show your tank

[jepie]

hello every one,

how do you keep your garters?
just show your picture of a tank, tub or any other enclosure for your garters.
just to inspire other people with your tank.

greets,
jesper

[EasternGirl]

6530 Some pics of my tanks and a very poor quality pic of my shelving system for three of my tanks...sorry about the lighting in some of these photos.

6531

6532

[ProXimuS]

6558

Here's my current set up(only have one snake).

[kueluck]

6587Zena tank 36L x 18W x 12H inches
6588Zena side view - 25watt red bulb over hammock 24/7
6589Cleo Exo Terra 18L x 18W 24H - sends most of her time in high plant and hammock
6590Mona & Sadie 10 gallon top view & below the side view.
6591

[guidofatherof5]

Here's my Tank.
Sorry, I just had to.:D

http://www.thamnophis.com/thamphotos/data//751/medium/tank34.jpg

[ProXimuS]

6558

Here's my current set up(only have one snake).

Didn't think to mention the dimensions of mine. It is 20"L x 10" W x 12" H (Don't know how many gallons because it was given to me used, but I've tried to look it up and it seems to be a 10 gal)

Nice Tank Steve;) What are the dimensions on yours?:p

[Light of Dae]

One tank with 6 young female garters. (paper towel till quarantine is over)
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Quarantine tank / Isolation / keep close eye on tank.
6597
Flames tank on left beside Georges on the right
6598

[jepie]

Here's my Tank.
Sorry, I just had to.:D

http://www.thamnophis.com/thamphotos/data//751/medium/tank34.jpg

that is a very nice tank haha.
i would love to have 1 just like it!

[katach]

Here is my tank for the girls. 55gal. Lots to climb.
6602

[mark cope]

Here is Marthas
http://i1068.photobucket.com/albums/u453/copey1975/Joe%20and%20his%20garter/2012_05230010.jpg

[Eloanne]

There is my tank. On top, my girls garters and below, my corn snake. Girls love to put them all together on a branch under the lights.

66736674

[guidofatherof5]

Very nice.

[SilasBannook]

Here are mine.

My tank for the Wandering Garters is a 15 Gal which works great for them.

6713

My tank below for the Plains snakes is currently a 55 gallon which I think is a bit big. I am looking to downscale a bit to a 20 Gal High tank. At 21' tall the 55 gallon tank is a bit tough for me to get the water dish in and out of.

6714

[kueluck]

Not to big for the snakes. Why not create a second level and put the water dish on top. Then it'll be easy to get the dish out, plus will add more exploring space for the snakes.

Here are mine.

My tank for the Wandering Garters is a 15 Gal which works great for them.

6713

My tank below for the Plains snakes is currently a 55 gallon which I think is a bit big. I am looking to downscale a bit to a 20 Gal High tank. At 21' tall the 55 gallon tank is a bit tough for me to get the water dish in and out of.

6714

[guidofatherof5]

http://www.thamnophis.com/thamphotos/data//500/medium/leftside.jpghttp://www.thamnophis.com/thamphotos/data//500/medium/rightside.jpghttp://www.thamnophis.com/thamphotos/data//500/medium/big.jpghttp://www.thamnophis.com/thamphotos/data//500/medium/big1.jpg

[-MARWOLAETH-]

:eek:Flippin heck it's like a garter factory.I would give my remaining fingers for snake room like that:D;)

[snake man]

Wow never relized how big of a setup you have. looks really great this will be my "goal" room.

[guidofatherof5]

It's all for the love of garters. They deserve it.

[CrazyHedgehog]

6721

[SilasBannook]

I love the alligator head in the enclosure posted above.

Gail, thanks for the suggestion of just making a second level in that tank for the water dish. I will definitely consider that. Great idea. Embarrassed I didn't think of that myself.

[ProXimuS]

:eek:Steve, you shouldn't even be aloud to post your pictures!:eek: You're going to make every one too jealous:p


Also, cool lookin setup Inge!

[CrazyHedgehog]

Also, cool lookin setup Inge!

Thankyou, I have two tanks like this, one where there are three different tanks, but this is one tank with three floors,

[kueluck]

On our next episode of Steve the snake hoarder..................dude that is just crazy :D

http://www.thamnophis.com/thamphotos/data//500/medium/leftside.jpghttp://www.thamnophis.com/thamphotos/data//500/medium/rightside.jpghttp://www.thamnophis.com/thamphotos/data//500/medium/big.jpghttp://www.thamnophis.com/thamphotos/data//500/medium/big1.jpg

[guidofatherof5]

You are funny.:D

[kueluck]

no really........I think they have a pill for that!!

[guidofatherof5]

No really...............you're funny.:D

[Mommy2many]

Very nice homes all of these snakes (and turtles) have...

[GarField000]

In holland we have a show ...... My husband has a hobby .......
Lucky for me my girlfriend is also that crazy :) ....

