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I was wondering if it is okay to use Timothy Hay as bedding (substrate) for my Garter Snake. She was wild caught by a friend of mine, and he kept her for years, but he passed away and I am taking care of her now. He was using paper towels but I didn't know if this was a good idea or a bad one. Her name is Makayle and I'm not sure ow old she is, or anything. But I know he's had her at least a year.
As for food, we first tried feeding her pinkie mice by warming them and then using feeding tongs to make them move. Makayle struck at it once, but she would not eat any of them! So I bought some minnows from the pet store and put them in her water dish. She ate them with no problem! So can anyone tell me what other things she can eat? My husband thinks we should catch some tadpoles from the pond and feed them to her. Is this a good idea?
Makayle is very friendly for a wild caught snake, but she is a little jumpy too. I also need to know how to make her more tame. She is not like any other snake I have handled, she seems... jumpy and nervous. What is a good way to calm her down? And how often should we hold her? I don't want to upset her, but I do want her to get used to me. Is there a certain way to hold this kind of snake, or what???
And what else do I need for her to be happy and comfortable? Right now we have Timothy Hay for bedding, a hollow half-log for her to curl up under, a water dish made for snakes, a heat lamp with a 60-watt bulb to heat the ten gallon aquarium, and minnows purchased from the pet store for her to eat. Am I forgetting anything?
Hi, It's great that you care so much. I'm sure your friend would be happy to know his snake is being looked after.
I've answered your substrate question, recommending paper towels. Mainly because they are easy to clean and cheap to replace when soiled!
FOOD: Unless you have a garter snake that eats mice, you must feed your garter snake a varied diet to ensure complete nutrition. Mice represent complete nutrition, but other foods are deficient in some way and must be fed in combination or supplemented to ensure a complete diet.
In the wild, they eat frogs and toads. But they shouldn't be fed them in captivity, because they have a lot of disease and parasites.
Nightcrawlers and dew worms will probably be enjoyed.
Fish filets may be a good idea. Steer clear of goldfish or other petstore fish, they are often not good nutritionally.
HEAT The ideal temperature for most snakes is in the 25-30°C range (about 75-85°F), but it’s important that the snake have the option of warming up and cooling off when it chooses. Create a temperature gradient by only heating one side of the cage.
You can use a heating pad under-neath one side of the cage, or an incandescent or reflector bulb above it.
Information from: http://www.gartersnake.info/care/
Thank you again! Yes, I will certainly do that. I'll get some nightcrawlers for her. I know a place that I can buy them, thanks! And I have already bought a daytime bulb, and a night time bulb for her cage, she seems to be doing just fine. She is getting more tame, and gradually starting to warm up to me. She likes the minnows, and still eats them but am definetely going to try other things. Thank you so much!
