Hello from Nebraska

[Foxrun402]

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v611/voltagemasta/525632_498234463527798_851498410_n.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v611/voltagemasta/229955_498668186817759_1230378169_n.jpg

This is my garter buddy I'm not sure of his age and I just kind of got into this but I have a friend that also has a garter that he has had for the past 3 years and its doing great! He is currently feeding on night-crawler bits like they are candy, and I have only been giving him about 1/4 of the night-crawler at a time. I have also been giving him a calcium supplement with vitamin d3 every 4th meal because he does not get sunlight or uv in this current setup. His tank right now is a wide 10 gal, with a 60w infared inside a 5.5" dome. The warm side reads about 88F and the cool side stays about 78F. He has 2 hide spots and a water dish just big enough to curl up in. ( I'm upgrading that this next weekend )

I want to get him on pinkies soon and have a feeling it wont be a problem. He seems ok with me!

Any tips or pointers just throw them at me, I will take any knowledge I can get. I will be sufing these forums for a while :cool:


Thank you!
- Jon

[infernalis]

Please read the care sheet, and then lose the gravel.

http://www.thamfriends.com/mat.jpg

[Invisible Snake]

Hello and welcome to the forum!

You can use the slime from nightcrawlers to scent pinkies and after a few feedings like this he will start eating the pinkies unscented.

[guidofatherof5]

Nice to have you on the forum, neighbor. I'm in Council Bluffs.
If I may suggest you look at the care sheet for a different substrate.
Nice Thamnophis sirtalis parietalis (Red Sided Garter Snake) Can't give you a sex from the photo but you can post a couple underside tail photos and we'll try to let you know the sex. I'll link a thread that will show you the kind of photos to post. The thread will also teach you how to visually sex your own snake.
Garter Snake Forum - Garter Caresheet (http://www.thamnophis.com/index.php?page=caresheet)
http://www.thamnophis.com/forum/breeding/5069-sexing-pics.html
http://www.thamnophis.com/thamphotos/data//744/medium/welcome.jpg

[ProXimuS]

Hello and welcome:D You'll find lots of awesome stuff here! And we'll be glad to answer any questions you may have:)

[Stefan-A]

Welcome aboard.

[-MARWOLAETH-]

Welcome to the Thamily:) have a read of the care sheet and if it doesn't give you all the answers you where looking for just ask away or look at some of the old threads:D

[guidofatherof5]

My suggestion to change substrate is because rock/gravel is hard to clean and will hide/hold feces which is dangerous. I would also be concerned that the sharp edges of the rocks could cause damage to the belly scutes.
Those two concerns together can cause infections like scale rot or abscesses.
Just a thought.

[Foxrun402]

My suggestion to change substrate is because rock/gravel is hard to clean and will hide/hold feces which is dangerous. I would also be concerned that the sharp edges of the rocks could cause damage to the belly scutes.
Those two concerns together can cause infections like scale rot or abscesses.
Just a thought.


That's good to know! My thought is to remove his gravel today and put him on paper towels til this weekend then find him a better substrate. He is pretty active in the morning and does explore around quite a bit so I also will end up getting him a bigger terrarium soon so he can have more furniture.

I have been feeding him about every 3 days... and he is about 14" in length...

[chris-uk]

Welcome to the forum.
Paper towels will do him well until the weekend. I use aspen as substrate, but if you ask a dozen garter people what substrate they prefer you will get half a dozen different answers. :) There's several good choices, I think the care sheet gives pros and cons of each.

[mikem]

Welcome to the forum!

[BLUESIRTALIS]

Welcome!

[indigoman]

Welcome aboard! :)

[guidofatherof5]

What part of NE. are you located?

[Foxrun402]

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v611/voltagemasta/WP_000605.jpg

Quick update I did get him onto paper towels today and I put him in a smaller terrarium on a paper towel to let him watch me correct his home lol. He did seem quite curious what I was doing and just kept watching me the whole time while I worked on his home. I also gave him a suitable water dish that is really a ceramic saucer deep enough to submerge in and shallow enough to get out of. I also gave him access to it from his hide on the cool side so he can exit the dish into his hide or vice versa!

no more then 10 minutes after I placed him gently into his home!
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v611/voltagemasta/WP_000603.jpg

He went after dinner like a pro!

[guidofatherof5]

Looking good.

[Foxrun402]

What part of NE. are you located?

Lincoln!

[guidofatherof5]

An hour away. Stop by sometime if you like. The T.radix Ranch is always open to visitors.

