questioned on garters.

[jasuncle1972]

Hi all here's a question,what are your personal feelings when asked what kind of snakes you keep. I feel kinda out of place ( garters are all I keep @ the present.) due to the fact that garters aren't "exotic" snakes but I remember everyone starts somewhere with keeping herps, and this is where I start.

[Stefan-A]

It feels the same as explaining to "outsiders" why you keep snakes. You just know they're not going to understand it.

Garters pretty much have an image problem. It's not only a "beginner snake", it's a "beginner snake that you don't have to feed cute fuzzy mice". That's something the clerk at the pet shop actually asked me when I bought my first garter; Did I choose a garter because I have problem feeding mice to snakes. :rolleyes:

In addition, it's a group of snakes that even veteran snake keepers are fairly unfamiliar with and they are generally treated as a single species. I mean, I've only been keeping snakes a couple of years and so far, I haven't found a single local garter owner who could match my very basic species identification skills. It's scary (and I definitely don't mean to brag), but I think I might have gathered more knowledge about garters in two years, than any of the local veteran snake keepers during their entire careers. For example, even one of the veterans claims that garters eat insects and spiders.

I know it's not likely, the real pros are probably just keeping quiet, but since 2004, I've only seen two people on a Finnish herp forum discuss different Thamnophis species. Both of them beginners. People don't know anything about garters and they don't seem to want to know.

But I can tell you this: There are no locally bred garters on the market and there haven't been any for the last three years. None. No ads and not a single snake in any of the shops I've visited. In August that will hopefully change. ;) ..Which is why I'd really like to get my hands on a proper breeding couple.

Another rant. Sorry.

[Snaky]

For most part, I agree with Stefan. I've even had people say that a garter is a worm, not a snake... But this tells more about the person that says it (in my eyes).

Although I feel that there has been more recognition towards them in the last years. Also, if you convince someone to try a garter, they mostly change their mind. Just because a garter is much more active and has more personality to them than other snake's, which is for me the reason why it's more fun to keep them.

Of course a garter is an 'exotic' snake here, you can't find it in Belgium :) . Yet, Natrix is a snake from here that I would have loved to keep, if it where permitted. Also aren't corn snake's also not an exotic snake, yet they are kept quite a lot, not? So it's a stupid reason in my eyes.

Basically, I'm not feeling out of place because I almost only have garters and will promote them to anybody willing to listen to me;)

[adamanteus]

I keep Garters through personal choice. I don't feel the need to explain myself to anyone. If they don't like Garters, they don't have to keep them.

[Morph]

I chose to start keeping garters as apposed to other snakes because they are active and in general, a friendly type of snake. also, being a smaller species, it means i can eventually keep more than 1 without filling my house with vivs.

[adamanteus]

See, I don't buy into the whole "Garters are for beginners" mind-set. I think Corn Snakes, for example (but many others too) are far easier to keep..... Just throw in a mouse or two once a month, and change the water now and then. Most of the time these "better" snakes just lie around like a big colourful t**d. About as interesting as stamp collecting! My apologies to all the philatelists amongst us!:D

[Ameivaboy]

Out of the many species of snakes i have kept and worked with (from kings,milks,ratsnakes (asian and american) boas,pythons etc etc)
garters are by far more interesting as well as more active, most snakes just tend to lay around and are generally boring captives as opposed to garters who actively explore their cage and will come and investigate you, they seem to show a much higher intelligence level than most other snakes. with all the color variations,their small size (though some people need a big snake to feel like a "man"),and personalities garters are hard to beat in my opinion

I have had people talk **** to me for keeping "lame" or "beginner" snakes but personally i dont care, while i can watch my garters cruise their cage they can watch their boids and other "boring" snakes sit in the corner all day only being active when it's feedign time

just my 2 cents


Kevin

[CrazyHedgehog]

See, I don't buy into the whole "Garters are for beginners" mind-set. I think Corn Snakes, for example (but many others too) are far easier to keep..... Just throw in a mouse or two once a month, and change the water now and then. Most of the time these "better" snakes just lie around like a big colourful t**d. About as interesting as stamp collecting! My apologies to all the philatelists amongst us!:D


