Garters and their love of water.

[Ruth]

I'm going to risk sounding like a total idiot :)

My obscurus garter loves being in her water pot. I have a tub with lid and a side hole entrance with maybe a cm and a half of water in and she spends a lot of time in it. The very recently acquired Florida blue also spends a lot of time more than the obscurus at the moment in her water tub. So my question is should more provision be given to their love of water by providing a larger water area or even a mini filtered section ? Is it a good idea or does it make the terrarium too humid (this is why I provide pots with lids) ? Is it possible when setting up a naturalistic enclosure to make it part aquatic and still be able to keep it clean ?

In my head I can envisage a lovely large terrarium housing a group of five or so garters with lots of plants and a mini pond. I'm wondering if this is a possibility or just a mad dream.

[d_virginiana]

I've always been under the impression that the more water the better. Mine love theirs too.

[-MARWOLAETH-]

It would have to be huge and with good ventilation otherwise skin problems may develop.
Also bare in mind that five snakes will quickly turn the water it into a cesspit.

With the help of water plants,snails,frequent water changes and a good filter you could deal with the waist of one or two snakes.

This type of set-up may be better suited to Nerodia,Natrix, tropical water snakes (Liophis,Xenochrophis ect), semi aquatic 'phibs and Lizards.

Good luck with your project!

[BUSHSNAKE]

they may be in their water to keep hydrated, garters snakes are water snakes and they dehydrate when humiidity levels are low

[Selkielass]

My self caught garters are all from wet meadows and ditches.
They spend quite a lot of time in their water dishes or damp hides (plastic box filled w sphagnum moss.)
I am coming to believe that the smaller snakes need a damp, high humidity area as well as dry warm and cool areas.
I believe larger snakes tolerate low humidity, but all would be happier with a higher humidity than found in an average home.

[chris-uk]

Mexican species are supposed to be better suited to aquatic setups according to Steve Bol. However, I think he tried it for a while and now only rolls out his aquatic habitat for shows - Greg may know more, I think it was him that mentioned a conversation with Steve back in September.
It's possible to keep the water clean using aquarium filters, but that sort of setup must be a real PITA for no significant benefits.

If space and expense were no object I'd definitely do it, but on a room size scale.

[d_virginiana]

Wasn't there someone on here a couple years ago with a half aquatic half terrestrial setup? It kind of looked like they had a tupperware bin with a lot of water attached to the main tank with a pvc pipe so the snakes could crawl from land to water whenever, but it was detachable and plastic so it could be cleaned/refilled more easily...
Looked doable, but more trouble and time than I'd have for it.

[guidofatherof5]

Yes, I'll see if I can find the thread.

Having trouble locating it. I'll try again in the morning.

[Ruth]

It would have to be huge and with good ventilation otherwise skin problems may develop.
Also bare in mind that five snakes will quickly turn the water it into a cesspit.

With the help of water plants,snails,frequent water changes and a good filter you could deal with the waist of one or two snakes.

This type of set-up may be better suited to Nerodia,Natrix, tropical water snakes (Liophis,Xenochrophis ect), semi aquatic 'phibs and Lizards.

Good luck with your project!

It's not a project just a dream :) Though if I happen to have snakes that I think would thrive in that sort of environment I may be brave enough to try it one day.

[Ruth]

Thanks all. I don't have a problem with having a set up that is reasonably high maintenance if it works and does the snake good. Obviously as well as having a filter for the water you would need to be able to drain it frequently, I would think that could be reasonably easy to achieve with an external filter and a well placed drain hole. My main concern is still whether I would be able to keep plants alive in a naturalistic terrarium. I don't ever plan on having a huge number of snakes so I would have room for some good sized enclosures. Although this is just a dream at the moment I think after I've done a lot of research I'm not going to be able to resist trying it.