[Foxrun402]

I have determined that my garter is female. Her tail is very short and has a stead taper to it... I would have gotten a pic but I was handling her alone and didn't want to risk her trying to get away and get hurt! I will get some posted soon now that I know what I'm looking for, but still pretty determined its a female!

And that would be awesome to come check out the ranch will have to do that sometime! =D

[guidofatherof5]

I have determined that my garter is female. Her tail is very short and has a stead taper to it... I would have gotten a pic but I was handling her alone and didn't want to risk her trying to get away and get hurt! I will get some posted soon now that I know what I'm looking for, but still pretty determined its a female!

And that would be awesome to come check out the ranch will have to do that sometime! =D

Looking forward to the photos and a visit sometime.

[thamneil]

Great looking snakeling. Nice to see that you tend to her needs so promptly. Have you been feeding her from a dish? I dont think she would notice if you slipped a few pinkie bits in with her worms...

[Foxrun402]

Yep she feeds from a small clear tray... I have done this from the start so she only eats what she is supposed to... This weekend I till get some pinkies and see how she reacts to them. I am always on top of her and had to change her paper towels twice already! lol

[Foxrun402]

Hey everyone =) just a quick update on the terrarium...

temporary_zps8eea4f86.jpg picture by foxrun402 - Photobucket (http://s1342.photobucket.com/albums/o774/foxrun402/?action=view&current=temporary_zps8eea4f86.jpg)

I gave her aspen bedding... A 60w full spectrum bulb that emits uva... A timer for the light/heat... A hygrometer, and thermometer on the cool side... Also picked up the new "jungle gym" thing to climb on which has 2 hollow spaces to hide in!



About the humidity... Do any of you use a hygrometer to measure it?



If you do... What % humidity should I keep her home at?

[Foxrun402]

Quick update I created a new album to drop her pics into... and was playing around with the camera and took some new shots...

Photobucket Update (http://s1342.beta.photobucket.com/user/foxrun402/library/New pics of Suzi)!

[guidofatherof5]

Looks good. Thanks for the link.

[Foxrun402]

Quick update... Now her name is "Suzi" and instead of just giving her worms... today I got her pinkies for the first time and chopped one into bits and tried that...

She must know that the little clear dish = dinner because when she found that pinky it was doomed! and no scenting required she just gave it hell LOL!

So now she will get nightcrawlers for treats... but her main course will always be a pink ;)

Now that she has a varied diet and accepted pinks without a problem how fast will she grow? lol

[guidofatherof5]

I would keep worms in the food rotation, not just as treats.
Worms are good food. Filled with goodness for the garters.

[Foxrun402]

Ok will do... I will start giving her small nighcrawler bits mixed with pink parts!

and the occasional supplement once in a blue moon...

She devoured that pink tho lol... so proud of her!

[Invisible Snake]

I've noticed that garters being fed mostly a pinkie diet have a faster growth rate.

[Foxrun402]

http://i1342.photobucket.com/albums/o774/foxrun402/Feeding Time/th_Firsttimeonapinkandenthused_zpsf94cace7.jpg (http://i1342.photobucket.com/albums/o774/foxrun402/Feeding Time/Firsttimeonapinkandenthused_zpsf94cace7.mp4)

Unscented pinky... never had it before...

[Foxrun402]

Just ate dinner and is getting alot more comfortable with me....

http://i1342.photobucket.com/albums/o774/foxrun402/New pics of Suzi/temporary_zps6de13962.jpg
http://i1342.photobucket.com/albums/o774/foxrun402/New pics of Suzi/temporary_zps87c12c2c.jpg

She normally would dart for a hide when she see's the phone in my hand like a camera... Today she just basked in the light after dinner and got some heat and then wandered around at the setup because as she was eating... I was cleaning the viv and making sure the temps are good and humidity is right and everything is peachy...

I did re-position her large water/soaking dish away from the walls a bit because it had me concerned about her trying to push or dig her way into the crack... now it looks like this:

http://i1342.photobucket.com/albums/o774/foxrun402/The Terrarium/temporary_zps632b30c6.jpg

and that gives her 1/2" of gap on both sides and 1/2" of height so when she is wandering around it she can essentially just "lay down" and hide!

She seemed to be happy and enthused about dinner... Pinky steaks and worm chunks mmm mmm !

[thamneil]

Looking good! Thanks for the update!

[guidofatherof5]

Sweet looking T.s.parietalis (Red Sided Garter Snake) I think I said that before but it bears repeating.

[Foxrun402]

Well Suzi's little eyes are turning blue... so She will probably shed in a few days... They are actually very blue right now... So It's my first time with her shedding and I have already read alot on what to look out for and I saw a product called "Shed Ease" that has a lot of good reviews and says it will work in between sheds...