All tanks have a large watherbowl, hiding places and lot's of plants from the roof.
They love to climb thru the plants ....... and fall down :D


My living room.


Right side of the room
http://imageshack.us/a/img826/4588/20120710132702.jpg

Left side of the room
http://imageshack.us/a/img266/5515/20120710132734.jpg

[HazAnga]

I always knew you were a bit crazy Steve. I may have been giving you the benifit of the doubt though lol. I hope that sometime in the future (not anything soon future unfortunately) to have a basement full of snakes and fish tanks.

[kueluck]

Now this is my kinda living room furniture. I love this!!

6721

[tress29]

6530 Marnie, what size is this tank? Who lives in it?

[pinkypink]

Wow-WEEEEEE some of these set ups are spectacular!!!!

My current set up is a 40 gal breeder UV light up top and infared heat lamp. Substrate is eco-earth and cypress mulch with lots and lots of Isopods and springtails for my clean up crew...hence NO CLEANING NEEDED!!!

[guidofatherof5]

UV isn't needed for garters. Incandescent works fine.

[Invisible Snake]

Wow-WEEEEEE some of these set ups are spectacular!!!!

My current set up is a 40 gal breeder UV light up top and infared heat lamp. Substrate is eco-earth and cypress mulch with lots and lots of Isopods and springtails for my clean up crew...hence NO CLEANING NEEDED!!!

No cleaning ever?? Does it ever smell funky? Any of those insects ever get out of the tank?

[d_virginiana]

This thread is making me feel lame and uninspired lol I need to go on a hike and find my babies some new toys to climb on. I just got a space heater for their room, so they're all out looking for things to do.

[pinkypink]

No cleaning ever?? Does it ever smell funky? Any of those insects ever get out of the tank?

No Cleaning EVER! :)) The lil buggies do all the work. They take care of the poop and any mold or mildew that may develop! These cleaner bugs are very tiny so they don't climb the glass or anything so it would be a rare thing they would get out, and if they did they wouldn't live long.

[kueluck]

My concern would be that the soil and tank will be to moist. Spring tails and pill bugs need moist soil to live and reproduce, I have them in my toad tank but don't garters develop a skin and/or mouth issues when to moist??

[guidofatherof5]

My concern would be that the soil and tank will be to moist. Spring tails and pill bugs need moist soil to live and reproduce, I have them in my toad tank but don't garters develop a skin and/or mouth issues when to moist??


Yes, they can. Scale rot for one thing.

[pinkypink]

The top portion of my soil is fairly dry. I mix and spray down a couple times a week to mix in poop and other matter. Having a infared heat lamp also allows the substrate to dry enough to not cause scale rot but not too dry as to not kill the cleaner crew. I started with 2 small cultures of both and now I have more then I can count when i mix my substrate. Also my viv is set up to give them plenty of dry places to hide and hang out. Having a naturalistic viv is not impossible with garter you just need to work at it and be smart about it.

[-MARWOLAETH-]

As long as they have a dry place to sleep they should do well.The most important thing to have is a damp gradient so they can choose how damp they want to be.

[Invisible Snake]

The top portion of my soil is fairly dry. I mix and spray down a couple times a week to mix in poop and other matter. Having a infared heat lamp also allows the substrate to dry enough to not cause scale rot but not too dry as to not kill the cleaner crew. I started with 2 small cultures of both and now I have more then I can count when i mix my substrate. Also my viv is set up to give them plenty of dry places to hide and hang out. Having a naturalistic viv is not impossible with garter you just need to work at it and be smart about it.

Hey where did you get your cultures?

[-MARWOLAETH-]

You can harvest wood lice from outside but you have to starve them for a while to clean out their guts to stop them from bringing nasties into you'r enclosure.

[pinkypink]

Hey where did you get your cultures?

A friend of mine breeds cultures one for dart frogs and such as food..but also for folks like us who use them as cleaner crews! Then you don't have to worry about bringing in the nasties from outside!

Here is a link to her website!

www.herpetologicalgirl.com (http://www.herpetologicalgirl.com/)

[kueluck]

Thought I would post the cage I made here. Did this all by myself, only help from TJ was getting it from deck to inside the house, then up on the stand, which I made also.
7331

[guidofatherof5]

Beautiful.
My only concern would be the light on the left side. Looks like the snakes would have access to the bulb. The chances of getting burned is high unless I'm missing something.

[Selkielass]

My tank with isopods and millipedes was stocked out of my own mulch bin, wood pile and flower garden.
Bugs have done beautifully, except for one week when I allowed things to dry out too much.

I do spot clean and change old chewed up or poopy fruit and oak leaves out for fresh, but weeks I've been busy and missed cleaning didn't get smelly.

