Thinking About Getting Another Garter Snake

My first snake was a garter snake that I caught last summer. Before Diablo, the garter snake, I was generally anxious around snakes. I got used to Diablo and eventually came to love snakes. For a while I considered them my favorite animal, now it's a debate between snakes and scorpions. Diablo died a few months ago and I have kept more snakes since then. I currently have zero snakes. It is starting to warm up so I hope that sometime soon I can start herping again. Hopefully then I can get me another garter snake. I normally catch and release. I really miss having a garter snake. If you have any tips for me, or know any common mistakes that garter snake owners make, please tell me. I kept Diablo, who was a 2 foot long male, in a 70 gallon tank. I chose that instead of my 10 gallon since he was more active and greatly appreciated the extra room. I had him on Aspen, with several places to hide, and a water bowl large enough for him to fit his entire body into. I had a heat lamp (not sure what wattage or anything else) I fed him nightcrawlers most of the time. I would also feed him small frogs. I wouldn't have fed him stuff like this if he was CB. That's all that I can think of. My care has gotten better since then.

 

Any tips are appreciated.

 

I think I would wait until a lot more research is done. Since snakes can live decades (depending on the type), I would want to figure out how to responsibly keep them in a way that I don't prematurely shorten their lives.

 

I think I would wait until a lot more research is done. Since snakes can live decades (depending on the type), I would want to figure out how to responsibly keep them in a way that I don't prematurely shorten their lives.

Yeah I agree. I normally do good with my research (I Spend all 99% of my free time researching animal related topics) but I still feel like I am doing something wrong with my snakes. So I had to stop for a while.

 

I would not do a wild-caught one. As they may harbor diseases. And plus, they have known what it feels like to be free. Wild-caught ownership, in my opinion, is like putting a human in prison for doing nothing. There are people who captive-breed garter snakes, so I would just buy one. AFTER doing plenty of research.

 

I would not do a wild-caught one. As they may harbor diseases. And plus, they have known what it feels like to be free. Wild-caught ownership, in my opinion, is like putting a human in prison for doing nothing.

I already know the controversy on WC animals. I feel the same most of the time. The thing here is, I don't have any access to breeders. I wasn't planning on going to the woods and getting one that way. If I keep a WC animal it is a "rescue". I was going to try and find one in an urban area where it would most likely be killed by human interference. I don't keep any WC reptiles unless it is a situation where the animal had little chance of survival. I understand your view on the subject and I feel similar, there are just some instances where it is a better option. If I can get a CB garter snake I would much rather do that. Where I live the only breeders work with ball pythons and cornsnakes. I don't have access to online breeders either. I have been doing research on them constantly. That is why I created this thread was to see if anyone on this site could help. I know there are snake forums that would be better to ask. I don't have an account on any of them yet and I already had one here that I was using to get tips on betta care.

 

I don't have any access to breeders

You check out an online source, like backwater reptiles, they're pretty reputable.

 

backwater reptiles

I have heard nothing but negative stuff about Backwater Reptiles.

 

Really? I’ve heard good stuff about them

 

Really? I’ve heard good stuff about them

I have never bought from them so I don't know if they are good or bad. The only place I bought from is bugsincyberspace and they were good, they don't sell snakes though.

 

Wait for a reptile expo in your area and see what they have to offer. I'm not really sure what you're doing wrong, maybe the snake you caught was just sick. A friend of mine catches snakes all of the time and keeps them with no issues what so ever. They're always rat snakes, but none the less - the care between a rat snake and a garter snake are pretty much the exact same. We actually have a 5+ foot rat snake our friend had us take over for about 4 years now and she's wonderful, never has any issues. We feed her strictly frozen (thawed) large mice and she takes them every time.

 

Wait for a reptile expo in your area and see what they have to offer. I'm not really sure what you're doing wrong, maybe the snake you caught was just sick. A friend of mine catches snakes all of the time and keeps them with no issues what so ever. They're always rat snakes, but none the less - the care between a rat snake and a garter snake are pretty much the exact same. We actually have a 5+ foot rat snake our friend had us take over for about 4 years now and she's wonderful, never has any issues. We feed her strictly frozen (thawed) large mice and she takes them every time.

I have been wanting to go to my first expo for a very long time now. I think my snake had problems with scale rot. If I had the opportunity to go to an expo I would definitely go.

 

I have been wanting to go to my first expo for a very long time now. I think my snake had problems with scale rot. If I had the opportunity to go to an expo I would definitely go.

Just look up when they're going to have one in your area. I know around here they have one pretty much once a month. Or look up some local pet stores, not chain pet stores though - look for something locally owned. We don't do WC snakes anymore, the ones we have with us have just been in captivity for so many years now that I don't think they can survive in the wild any longer.

 

Just look up when they're going to have one in your area. I know around here they have one pretty much once a month.

I know there are a few that come around, I just don't have the money to get in or a ride to get there.

 

I know there are a few that come around, I just don't have the money to get in or a ride to get there.

Huh, that's no good. Try and get a ride with a friend or something! And they usually don't cost much to get in, around $5! The vendors also love to cut deals. You'll figure something out! I just wouldn't do any more WC snakes if I were you, they may be dying from stress or just general illness. Try looking into rat snakes, you could put a couple in a 70 gallon breeder.

 

Huh, that's no good. Try and get a ride with a friend or something! And they usually don't cost much to get in, around $5! The vendors also love to cut deals. You'll figure something out! I just wouldn't do any more WC snakes if I were you, they may be dying from stress or just general illness. Try looking into rat snakes, you could put a couple in a 70 gallon breeder.

I just looked at the schedule for expos near me and I found a few that I might be able to go to. For some reason I thought they were $40-$60 to get in. I think that is just the bigger expos.