What Do Baby Garter Snakes Eat? The Complete Guide to Feeding Hatchlings (2024)

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As a new garter snake owner, you’ll want to feed your hatchlings live fish or worms right after birth.

Cut nightcrawlers and trout worms into bite-sized pieces for easier consumption.

Minnows and guppies make excellent feeder fish too – just avoid goldfish.

Supplement their diet with other protein sources like salamanders or chopped earthworms to encourage growth.

Be patient and persistent with finicky eaters.

Start by offering very small pinky parts with tongs to minimize stress.

With proper care, these slithery babies will thrive – and you’ll gain invaluable insights into their unique feeding habits.

What Do Baby Garter Snakes Eat and What to Feed Them?

Baby garter snakes primarily eat live fish, worms, and small pieces of mice. To feed them, start with live fish or worms and switch to small mice as they grow, while also providing a varied diet of salamanders and earthworms.

Feeding Newborn Garter Snakes

Newborn garter snakes are born with a soft outer skin that they immediately shed after birth.

These thin shed skins rapidly disintegrate.

You should offer food right away without waiting for the shedding process to complete.

As a general rule, live fish or worms make excellent initial food sources for baby garter snakes due to their small size and accessibility.

Shed Immediately After Birth

Baby garter snakes shed their thin, ephemeral skins almost immediately after birth, within minutes in some cases. Don’t wait for them to shed before offering food – these tiny hatchlings need to eat right away. Live fish, worms, and even small pieces of mouse are all good options to get them started on a healthy diet.

Offer Food Immediately After Birth

Don’t wait for those delicate shed skins to disintegrate – baby garter snakes are ready to eat right after birth! Offer a variety of live, small-portioned foods like:

• Wriggling worms cut into bite-sized pieces
• Lively feeder fish like minnows or guppies
• Protein-packed treats like chopped earthworms or salamanders

Feed these hatchlings as often as twice a week to keep their tiny bellies full.

Use Live Fish or Worms as Initial Food

Since baby garter snakes are too small for pinky mice or large worms, start them on a diet of live fish like minnows and guppies or small, wriggling worms. This provides the nutrition they need while being easy for their tiny mouths to consume. Be cautious with wild-caught snakes, as they may carry parasites from certain live foods.

Housing Baby Garter Snakes

When housing baby garter snakes, it’s recommended to keep them in small groups of around 10-11 snakes per five-gallon tank. Although they can be housed together, feed each snake individually to prevent competition and guarantee they all get enough food.

House in Small Groups

Garter snakes are social creatures, so housing baby snakes in small groups provides enrichment and reduces stress. However, be mindful of aggression and dominance – keep an eye out for food fights or attempted cannibalism, especially with snakes of different sizes. Provide plenty of hiding spots and a dry, secure substrate to maintain their health.

Use Five-gallon Tanks for 10-11 Snakes

When housing a group of baby garter snakes, use a 5-gallon tank for every 10-11 snakes.

Stack the tanks to save space, but make sure they are well-ventilated.

Line the tank with a moisture-retaining substrate like coconut fiber to keep the humidity at the right level.

Supplement their diet of live earthworms and feeder fish with calcium and vitamin D3 to help them grow.

Feed Snakes Individually

When housing baby garter snakes, it’s imperative to feed them individually to ensure their well-being and prevent disputes over food.

Establish a designated feeding area using disposable containers.

Attentively observe the food amount based on the snake’s age.

Maintain meticulous hygiene practices to keep the feeding area sanitary and prevent contamination.

This personalized approach aids your hatchlings in flourishing during this pivotal phase of their development.

Transitioning to Mice

Converting baby garter snakes to a rodent-based diet is often easier than anticipated. While not all garter snakes will readily accept mice, many enthusiastically take to very small sections of pinkies offered from the outset.

Easier Than Expected

Changing baby garter snakes to a mouse-based diet is simpler than you might think. Many young snakes eagerly accept mouse parts, recognizing them as a healthier alternative to their initial fish or worm-based diet. With the correct approach, you can successfully switch even the most finicky eaters to this nutritious staple. Just be patient and persistent.

Feeding Obstacles	Nutritional Standards
Particular eaters	Well-rounded diet
Tiny prey size	Adequate caloric intake
Metabolic rates	Development patterns

Feed Very Small Pinky Parts From the Outset

When changing baby garter snakes to mice, start by offering very small pinky parts. This simplifies the shift, as some snakes accept mouse-based diets more eagerly than others. Utilize feeding equipment like tongs to present the food, and store any frozen rodents appropriately to maintain freshness. Fortify the diet with other protein sources to encourage growth and health.

Not All Garter Snakes Will Eat Mice

Not all garter snakes will readily accept mice, even as they mature. This genetic variation can have health implications, as mice provide a more complete nutritional profile. While worms and fish may be easier initial foods, moving to mice is ideal for the snake’s long-term wellbeing. Explore alternative protein sources if your garter snake refuses mice.

Nightcrawlers and Trout Worms

Nightcrawlers and trout worms are excellent food sources for young garter snakes. For easier consumption, you should cut these prey items into smaller pieces before offering them to the hatchlings.

Excellent Food Sources for Young Garter Snakes

Nightcrawlers and trout worms make excellent food sources for young garter snakes. These protein-rich options can be offered as part of a varied diet, along with feeder fish and salamanders. Remember to provide a proper feeding schedule, water for hydration, and an enclosure with the right substrate and temperature to keep your baby garter snake healthy and thriving.

Cut Into Smaller Pieces for Easier Consumption

When feeding nightcrawlers and trout worms to your baby garter snake, be sure to cut them into smaller pieces. This makes them easier for the hatchling to consume and digest. Supplementing their diet with these nutrient-rich options provides variety and enrichment during feeding time. Just be careful not to overfeed, as live food can be more difficult to portion.