OH no... I thought garters were beginner snakes....?
oooops...
well I had the choice of a fast paced red bellied water snake or two garter snakes...that was in 1986. . . .
with the garter snakes I got two.... and they were different! (one was melanistic... but no-one wanted the 'plain' one !!!! )hooked ever since... a short break while my son was in his 'I am a toddler out to break everything' stage... but back with a vengance now.....woooohooo


(just asked my partner if he fancied a weekend away. . . . . his reply was . . . .:
'can't you just buy me some wood and ask me to build you something!'
well I feel another snake room coming on........

[adamanteus]

I think "the plain one" was a good choice! You can't have another snake room, Inge. You've already reached your alloted quota!

[CrazyHedgehog]

You can't have another snake room, Inge. You've already reached your alloted quota!
what do you know, your a man......he he he he he
Chloe HELP.......you have seen what he can build. . . ..I need encouragement!!!

[Jayson]

I have been keeping snakes for about 15 years now and I have had garters in my collection for at least the last 4 years now and they are by far the most interesting to watch and they have the most personality of all the snakes I have kept. I right now have over 20 species of snakes in my collection.

I love the appitite of these guys I have 2 sirtalis and 1 parietalis and all three eat mice/rats like they are going out of style.

[Stefan-A]

See, I don't buy into the whole "Garters are for beginners" mind-set. I think Corn Snakes, for example (but many others too) are far easier to keep..... Just throw in a mouse or two once a month, and change the water now and then. Most of the time these "better" snakes just lie around like a big colourful t**d. About as interesting as stamp collecting! My apologies to all the philatelists amongst us!:D
I agree. When I bought my corn, I really thought I had grown out of wanting to yell "For _______'s sake, do something!" at reptiles. :D Haven't seen it come out of its hide for days now, while the garters in the apartment below cruise around the terrarium every now and then (the male is in the blue phase and that doesn't stop him). By the way, I didn't know garters were into sidewinding. ;) Saw the female do it twice.

No wonder people turn to hot snakes, at least they're big colourful t**ds with fangs. :D

Should I sell the corn, or hold on to it? It's turning out to be a bit of a disappointment.

[drache]

what do you know, your a man......he he he he he
Chloe HELP.......you have seen what he can build. . . ..I need encouragement!!!

I've only seen photos, but if you don't want any more, ask him whether he'll fancy a week or two in New York - I'll buy the wood and he can build away
if you come, Inge, I'll feed you well, I promise, and there are lots of garters to hang out with

as to the garters vs other snakes question
I seem to end up with more and more garters, so that must be where my preference lies
that being said, I only have two garters that are mellow enough to hang out with me while I'm doing stuff
also, I have a king who seems to have picked up some garter personality
he's curious, up and about all the time, checking up on us

a few weeks ago this guy who picked up some freecycle stuff from me, turned out to be the owner of a long defunct pet shop, called the snake pit
of course I was thrilled to meet another herper, but alas, he was quite disdainful upon hearing that I keep garters
you could tell by the level of disdain that anything under six feet had better be very venomous or else you were just a total ninny wuss wet rag
I find that amusing, actually
I think we should have a big brawny tattooed guys with garters chapter

[drache]

or wait
wasn't that big brawny guys tattooed with garters?

[salzar]

Most of the time these "better" snakes just lie around like a big colourful t**d. About as interesting as stamp collecting! My apologies to all the philatelists amongst us!

thank you , you made me laugh so hard that I did a spit take!!!
away from the P.C.
STILL LAUGHING!! :p
just collect what you like do not buy in to that kind of thinking, if we all colected the same thing it would be a sad world..
jmtc..
bye
michelle AKA salzar:)

[ssssnakeluvr]

There are 2 of us serious garter snake breeders in the U.S. Me and Scott Felzer (he has been doing it since 1996, I have just gotten started about 5 years ago). I have been keeping garts since 1980....Love them, just as pretty as any other snake out there!!!!