Isopods like it wetter than i'm comfortable keeping the garters so I don't have the population it sounds like you have, but they still are keeping things tidy. Local moss and ground ivy didn't survive long, but the freckle plant from Lowers is holding its own.

Im watching closely for skin problems- none have shown up so far. Cranky and Trax spend a *lot* of time hanging out up on top of their reeds and driftwood, happy and relaxed.

[kueluck]

The bulb fixture is in "test" mode. I have it on long enough to see how hot this gets, it's a 25 watt incandesent blub. The plan is to get a piece of red colored glass then secure it to the alumnum reflecter inside.
Beautiful.
My only concern would be the light on the left side. Looks like the snakes would have access to the bulb. The chances of getting burned is high unless I'm missing something.

[guidofatherof5]

I would still be concerned about its surface temp.
It wouldn't take much for a snake to burn its tongue.

[Light of Dae]

Nothing special about this tank set up. It's simple, I can feed the babies n not worry about them eating any substrate, which is "Yesterdays News Cat Paper Pellet Litter" Awesome no dust stuff with little bit of "Carefresh ProEarth Crinkle Cut Colored Paper" to borrow through, add color and as ground cover hides. :)

This is home to four female babies.
73377338

[guidofatherof5]

Looks good.

[kueluck]

On the outside of the light I can hold onto it, it's warm, but not hot. I've put aluminum sheeting like the reflectors on Zoo Med light fixtures in the inside which helps directing heat to the snakes.
I would still be concerned about its surface temp.
It wouldn't take much for a snake to burn its tongue.

[@ndy]

So here are my cages


My Checkered Garter Female
http://www.thamnophis.com/thamphotos/data//820/medium/IMG_0973.JPG

My Apricot Pueblan Milk and baby Albino Cal King on top
http://www.thamnophis.com/thamphotos/data//820/medium/IMG_0970.JPG

My Okeetee Corn and Brown House snake on top
http://www.thamnophis.com/thamphotos/data//820/medium/IMG_0968.JPG

[guidofatherof5]

I think that Checkered would enjoy some vertical exploring. Any chance of adding some things for exploring?

[@ndy]

I think that Checkered would enjoy some vertical exploring. Any chance of adding some things for exploring?

Hi Steve

I think she has outgrown enclosure! I have started building her a New enclosure and will be adding some things for climbing and exploring (caves and plants) in the new enclosure

The current 1 is 600L x 250W x 250H

The new 1 will be 1200L x 400W x 400H

and she will be sharing this enclosure with the other female that i thought was a male.

[kueluck]

She will be much happier in the bigger one and I hope she likes her new roomie.

[Thamnophis]

I thought I had placed some pics of my terrariums here, but apparently I didn't...

http://www.kousebandslangen.nl/thamnophis/pics/terrarium06.jpg

http://www.kousebandslangen.nl/thamnophis/pics/terrarium07.jpg

http://www.kousebandslangen.nl/thamnophis/pics/terrarium.gif

http://www.kousebandslangen.nl/thamnophis/pics/terrarium03.jpg

And for raising the young I often use these...

http://www.kousebandslangen.nl/thamnophis/pics/curver1.gif

[Invisible Snake]

I love and hate seeing terrariums from European members, I love seeing them because they look really good (aesthetically) and resemble more of a garters natural environment, but at the same time I hate it because it puts most of my enclosures to shame :3

[Ctah_Lu]

They are all amazing terrariums, im currently working in one terrarium (76L x 50W x 30H) cm. as soon as its finished i will post some pictures, by the way, is earthworm humus safe as substrate? a friend told me so, but i dont know if its true.

[guidofatherof5]

Awesome is the only word I can think of.

[-MARWOLAETH-]

Great terrariums,Fons. You have some lucky snakes:D

[kueluck]

Those are amazing. What kind of light fixture are you using? Your snakes don't climb on them and get burned? I had to redo my lighting since I couldn't get enough heat out of the light without the outside becoming to hot. Ended up cutting a hole in the top for a dome light. But then it's all about the comfort and well-being of the snakes.

[Thamnophis]

I use 25 watt spots that are in most cases hanging in the electricity cable. My garter snakes never climb in them (they can't because when they trie they push the spot away because it hangs on the cable).

http://www.gloeilampenonline.nl/contents/media/reflector%20lamp%20e14.jpg

[kueluck]

I may have to check that out for my next cage. Thanks.

[DIRK]

All my tanks...

look here..

Thamnophis-Point am Kreuzberg (http://thamnophis-point.npage.de/terrarien/unsere-terrarien.html#)

[guidofatherof5]

All my tanks...

look here..

Thamnophis-Point am Kreuzberg (http://thamnophis-point.npage.de/terrarien/unsere-terrarien.html#)

Very awesome.

[chris-uk]

I strip cleaned the girls' viv today and rearranged a little:
7376
I'm not finished, but the basics are sorted.

