If you’re trying to figure out what do little garter snakes eat, it’s important to understand that they aren’t vegetarians. While adult garter snakes do eat toads and frogs, these animals should almost never be kept in captivity. The following list will give you an idea of what these animals eat. This list is by no means exhaustive.
Earthworms
Many pet Garter snakes enjoy eating earthworms. However, these creatures are calcium-deficient and can even carry parasites. You may want to supplement the diet with calcium supplements or slugs and mice. Earthworms are readily available in your yard, but you should be sure to chop them up before feeding them. Red wrigglers, which are toxic to Garter snakes, are also not recommended.
Garter snakes also eat nightcrawlers and other prey. You can purchase earthworms at a bait shop, or you can dig them up in your yard. While this can be convenient, you must take care to avoid overfeeding your snake with these insects. If you happen to accidentally feed it with too much calcium, it could be fatal. To avoid poisoning your snake, make sure to check the packaging and ingredients before feeding it to a Garter snake.
Feeding frequency varies. Some species feed every day while others feed every two weeks. A little garter snake may require as few as one meal every day, while a fish eater requires feeding every three days. Young garter snakes, on the other hand, can eat every day or even twice a day. A good rule of thumb is to watch the size of the bulge and make sure the snake doesn’t appear to be about to explode.
Guppies
In order to feed your little garter snake, you must first identify what it eats. Garter snakes typically feed on mice because these creatures are plentiful. However, babies of garter snakes can’t consume whole mice. Instead, they suck on bits of the mouse, which their mother usually kills. Newborn garter snakes often attack the mother’s mice, and will then move on to hunt other rodents.
As a baby garter snake, you should give it different kinds of food to maintain a healthy diet. Guppies, nightcrawlers, and earthworms are good options for your snake. Cut-up chicken, tilapia, and pinkies are also suitable foods for young garter snakes. You should remember that garter snakes require a large quantity of water, but they can also survive on very small amounts of food.
A lot of people don’t realize that garter snakes are carnivores. They can’t digest plant matter and so must eat meat. While you may be tempted to give a garter snake crickets, you should avoid giving your pet these. It is unlikely that they would be happy with these foods. A healthy diet will ensure that your garter snake stays healthy and active for years to come.
Tilapia
Many pet store clerks may tell you that garter snakes eat crickets, but they are not true. These snakes are carnivores, meaning they must eat meat in order to survive. However, there are some species of garter snakes that do not eat fish and can only be kept in captivity if they have been introduced to them as a pet.
If you’re not sure if garter snakes eat fish, try to buy frozen fish. Snakes love fish, but be careful. Live fish can contain a number of health hazards, so buying frozen fish is best. Don’t feed your snake goldfish or tilapia, as they don’t contain much nutritional value. Even if you feed your pet fish, you need to ensure that the fish is free of parasites.
Baby garter snakes will eat guppies and earthworms. They don’t eat feeder crickets, but they can easily eat sliced chicken, earthworms, and even fried chicken. They may need to be encouraged to eat, so don’t force the food on them. The first few days of a new garter snake’s life may be a bit chaotic, so it’s best to keep it as calm as possible.
