are wild snakes ok??

[ThamnophisManiac]

i was just wondering if catching a wild snake might be better than buying one. i read, though, that 80% of wild caught snakes die within the first couple weeks, and that they are more aggresive than store-bought ones. i also heard that baby wild ones would be ok to catch and raise, but where would i find them??

[adamanteus]

The best choice is to buy captive bred stock from experienced keepers/breeders, but wild caught Garters usually do fine, as long as you give them the proper environment.

[poissonguppy]

I have two 'wild' baby garter plains. They eat readily on pinkies and earthworms. Here's a nice page on the pro's and con's:

The Garter Girl! - Choosing a Snake (http://www.angelfire.com/fang/garter_girl/choosing.html)

[adamanteus]

Hey Bibi, I have Plains Garters (had them many times before too) but mine have always been captive bred. I'd love to hear more on your experience with wild caught T. radix.

[Sid]

From personal experience, I strongly disagree with the problems you mention in your post. However, I do recommend you isolate any wild caught speciman for several weeks from any others you may have, keep a close check on it for mites or signs of any parasite problems.

Allow your wild caught snake several days to adapt to a confined enviroment before feeding and you'll likely have no trouble.

Sid

[ThamnophisManiac]

ok thnx lots

[ssssnakeluvr]

Garters do real well in general if wild caught...not all, but most of the w/c I have had survive...on in particluar was an adult when I caught her, lived for 8 years!!!!

[ThamnophisManiac]

anyone know the best place to catch snakes?? i live in a fairly populate area. i have woods behind my house with a stream through em, but other than that no real marshy places or anything.

[Odie]

They do like to suntan :cool:

[KITKAT]

anyone know the best place to catch snakes?? i live in a fairly populate area. i have woods behind my house with a stream through em, but other than that no real marshy places or anything.

Garters like streams. Try flipping rocks or logs and look under them. Visit the area near the stream late at night, with a good flashlight.

In an area of your yard that is closest to the stream, or where there is alot of cover, lay down a piece of plywood with a 1 x 1 board nailed along one edge of it. Wait two or three weeks... then go out and flip the board at about 6 AM. If no garter, make sure you position the board just as it was, wait a couple of days, and try again.

If all else fails, check with forum members that have new babies! :rolleyes:

[Lee]

I have never kept a CB garter, I've kept WC all my life and had great success. They tame down with relative ease and I have yet to have parasite problems or dieoffs, except one when I was a kid because of rough handleing by a bunch of kids (she was also gravid). The 2 I currently have are doing GREAT, the female is 3ft and I've had her for 3 years now, and the male is ~2ft and I've had him nearly a month or so no issues. Readily accepting fish scented mice!

[Elliot]

From personal experience, I strongly disagree with the problems you mention in your post. However, I do recommend you isolate any wild caught speciman for several weeks from any others you may have, keep a close check on it for mites or signs of any parasite problems.

Allow your wild caught snake several days to adapt to a confined enviroment before feeding and you'll likely have no trouble.

Sid

I agree, I've never had a problem.

[stonyloam]

I like my WC snakes. I wouldn't worry too much, they are pretty tough little critters. The scars on a couple of mine are pretty good indication of that. I think the advice to keep the WC and CB snakes isolated is very good. I may be wrong (it has been known to happen), but I think the WC snakes would be much more tolerant of parasites, and also more adaptive to their environment with temperature control being much less critical than for CB (maybe just a basking light). I would think that if they will eat well and tolerate handling they should make a great pet. They can be released back in the wild. I have one gravid female (eastern) that I am planning to release after she has the babies (most of the babies too). Just keep looking and you should be able to find one. Good luck!:D

[ThamnophisManiac]

ok ill try that (PS....the stream is about half mile away from my house lol, not rigfht in my back yard)

[Lee]

ok ill try that (PS....the stream is about half mile away from my house lol, not rigfht in my back yard)
Mine is to, and I have to ride about a mile on each side, then it continues on the other side of the street aswell.