Has anyone tried this? what should I do to "prepare for her shedding" since I work 7am-3pm most of the time I might not be here when she starts!

Thanks in advance! Jonathan


Edit: Here is a picture... and I am also using a "blue" uva 60w blub.... and that may be enhancing the color in the eye
http://i1342.photobucket.com/albums/o774/foxrun402/temporary_zps31041b36.jpg

Pretty blue though...Compared to what I'm used to seeing...

[guidofatherof5]

A large water dish and a few things to rub on is all you need. I've heard of that product but would let nature take care of it. This snake doesn't have a history of bad sheds does it?

[Foxrun402]

I'm not sure... I don't believe so when I got her she had just shed and didn't miss anything... the humidity is kinda dry in there right now so I will amp that up a bit and hope for the best... I will also keep you updated on how it goes as well... hopefully everything goes clean

[thamneil]

As long as she has water, there shouldnt be a problem. Just do a quick check afterwards and make sure both eycaps came off as well as the tail. If the shed is bad, a little warm water should do the trick. Never had to use a commercial product and never will.

[Foxrun402]

Eyes are getting a little more hazed over... no shed yet... she was attitudinal this morning when I was changing her water lol...
http://i1342.photobucket.com/albums/o774/foxrun402/New%20pics%20of%20Suzi/temporary_zpsae261603.jpg

[Light of Dae]

Some of my snakes give me attitude when in shed, I think its cause they cannot see as well so they freak a little more lol

Suzi is looking good. Just a note on her water dish... be sure it is resting on the glass... not on top of the aspen. If it is on top she could burrow under it and possibly cause it to squish her. It's just a word of caution, many people don't think of it. :)

As far as her shedding and you being worried about humidity... Find some moss 'sphargunm' (I can never spell it) And use a container with a lid that she can get in and out of. You can buy a 'herp hide' or make your own.

[Foxrun402]

oh yah her water dish is basically an underground pool with the aspen built up around it... no way under it! i already read about that on here somewhere and took it into immediate consideration! i will look into making her a sphagum moss hide later today as i am at work... will also be buying her a new 30x12x12 terrarium tomorrow... will add that to the list! thank you =D

[Foxrun402]

I woke up this morning and her eyes aren't blue anymore... but I also cannot find any shed evidence around her terrarium? is this a bad thing? How long after they go blue does it usually take for them to shed?

[Stefan-A]

They first go back to normal for a day or two before shedding.

[Foxrun402]

Phew! Thanks Stefan I was getting a little worried... I am off here for a little while though... Need to go pick up the bigger terrarium, more bedding, sphagnum moss, maybe even another climbing toy...:D

[Foxrun402]

30x12x12... Aspen Bedding... Sphagnum moss to create a moist hide... a new hide... and forest cling for the background

Looking at this new stuff compared to her current setup... this tank looks way bigger but its only 10" longer and 2" more in depth lol

http://i1342.photobucket.com/albums/o774/foxrun402/The Terrarium/temporary_zps80ea977f.jpg

she is currently in a 20x10x12... I think she will love the extra room to grow :D

Edit: forgot to mention the reason for this was because I felt that her being in a 20x10x12 it was not satisfactory for creating a good temperature gradient within the tank... This new setup will allow me to put her heat farther away possibly making her cool side a little more comfortable :cool:

[kueluck]

Suzi is a cutie! She'll be happy in her updated home and I can't wait to see her colors as she grows up.

[Foxrun402]

http://i1342.photobucket.com/albums/o774/foxrun402/The%20Terrarium/temporary_zps5f0c7c3b.jpg
New terrarium... No Vacancy... lol

A shot from the top with Suzi in explorer mode...
http://i1342.photobucket.com/albums/o774/foxrun402/The%20Terrarium/temporary_zps463e9d79.jpg

I let her roam around with just her hide while i worked on the terrarium with her inside trying to do whatever I can with her that involves her... so she gets used to the idea that im just here to help! She was pretty much just telling me where to put stuff ... lol

[guidofatherof5]

What are you using for a heat source?

[Foxrun402]

During the day she has a dome heat lamp using a zoo-med 60w blue daylight bulb that gives her full spectrum lighting as well... for night time the ambient temperature in the room is about 74 so I have not been using heat source at night... I have been considering a heating pad for night time heat but then at the same time I have noticed none of them have a way to tell you how hot they will get... only that the may discolor furniture... lol

[guidofatherof5]

ZooMed make a very reliable pad and Hydrofarm makes the most economically thermostat on the market.
I have a used pad I can send you if you would like. I strongly suggest you use a thermostat though.

