Yesterday my father randomly brought a baby eastern garter snake he got on a job in NH. Normally I don't like keeping wild caught herps but I don't want to let I go because it's from a different locality and I don't want to contaminate the local population. Plus it's just cute honestly haha.

I did some reading online to learn as much as I could about the keeping of garters because he probably going to stay here now even though my brother and I just got 2 frogs and my mom's not thrilled about the snake lol.

Now the snake is about 4 and half inches long and is missing part of its tail so it could be maybe 5 inches if you include what's missing. I have it in a 2 and a half gallon vivarium (which is in fact quite spacious for him) my brother and I made from spare parts from the frogs vivarium. Now I found information on the care of garter snakes but I couldn't find anything on the care of neonates. All I know is they are born 5-9inches long so this little guy must be a new born.

I know I should leave him be for a week for him to get used to everything. But the reason I'm posting here is I want to know what is best to feed a very young garter and if there is anything else I should know about their care. Thanks

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"Reality is wrong, Dreams are for real"
-Tupac Shakur

0.2.1 Leopard Geckos
0.1.0 Corn Snake
0.3.0 Green Frogs
0.0.1 Eastern Garter Snake
0.0.1 Green Tree Frog
1.0.0 White's Tree Frog

They'll eat bugs and worms at that age. Crickets, night crawlers, roaches, etc..

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My name is Liz
Do what's best for the animal, not what's best for you.

Mine have never touched an insect of any kind. The books say that nightcrawlers are too big and might crawl back out and that the little red worms are a bit bitter. I feed my adult garter hoppers, fish filet, rosies, and worms. She gladly eats anything. The babies are a bit different. They are noticeably diverse in their eating habits and it shows in their size. Some of my best eaters take two pieces of worm and three rosies every three to four days. I have two very peculiar snakes that might eat once every four feedings. They are like half the size of the others.
Note: worms are like a delicacy...They love them, but the meal provides no calcium. Protein is also a must. Try them on everything listed above and then switch it up between feedings to make sure your snake is getting the most from its meals...Pinky parts are highly recommended but messy, ewe, your choice.
http://www.gartersnake.info/care/

Thanks for you help guys, a few minutes ago I cut up an earthworm and put it in the vivarium outside one of her hides and s/he gladly started eating the worms. I know your not supposed to feed a snake with in the first week but she's WC and I wanted to make sure it was eating.

__________________
"Reality is wrong, Dreams are for real"
-Tupac Shakur

0.2.1 Leopard Geckos
0.1.0 Corn Snake
0.3.0 Green Frogs
0.0.1 Eastern Garter Snake
0.0.1 Green Tree Frog
1.0.0 White's Tree Frog

I must say that's a mighty cute little snake. How big do they get?

Well most I've seen are only 2ft or a little more. But a few years ago at my uncles's cabin in New Hampshire one of my uncles caught a massive one that was definitely in 4 foot range. Honestly I wouldn't have been surprised if it was 4 1/2. It was bigger than most corn snakes I've seen. But I think it could be to a 6ft corn snake, they only happen on rare occasions. I'm not sure though, hopefully someone who knows more about garters will shed some light.

__________________
"Reality is wrong, Dreams are for real"
-Tupac Shakur

0.2.1 Leopard Geckos
0.1.0 Corn Snake
0.3.0 Green Frogs
0.0.1 Eastern Garter Snake
0.0.1 Green Tree Frog
1.0.0 White's Tree Frog

Garters supposedly only get 2-3 feet. But I have occasionally seen some in the 4 and 5 foot range.

He is a cutie. Maybe it's hatching time for them. I found a little 4" one yesterday under a rock near my boat when I went to work on it. I let him go in the garden after we took in his cuteness for a few mins. Good luck with him. From what I have experienced, wild caught garters aren't the friendliest of snakes. At least the ones I rescued from my cat and nursed back to health years ago weren't. Once they fully healed, they would hiss, snap, and poop all over anybody trying to touch them.

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i'd be better off opening my own small zoo.

When I first got him he was snapping and everything, but when I go in there now like to feed him or fix something in the tank I can just pick it up and move him and he just chills until I put him down. I think he might have been stressed out when I got him. So hopefully I can get him used to people.

__________________
"Reality is wrong, Dreams are for real"
-Tupac Shakur

0.2.1 Leopard Geckos
0.1.0 Corn Snake
0.3.0 Green Frogs
0.0.1 Eastern Garter Snake
0.0.1 Green Tree Frog
1.0.0 White's Tree Frog

OOOOH...My babies would be sooooo jealous. That is a nice viv. I bet he loves that swimming pool.

Ya it looks nice and he/she loves it. But I'm starting to learn why people say snakes and vivariums don't go together, I'm always in there fixing it because it destroys everything in the vivarium and it's only 5 inches long haha.

__________________
"Reality is wrong, Dreams are for real"
-Tupac Shakur

0.2.1 Leopard Geckos
0.1.0 Corn Snake
0.3.0 Green Frogs
0.0.1 Eastern Garter Snake
0.0.1 Green Tree Frog
1.0.0 White's Tree Frog