Ribbon Snakes

[Oliverian]

... I have no idea whether the disease or condition that killed the fish could possibly do any harm to the snake, but I would think that the snake would probably take a pinky scented with freshly killed fish more readily than a pinky scented with rotting smelly dead fish. Just buy a goldfish or something to scent with, they're like 10 cents anyways.

You can also just go fishing and use cut up chunks of frozen trout. But if it's easier for you to feed the live fish, then by all means go for it.

-TammyR

[Vanan]

Tammy has a good suggestion about feeding trout chunks, BUT don't forget to supplement with calcium and vitamins as it's not the same as feeding whole prey, guts, bones and all. Also I am a believer of what Tammy mentioned about feeding rodents to non rodent feeders. Some garter species cope better with it but there have been suspect cases of many natricines' death related to feeding too much rodents. This is usually "proven" by fatty liver disease. A build up of fat cos if the rich diet leading to liver failure. I use the term "proven" in quotations as I have not heard of any documented cases but only of suspect cases. There's been an ongoing debate about this for years.

[Jeff Hathaway]

With respect to "fatty liver disease", I think part of the solution is to keep them on a restricted diet. Garters might eat worms and fish every couple of days, but if they eat mice every couple of days I think you'll have problems. All of our garters are on just f/t rodents on a similar schedule to our corns- ~7-12 days between feedings, with occasional fish or worms if we happen to have some extra and feel like giving them a treat. I know people who have kept garters for many years on just mice. Not so sure on ribbons, as I don't have the experience with them long term.

Jeff Hathaway
Sciensational Sssnakes!!

[Oliverian]

In my limited experience garters tend to be a lot more thicker-bodied than ribbons, so I would guess that they could handle a higher-fat diet than ribbons. That's all just speculation, though.

BUT don't forget to supplement with calcium and vitamins

Oops, yes. Don't forget the supplements.

-TammyR

[Vanan]

It's not just about thickness of body which denotes a garters capability to handle rich food. It's their natural diet. There are garters which are definitely thicker than any ribbon but only eat slugs and worms!

There have been suspect cases of fatty liver disease in eastern Hognoses even!

[C.m.pyrrhus]

Thamnophis in general are hardy and take a great variety of prey naturally. I have caught them myself eatting mice, fish, lizards and even crayfish. A herper photographed a nice Wandering garter devouring a bird! They, to me, are opportunistic creatures.

They like a bit of variety. I feed fish which consists of guppies, rosy reds, chubs and shiners, depending on species and relative size. These make up a fair amount of thier diet. Mice pinks are given several times a year. I had a small breeding colony of grey tree frogs which I fed the tadpoles and growing frogs even. I on the other hand have had no luck with earthworms like so many use.

I have always enjoyed them, and being a hardy snake, they even add to the pleasure of collecting them. Ribbons and Garters alike I feel add to life with a broad diet. Cool to watch them keeping their eyes alert as they dart into the water to catch a minnow, gotta give them abit of that Thamnophis hunting fun.