Then there's the boys viv:
7377

And lastly (for now) is baby San Francisco's little viv:
7378

[-MARWOLAETH-]

Very nice setups ,Chris:) Where did you get the ivy vines?I've been looking for them for ages

[chris-uk]

Very nice setups ,Chris:) Where did you get the ivy vines?I've been looking for them for ages
Hobbycraft. Only a couple of quid for all the ivy in the boys' viv. Most of the plants are ExoTerra, for which I paid the "reptile premium" (or bought them cheap when they were on sale).

[Greg'sGarters]

Yes, they can. Scale rot for one thing.

I have a wild caught garter, and I took her in (she didn't seem so healthy so I still have her in isolation) but she gave birth to 8 or 12 babies I forgot which, unfortunately a lot of her babies weren't too healthy (probably because when I caught her she was a little bit underage to be a breeder snake), but I still have 3 left that are eating like hogs and know that when I open up their tank, IT'S FEEDING TIME!!! But one of her biggest problems is that I caught her in a wet area so she has a possible Respiratory Infection, and lots of scale rot so I keep her away from my main collection, but she still is really nice, never bit me, never tried.

[Invisible Snake]

All my tanks...

look here..

Thamnophis-Point am Kreuzberg (http://thamnophis-point.npage.de/terrarien/unsere-terrarien.html#)

I'm drooling with envy.. wanna be roommates? lol jk :D

[ConcinusMan]

I use 25 watt spots that are in most cases hanging in the electricity cable. My garter snakes never climb in them (they can't because when they trie they push the spot away because it hangs on the cable).

http://www.gloeilampenonline.nl/contents/media/reflector lamp e14.jpg

A single drop of water turns the bulb into a bomb of broken glass shrapnel. Be forewarned.

[ConcinusMan]

http://imageshack.us/a/img17/3445/tanks002large.jpg

http://imageshack.us/a/img36/2909/setups010large.jpg

http://imageshack.us/a/img580/2497/setups039large.jpg



http://imageshack.us/a/img585/909/setups035large.jpg

[MCwyo]

I've rearranged a bit since the first two photos were taken, but this is basically what I've got going on. When we get moved and settled into a new house, I plan on custom building several larger enclosures.

Vagrans 29 gal
http://imageshack.us/a/img194/5985/30gal.jpg

Vagrans 10 gal
http://imageshack.us/a/img835/3672/10galt.jpg

Concinnus 10 gal
http://imageshack.us/a/img16/4695/tsctank.jpg

[ConcinusMan]

Sweet

[guidofatherof5]

Looking good. Thanks for posting.

[ConcinusMan]

I was digging through old digital photos and organizing when I came across these:

http://i45.tinypic.com/xe3dhh.jpg

In this one you can see another great use for that moss I was talking about. The moss is washed and completely dried out before using it. No bugs. Makes ecoearth/reptibark substrate look even more natural and can dampened for increased humidity.

http://i46.tinypic.com/2nap9tv.jpg

[ConcinusMan]

Check out this LED lighting: WAC Lighting InvisiLED (http://www.build.com/index.cfm?page=search:browse&collection=WAC+Lighting+InvisiLED)

[hjelte]

Finished this new exo-terra today for my Infernalis! In inches: 36” x 18” x 18”

http://www.thamnophis.com/thamphotos/data//500/medium/DSC_0111.JPG (http://www.thamnophis.com/thamphotos/showphoto.php?photo=11453&title=dsc-0111&cat=500)

[guidofatherof5]

Looks good.

[kueluck]

Nice......that's the one I was going to get, but then decided to build my own.

[hjelte]

Yeah, i was about to build one as well. Or, to be honest, my colleague at work wanted to build one for me. But I couldn´t wait any longer when I found this one at the local petshop for a good price :) I like the ease of humidity-control with the Exo-terras, you can easily mist the entire tank and it will have evaporated completely like within an hour. Good for the snake! :D

[Artic Exotics]

K heres one of mine. Its a standard sterilite 105qt tub I think the dimensions are 32x19x14 or something close to that. They are front loading, stackable, super cheap, and take me an hour to make. the front is glass or acrylic (depending on whatever is cheaper at the time lol) so the clarity is perfectly clear. to make them i literally just screw hinges directly into the tub then silicone the one end of the hinge to the glass and use wing nuts to hold the glass against the tub. to open the tank i just unscrew the wing nut one half turn. to close i just tighten it one half turn. the gapping is really really small just done that way but with a run of silicon around the join makes them totally escape proof. Ive had babies born in these tubs without being able to escape. For lighting if I so choose to do it I create a lamp cage out of hardwire mesh and tie that to the tubs lid. Its fun to do and it provides a good compromise if you cant get ahold of the expensive front loading abs tanks and arent particularly handy enough (or have enough time) to make one of those nice glass enclosures yourself.