If a group of five snakes is too many how big an enclosure can be given to a pair ? Can you actually go as large as you want as long as there is plenty of cover and area's of basking ? I can't help but think you should be able to give them a lot of room as long as there isn't a wide open space for them to feel threatened.

[Selkielass]

How big are the snakes?
T. Butlerii from my area only get about 20 inches long, and slimmer than my ring finger.
Two live happily in a med cube exo-terra with a bioactive substrate, but their water dish is cerial bowl sized. (Less than 1/4 total floor space. The isopods are very good at cleaning up waste with little help from me, and the snakes spend lorlts of time up sunning in their extensive branch and reed penthouse.

One big eastern or checkered might be too much for this setup, and my checkered wouldn't do well with the moist substrate.

Id like to take an entertainment center, or a 50-100 gallon enclosure and set it up with a very good small hand basin from therecycling center plumbed thru the floor so the water could be drained and cleaned into a bucket beneath.

Mi herp zoo has many of their large reptile enclosure set up with what are essentially naturalistic looking bathtubs, so they can easily be emptied, cleaned and refilled. I like the idea.
I guess I don't know enough about turtle filtration systems to trust them to keep the water really fresh and potable. It may look clean, but im not sure about purity. I don't want a parasite reservoir lurking in my filtration.

[guidofatherof5]

Wasn't there someone on here a couple years ago with a half aquatic half terrestrial setup? It kind of looked like they had a tupperware bin with a lot of water attached to the main tank with a pvc pipe so the snakes could crawl from land to water whenever, but it was detachable and plastic so it could be cleaned/refilled more easily...
Looked doable, but more trouble and time than I'd have for it.

Here you go. Thank you Stefan for finding the thread. Starts at post #34.

http://www.thamnophis.com/forum/enclosures/5834-toms-snake-enclosure-4.html

[-MARWOLAETH-]

I've always been under the impression that the more water the better.
These N.tessellata probably agree with that statement:D


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Xn1YK2eLw0A

[Ruth]

Here you go. Thank you Stefan for finding the thread. Starts at post #34.

http://www.thamnophis.com/forum/enclosures/5834-toms-snake-enclosure-4.html

Thanks for that. I did wonder if you could build a glass enclosure with a partition wall so that so part of the enclosure could hold water with a access hole so it would be like two enclosures. The plastic tubs are lovely and I'm sure great to clean but they're not so easy on the eye :)

[Ruth]

How big are the snakes?
T. Butlerii from my area only get about 20 inches long, and slimmer than my ring finger.
Two live happily in a med cube exo-terra with a bioactive substrate, but their water dish is cerial bowl sized. (Less than 1/4 total floor space. The isopods are very good at cleaning up waste with little help from me, and the snakes spend lorlts of time up sunning in their extensive branch and reed penthouse.

One big eastern or checkered might be too much for this setup, and my checkered wouldn't do well with the moist substrate.

Id like to take an entertainment center, or a 50-100 gallon enclosure and set it up with a very good small hand basin from therecycling center plumbed thru the floor so the water could be drained and cleaned into a bucket beneath.

Mi herp zoo has many of their large reptile enclosure set up with what are essentially naturalistic looking bathtubs, so they can easily be emptied, cleaned and refilled. I like the idea.
I guess I don't know enough about turtle filtration systems to trust them to keep the water really fresh and potable. It may look clean, but im not sure about purity. I don't want a parasite reservoir lurking in my filtration.
My current snakes are only little and have lots of growing to do. I would imagine though as they are so active they would appreciate room. They certainly seem different to my corns in that respect and I really can see them being happy exploring.

[Ruth]

These N.tessellata probably agree with that statement:D


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Xn1YK2eLw0A

Wow now I'm really wanting to give it a go. I will have to get a pencil a paper and put down some ideas and pick all your brains :)

[-MARWOLAETH-]

obscurus' natural habitat


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=am8IjJ891xU

[Ruth]

Thanks for that :)

[guidofatherof5]

Great video. Love seeing them(snakes) in the wild.