Baby garden snakes need a variety of foods and water sources to survive. You can start providing them with fresh water right after they are born. They may also refuse to eat right after birth, so you should provide a constant source of fresh water. If your snakes are not eating for a month or more, you should provide them with food and fresh water.
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Earthworms
Many baby garden snakes will eat earthworms as a source of protein. Although they are inexpensive and easy to catch, earthworms can also be a source of toxins and parasites. The red wiggler and ribbon snakes do not eat earthworms.
Toads
If you have a garter snake, chances are he eats toads. Garter snakes have a strong immune system, which makes them a great choice for eating toads. They can even open up their toad-holes wide enough to eat fat amphibians. A good garter snake is not a poisonous snake, but it is not recommended to feed them raw toads.
Minnows
The first thing you should do if you have a baby garden snake is to find a way to feed it. You can try feeding the snake a small earthworm, a quarter or third of a large bait store nightcrawler, or a pinky mouse. The smaller the food is, the better, because it will be digested easier. You should feed the snake at least once a day to make sure that it gets all the nutrients it needs.
Tadpoles
Tadpoles are aquatic animals that only survive in water. They develop gills when they hatch and feed on their own eggs, which are high in nutrients. Their diet consists mostly of aquatic plants, such as duckweed and algae. Tadpoles may also eat dead fish and frog eggs. They may also feed on each other and even each other’s eggs.
Grasshoppers
Some snakes can eat grasshoppers. However, they tend to eat larger animals. While many types of snakes prefer smaller, prey such as grasshoppers, some species are known to feed on large insects like birds and squirrels. These snakes are most often found in salt marshes. The exoskeleton of some grasshoppers is difficult for snakes to digest and may not be the most appetizing meal for snakes.
Squirrels
Baby garden snakes don’t eat much, because their mouths are too small to swallow large items. However, they will eat small pieces of rodents and insects. Once their mouths are big enough, they will eat a variety of small animals.
Mosquitoes
Snakes are not dangerous for people, but they do like to live in a garden that is moist and cool. This is why it is very important to maintain your yard in such a way that snakes will not encounter you. If possible, remove any excess water from your yard, such as blocked rain gutters and leaking pipes. Snakes also do not like sharp objects and you can keep them away by using mulch. Mulch made of thick wood is a good choice, as snakes can’t get through it easily.
