eat Ants?
Garter Snakes in the wild and in captivity CAN eat ants. They don’t eat them very often, as it takes many ants to fill up a Garter Snake but they are not completely out of the question.
What Do Garter Snakes Look Like?
Garter snakes come in a wide variety of colors and patterns depending on the species — of which there are 30 known varieties — but most are characterized by three longitudinal stripes that run down their backs and the sides of their body. These stripes are typically yellow or green but can vary depending on the species.
How to Feed Garter Snakes
How much and how often you feed your Garter will depend on their age and size and the food that you choose to give them. Worm-eaters will need to be fed more often than mouse-eaters, for example.
Final Thoughts
Garter snakes in the wild feed on various animals, from earthworms to frogs and even other smaller snakes. While it’s usually good advice to try to replicate the diet of your snake in captivity, this is difficult and potentially harmful with Garter snakes because their main diet of amphibians may harbor harmful parasites.
How to accommodate a garter snake?
The easiest way to accommodate your snake is to purchase an aquarium tank or reptile cage (vivarium) with a lockable lid.
Why are garter snakes good pets?
Garter snakes are ideal for new snake owners because their care needs are limited. At the same time, they are fascinating creatures to behold. Here’s why garter snakes can make such great pets: Garter snakes are a ‘natricine’ species, so they don’t constrict their prey.
What snakes are good for captivity?
Common Garter Snake ( Tham nophis Sirtalis) Checkered Garter Snake ( Tham nophis Marcianus) Ribbon Snake ( Thamnophis Sauritus) These subspecies are known to have a relaxed temperament, feeding well, and thriving in captivity. So, if you’re a beginner, you’re better off opting for one of these snakes.
What are the characteristics of a garter snake?
In addition to their markings, garter snakes have the following characteristics: Thin – most adult garter snakes are 1 inch in diameter. A dark-colored body that is olive, brown, dark red, or black. The stripes on the snake’s body are often yellow but could be white, orange, or tan. The belly is pale green or yellow.
Why are checkered garter snakes so popular?
Checkered garter snakes rarely bite and can be easily handled, so they are one of the most popular garter snakes to keep as pets.
How long does it take for a garter snake to settle down?
Although they may become nervous in a new environment, garter snakes settle down after a couple of weeks, and their temperament can become very relaxed. Most subspecies of garter snake are diurnal (active during the day), so you can observe their activity at a convenient time.
What is the best snake to keep in captivity?
Garter snakes are one of the easiest snakes to care for in captivity. Their calm temperament, small size, and harmless bite make them the ideal pet for any budding herpetologist. Garter snakes are cold-blooded (ectothermic), so you’ll need a heat lamp or pad to regulate their body temperature. They need a meat-based diet to grow and thrive.
1. Large Fish
Western aquatic garter snakes are known to swim, especially in British Columbia, including Vancouver Island. They enter the water to find fish, which they eat, but can also find themselves as prey themselves!
2. Bullfrogs
Bullfrogs notoriously eat anything they can get their hands on. These large frogs can easily take down a garter snake.
3. Snapping Turtles
Snapping turtles are omnivores and feed on a wide variety of plants, insects, spiders, worms, fish, birds and snakes.
3. Milk Snakes
Milk snakes aren’t inherently dangerous and are one of the more docile varieties of snakes. A lot of people tend to keep milk snakes as pets.
4. Crows
Many birds eat garter snakes as central animals in their diet. Crows are no exception. They have keen eyesight for spotting and swooping on unsuspecting garter snakes.
5. Racoons
Racoons are capable of killing and eating garter snakes, but are often too lazy to do so. Their preferred diet is fish, nuts, and bird eggs.
6. Foxes
Over 90% of the fox’s diet is meat. They will eat a range of mammals and reptiles, including garter snakes.
Mice
Earthworms
- If your young garter snake refuses to eat mice or fish then earthworms can represent another option. They are, however, far less popular because there have been suggestions that they have the potential to introduce parasites. Be sure to feed earthworms in a shallow food bowl, to prevent them from burrowing down into the substrate, never to be seen again.
Supplements
- If your snake is eating either worms or fish they will need vitamin and mineral supplements a couple of times a month. The three most important supplements they need are calcium, vitamin B1 and vitamin D3. Vitamin B1 is essential if your snake has been eating fish with thiaminase and D3 helps to metabolize calcium.
How Much to Feed Your Snake
- Your snake should have a bulge when it’s eaten, but this shouldn’t be so prominent that it looks like it’s going to explode. If you are feeding mice to your snake, the girth of the mouse should be about the same as that of your snake.
Feeding Problems with Garter Snakes
- In general, garter snakesare good eaters and there isn’t that much that will turn them off their food. However, there are exceptions to the rule and there could be a number of reasons why your snake won’t eat. First of all, your snake might not like the foodthat is on offer. In this case you will have to try it on different foods. Snakes sometimes prefer their prey to move and if they’ve not ta…