Amazon.com: Hydrofarm MTPRTC Digital Thermostat For Heat Mats: Patio, Lawn & Garden (http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B000NZZG3S/ref=ox_sc_sfl_title_1?ie=UTF8&smid=ATVPDKIKX0DER)
Amazon.com: Zoo Med ReptiTherm® Under Tank Heater, Small: Pet Supplies (http://www.amazon.com/Zoo-Med-ReptiTherm®-Under-Heater/dp/B0002AQCKA/ref=sr_1_cc_1?s=aps&ie=UTF8&qid=1352489361&sr=1-1-catcorr&keywords=zoomed+heat+pad)

[Foxrun402]

Nice !!! This is what I was looking for, you rock Steve! I will have that put on order asap...

also I have stopped misting her tank and with today's setup got her all new dry aspen bedding and sphagnum moss... I took the moss and placed it into a clear Parmesan cheese container... laid it down on its side and have it "moist" inside for her to sneak around in... without the lid on it, it has a nice opening and seems it should work out okay but she hasn't gained interest in that yet...

She is always burrowing though... and with that in mind... I build a small mound of bedding up inside her hide... so she can just dig holes in there! lol silly girl

Again thanks for that information Steve!

[guidofatherof5]

Amazon gives free shipping(orders over $25) and the lowest price on the thermostat. I'm using 8 of them at this time.

You need to be careful when you put the sensor probe in the tank. The cord will have to go up and out the top(unless there are holes in the side of the tank) this is an escape ladder for the snake. Make sure you address that issue.

[Foxrun402]

So do you think she will be ok another week without a heating pad... It doesn't go below 75 in this room at night ...

I also just decided to try giving her a small treat for being so calm with me ealier while i put her place together... She gladly accepted and wandered off into this damp Sphagnum moss hide I made her...
http://i1342.photobucket.com/albums/o774/foxrun402/New%20pics%20of%20Suzi/temporary_zps32de8b93.jpg

She is close to shedding so I'm glad I got her this right away!

[guidofatherof5]

Shouldn't be a problem.

[Mommy2many]

Welcome to the forum!

[Foxrun402]

Welcome to the forum!
Thank you


Shouldn't be a problem.
Cool, Would it be a problem if she loves her moist moss hide so much? she has been in there for a while... I found her in it earlier too when I thought she had burrowed herself under the aspen again, is this shedding instincts?

[guidofatherof5]

I think when offered a warm hide she will love it also.
She'll probably do a lot of moving from one temp to the other(thermoregulation)

[Foxrun402]

She seems to like the space alot... I also added more things to play on !!! ( Flora )
http://i1342.photobucket.com/albums/o774/foxrun402/The Terrarium/temporary_zps0f4a51d0.jpg

She seems to be quite curious about the plants I picked up at the pet store lol

[Foxrun402]

TADA!

http://i1342.photobucket.com/albums/o774/foxrun402/New%20pics%20of%20Suzi/temporary_zpsfd131179.jpg

=D I am so happy right now I cant even bring to words how good I feel... She did it all in 1 piece!!! no retained eye caps... no pieces seem missing!! She is still kinda wandering around a sphagnum moss hide and I am excited to see how vivid she looks now! I will wait a few and let her rub around a little more then see how she's looking =)

[guidofatherof5]

Very nice.

[Foxrun402]

Here yah go Steve... tell me how she is lookin!
http://i1342.photobucket.com/albums/o774/foxrun402/New%20pics%20of%20Suzi/temporary_zps89df12ba.jpg

[guidofatherof5]

Looks good. Did you ever post some under tail photos?

[Foxrun402]

No I will have to try and see if I cant get those today... should have a buddie over later that can help

[Foxrun402]

I just got some software off the net and used my web-cam to put out live stream and showed a couple people Suzi enjoying a snack for having such a good shed today! It was pretty sweet! I only gave her a little because now she is on the pinks and worm chunks varied with still the occasional supplement while she is still young... I never knew how fun it was to feed them with tongs! That was awesome! And now that I have figured out how to stream.... =) I would be glad to show you suzi sometime!

[kueluck]

She is BEAUTIFUL!! These are my favorite garter. Good job Suzi.

[Foxrun402]

Well she took a liking to the spot on the log hide that you just cant get to.... problem solved... I took a hacksaw and chopped off one of the stubs on the top part and made a decent sized opening into it...can see the opening here Terrarium Cam (http://foxrun402.shorturl.com/) .... now I can get her out of there pretty easily and she has a balcony "peep hole" lol