What do garter snakes eat and drink? Their diet consists of almost any creature they are capable of overpowering: slugs, earthworms (nightcrawlers, as red wigglers are toxic to garter snakes), leeches, lizards, amphibians (including frog eggs), minnows, and rodents. When living near water they will eat other aquatic animals.
What can I feed a wild garter snake? A young garter snake that is not eating pinky mice or pinky parts may be fed a combination of earthworms (cut into appropriately sized pieces if the snake is small and the worm is big), feeder guppies or platies and, if the snake will accept it, pieces of fish fillet.
How often do wild garter snakes eat? In general, worm eaters can be fed two to three times per week, and mice-eaters one a week, although young snakes can be fed more frequently because they are still growing. It’s difficult to overfeed juveniles or worm-eaters, but when feeding mice, you’ll need to be careful because your snake can quickly become obese.
Is it OK to keep a wild garter snake as a pet? Size, Lifespan and Availability
Wild garter snakes usually live only four or five years, but a well-cared-for snake can live for over 10 years. We don’t advise buying a wild-born garter snake, as they are shy of people and may never acclimate to living as pets. Catching wild snakes to keep as pets can also be illegal.
What do garter snakes eat and drink? – Additional Questions
Do garter snakes drink water?
Garter snakes need a water dish to both drink water from and to soak in. Pick a bowl that is large and shallow. Make sure that the water dish in the enclosure is always filled with enough fresh water for the snake to soak. Change the water every day.
Can you tame a garter snake?
Many garter snakes, particularly if they are captive bred, are gentle and do not mind being handled, and handling them is simply a matter of picking them up and letting them explore your hands. If you have experience handling other snakes, it’s important to remember that garter snakes are not constrictors.
How long can a garter snake go without eating?
How Long Can Snakes Go Without Eating?
| Pet snake types |
Regular feeding |
How long can they go without eating? |
| Garter Snake |
Every other day juveniles Once a week adults |
2 to 3 months |
| Smooth Green Snake |
Once or twice per week |
A few weeks |
| Cape House Snake |
Once a week |
A few weeks |
| Kenyan Sand Boa |
Once a week |
Up to a year |
Are garter snakes friendly to humans?
Garter snakes are among the most common snakes in North America, with a range spanning from Canada to Florida. Often kept as pets, they are relatively harmless, although some species do possess a mild neurotoxic venom. However, it is not dangerous to humans.
How long does a garter snake live?
Females give birth to a litter of 10 to 40 live young in summer. Young are five to nine inches long at birth. Garter snakes typically live 3 to 4 years.
Will a garter snake bite a dog?
Garter snakes prefer to escape when threatened by a predator, such as your dog, but they will bite if cornered. These snakes are considered mildly venomous. Their venom does not affect humans, but amphibians and small animals may experience minor toxicity from a garter snake bite.
How do you pick up a garter snake?
Pick up the snake gently.
- Use a net or forked stick to capture the garter snake. You can trap them underneath until they finish thrashing and are subdued.
- Try catching a garter snake by the tip of its tail.
- Give garter snakes plenty of support.
- Don’t restrict garter snakes’ movement.
- Garter snakes may musk on you.
What time of day are garter snakes most active?
Considering they spend the winter hibernating, a potential run-in with a garter snake will most likely occur during the late spring and summer. These pests are also primarily active during the warmer hours of the day, like the afternoon, which is when they leave their dens to hunt and bask in the warm sunlight.
Are garter snakes afraid of humans?
They eat a wide range of prey animals, from insects and small fish to mice, eggs, and even other, smaller snakes. Fortunately, they tend to avoid humans and only ever bite or strike defensively.
Can a garter snake hurt you?
You are in no danger as the venom is mild and the snake lacks the ability to quickly deliver a shot of poison. Because of its teeth, the venom is released not in a single, lashing out bite, but by repeated chewing. Even then, it is not greatly toxic to humans.
Where do garter snakes go in the winter?
They hibernate from late October through March or early April, but can be found basking on rocks during mild winter days. Common garter snakes hibernate in natural cavities or burrows, such as rodent burrows, crayfish burrows, under rock piles, or in stumps.
How many babies do garter snakes have?
Gestation takes from two to three months and occurs in the snake’s lower abdomen. Female garter snakes deliver on average 10 to 40 offspring between late July and October, depending on geographic location. Baby garter snakes receive no parenting. They are independent and find their own food after birth.
Do garter snakes have teeth?
How do you tell if a garter snake is a boy or girl?
What animal kills garter snakes?
Hawks, birds, skunks, raccoons, foxes, badgers, minks, bullfrogs, and other snakes all prey on garter snakes. Even house cats kill them.
Can garter snakes swim?
Habitat and Diet
Garter snakes can swim but are not agile climbers; they inhabit meadows, marshes, ditches and damp woods, staying close to the ground looking for insects, frogs, salamanders, fish and tadpoles.
Do garter snakes come out at night?
Garters are highly active. You might see them both at night and during the day, but you may not know they are there, as they will slither away from you as quickly as they can. They eat all the pests that wreak havoc in your garden, subsisting on slugs, snails, insects, grasshoppers and small rodents.
