Garters, Greens and Ribbons

[ccfcexile]

I must admit I do love these little social snakes. I was looking at getting a few Garters but I can only find chequerd's and not
Red sided. I think they are a little over priced these days also!

Ribbons are the same but I can get 'em for around £17 each. I opted for a couple of Rough Greens so when they come in I will get a couple at £14 a pop.

The beauty of them is you don't have to buy them food... You catch it in your garden, rinse it off then dust it with a Calcium and Vitamin D3 supplement.

My kid will have hours of fun catching Spiders, Flies and Worms. One question about the Greens... Garters can eat slugs but I have never heard anyone say that Greens can, Can they?

[fundo]

I don't think a green could manage a slug. Maybe the really small ones, but greens tend to have quite a think body - unlike the garters who are slightly fatter

[ccfcexile]

shame really since slugs are all over my pad!!! spiders and flies it is!

[PeterUK]

Not one of the best ideas that I've heard this year

Feeding wild caught insects to a captive reptile is is not recommended as there is a good chance of the insect being contaminated with pesticides, also there is a very very high risk of the insect harboring parasites.
As the snake will come from a country other than the UK it will probaly find it harder to handle a foreign parasite (IE not from its native county). For the sake of saving a few £££ ....... is it worth it ?

[ccfcexile]

The thing with Greens is that they can live on insects like spiders and flies and are encouraged to do so as long as they are dusted and it is part of a varied diet (I.e. shop bought gutloaded crickets). If you can be sure that the insects come from an area where pestacides are not used (my garden as we encourage eco pestcontrole like ladybirds etc) then their shouldn't be a problem.

As a keen fisherman I cultivate my own maggots that I sometimes allow to pupate (for fishing purposes), They sometimes get left in the shed and turn inro a tub of flies instead, these are clean as a whistle as the cultivation method is free from any chemicals.

I belive if you know your food source then fine. I like to reaserch before taking the plung so to speak and wouldn't want to endanger any snake I own. I kept Garters when I was young and I fed them a huge variety of 'UK natural foods' including cooked minced meat that they loved and they all lived a good life.

I can understand the concern you have voiced and praise you for your consideration towards animals.