For garter snakes that eat nightcrawlers, chop the nightcrawler into quarters and feed the snake 1 nightcrawler twice per week. Giant Garter Snake – The largest of the 35-odd species, this snake is in decline. Peak Garter snake mating season occurs congruently with the hibernation period. Pet stores rarely stock frogs as a food source. Garter Snakes will eat tinned cat food in captivity. The neurotoxin found in the venom of Garter snakes can cause paralysis in their prey. Baby garter snakes will start eating tadpoles before graduating to full-grown amphibians. We found the Catch Master Glue Traps to be among the best. A wild garter snake will hunt frogs and toads for food. My big female Checkered Garter Snake loves moist chicken flavoured tinned cat food. Snakes are known as animals that can go an extremely long time without eating because of the nature of the way they eat their food and how they slowly digest food overtime. Garter Snake traps are a solid way to get rid of them. Bait them onto the trap with food and you should be able to remove them easily once caught. Food The Common Garter Snake is an opportunistic feeder and eats whatever prey items are available. Earthworms are a particularly important food source and garter snakes will feed heavily on them (up to 14 worms per hour!) Common garter snakes have red spots. It will be a while before the snakes are big enough to eat a mouse whole, though. Humans destroy the wetlands that these snakes live in, and pollute the waters that they hunt in. Food competition among four sympatric species of garter snakes, genus Thamnophis. when they are available. If you choose a garter or ribbon snake as a pet, you can feed your scaly pal invertebrates, but ensure the diet is well-rounded and consists of more than one food source for proper nutrition. They use their quick reflexes and sharp teeth to help them catch their prey. Fish flavoured cat food is a popular choice for most Garter Snakes. Starting at 6-8 inches long, adult snakes do not grow longer than 2-3 feet (males are typically shorter than females) with a girth of only a few inches. Check them out here: Where Do Garter Snakes Go At Night? Instead, feed your baby garter snakes earthworms, slugs, or mice. It isn’t uncommon for a garter snake to go months without eating depending on various factors such as their health, age, weather conditions and more. Don’t use live mice as these can attack the snake. Garter snakes can also eat frogs, toads, and fresh, whole fish. The IUCN lists the species as Vulnerable. However in the wild garters would eat a more varied live reptile food diet consisting of worms, amphibians, fish, and rodents, so it is a good idea to provide some variety in captivity. FOOD SOURCES. Giant garter snakes primarily feed on small fish, tadpoles, and frogs. The giant garter snake inhabits agricultural wetlands and other waterways such as irrigation and drainage canals, sloughs, ponds, small lakes, low gradient streams, and adjacent uplands in the Central Valley. Garter snakes make great first snakes for families with elementary school-age children and older, because these snakes are active during the day, do not constrict, and do not get very big. Feed your Garter Snakes cat food as part of a varied diet and don’t over do it as cat food can make them fat. Garter Snake Reproduction. A diet heavy in earthworms or fish will need to be supplemented to ensure your snake does not lack any vital minerals or vitamins. Texas J. Sci 6:172-189. Like most snakes, Garters swallow their food whole. Garter Snake Food Many keepers feed adults a frozen thawed rodent only diet, which is fine because this provides complete nutrition. HABITAT. Adult garter snakes are 18.1–53.9 in (46–137 cm) in length. 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