Feeder Fish

When selecting feeder fish for baby garter snakes, you’ll want to avoid goldfish and red wigglers, as their high protein and fat content can lead to digestive issues. Instead, provide variety by offering minnows, guppies, or other small feeder fish suited for hatchling snakes’ nutritional needs.

Avoid Goldfish and Red Wigglers

While red wigglers and goldfish may seem like convenient feeder options, they can actually be quite harmful for your baby garter snakes. Red wigglers contain toxins that can make your snakes sick, while goldfish lack the proper nutritional profile. Instead, opt for a variety of live feeder fish like guppies and minnows – they’re a much safer and healthier choice.

Provide Variety Like Minnows and Guppies

Garter snakes thrive on a varied diet, so supplement their meals with live guppies and minnows. These smaller, protein-rich feeders provide essential nutrients. Cut the fish into bite-sized pieces to make them easier for hatchlings to consume. Offering a variety of live feeders keeps your baby garters engaged and well-nourished.

Feeder Fish	Protein	Size
Guppies	High	Small
Minnows	High	Small
Goldfish	Low	Large
Red Wigglers	Toxic	N/A

Salamanders and Earthworms

Salamanders and earthworms provide an excellent protein-rich supplement to a baby garter snake’s diet. Be sure to chop earthworms into smaller pieces before offering them to your hatchling, as their diminutive size makes consuming whole worms difficult.

Supplement the Diet With These Protein-rich Options

Supplement your baby garter snake’s diet with protein-rich options like sliced salamanders and chopped earthworms. These provide essential nutrients beyond just feeder fish. Vary the menu with minnows, guppies, and other small fish to maintain a balanced diet. Just be sure to chop larger prey into manageable pieces for your hatchling’s small size.

Chop Earthworms Into Smaller Pieces

When feeding baby garter snakes, be sure to chop up any live worms, like nightcrawlers, into smaller pieces.

This makes them easier for the hatchlings to consume.

You can also offer small feeder fish like minnows or guppies to provide variety in their diet.

Aim to feed them a few times per week, mixing up their menu with different live foods.

Feeding Process

You’ll want to feed your baby garter snakes separately to avoid any aggressive behavior or food competition. Using deli-cup containers makes the feeding process efficient – simply place the food items in the cups, then introduce the snakes one by one.

Feed Snakes Separately to Prevent Food Fights

To prevent food fights, it’s best to feed your baby garter snakes independently.

This guarantees each one gets their fair share and avoids any disputes over the meal.

Store extra food properly in the fridge or freezer.

Consider supplements like calcium and vitamins to complement their diet.

Variety is key – offer a mix of live fish, worms, and small rodents.

Use Deli-cup Containers for Efficient Feeding

To feed baby garter snakes efficiently, use deli-cup containers.

These small, individual containers allow you to precisely portion out the right amount of food for each snake.

Pop the snake into its own cup, drop in the wriggling worms or fish, and let it dine in peace.

This prevents food fights and ensures each hatchling gets its fill during the twice-weekly feedings.

Concerns With Wild-Caught Garter Snakes

One significant concern with keeping wild-caught garter snakes is their potential to become aggressive after around two years in captivity. Additionally, there’s a risk of parasitic infections if you feed them certain prey items they may have consumed in the wild, such as frogs.

May Become Aggressive After 2 Years

Wild-caught garter snakes may become increasingly aggressive after 2 years in captivity. This is a major concern for pet owners, as the snakes can lose their natural instincts and become unsuitable as docile companions. Additionally, these snakes may carry parasites that can be transmitted through certain food sources, posing health risks. Carefully consider the long-term implications before keeping a wild-caught garter snake as a pet.

• Wild instinct loss can lead to unpredictable behavior
• Captive aggression issues make snakes difficult to handle
• Parasite transmission risks from improper feeding
• Pet suitability concerns due to changing temperament

May Carry Parasites From Certain Foods

Wild-caught garter snakes may carry parasites from certain foods, like frogs, that can be harmful to their health. While these snakes may seem like an easy option, their wild origins mean they could harbor parasites that can spread to other pets or even you. Proceed with caution when caring for wild-caught garters to avoid potential issues down the line.

Justifications for Keeping Wild-Caught Garter Snakes

You may need to keep a wild-caught garter snake if it serves breeding purposes, ensuring genetic diversity and sustainability for captive populations. Alternatively, captivity could provide a safer, more stable environment than the snake’s original habitat, such as an urban area with potential hazards like chemicals, vehicles, and predators.

Necessary for Breeding Purposes

Keeping wild-caught garter snakes can be justified for breeding purposes, as they may possess unique genetic traits or represent endangered populations. Responsible breeders can help conserve garter snake diversity and maintain healthy captive populations when their natural habitats are threatened. Breeding programs can also provide educational opportunities and contribute to scientific research on garter snake biology and behavior.

• Preserve genetic diversity
• Support conservation efforts
• Contribute to scientific research
• Provide educational opportunities

Provide a Better Life Than the Wild

If the garter snake was found in a dangerous situation, like an apartment complex with chemicals and predators, keeping it as a pet may provide a better life. The snake could bond with its human caretaker, offering educational value. However, ethical considerations and potential for injury must be weighed against the snake’s impact on the local ecosystem.

Feeding Frequency

As your baby garter snake grows, you’ll need to adjust its feeding schedule. Young snakes require more frequent meals to support their rapid growth rates. Start by offering food every 2-3 days, providing appropriately sized portions. As your snake matures, shift to a once-weekly feeding schedule with slightly larger prey.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)