Garter Snake Care and Information

[HognoseConcinnus]

I own a blue concinnus (two more will be on the way shortly) and to better my knowledge of how to handle these guys, I would like some advice on their care. :) temps, feeding, personal experiences and preferences. Research never hurts and I love these snakes and I want what is best for them. So any help and advice is appreciated. As a side note these little guys are all babies about a month and a week old. So keep in mind they are tiny little darlings haha :p

[d_virginiana]

Most important thing for small babies is DON'T overfeed. It doesn't happen often, but sometimes overfeeding can lead to spontaneous death in very young ones. I think a lot of times their systems aren't 100% functional right off the bat. Feeding small meals more often is the way to go until they get some size on them.

For temps I keep my reptile room around 80 ambient during the day with a slight drop at night, and that works fine for mine.

What are they eating already? A pinkie mouse (you'll have to cut them to appropriate sized bits) and nightcrawler based diet is best IMO. Things like guppies are often used to get young ones eating, but there are problems with a long-term fish heavy diet, so it's best to get them taking mice and worms. If they don't want to take new foods, you can try scenting the new food with what they're already eating, or mixing bits of new items in with what they're used to. Things to avoid completely are feeder golfish (rosy red minnows too) and red wiggler worms.
If you're keeping them in the same tank, it's a good idea to separate them out for feeding and even let them slide through the water dish a time or two so they don't smell like food before putting them back in with the others. They generally won't cannibalize, but you want to do what you can to minimize food fights breaking out.

My only other suggestions are that I personally like newspaper bedding because it's free and easy to clean, and the snakes love hiding between the sheets, and that getting vines of fake plants from a craft store and putting them across the bottom of the tank will make them feel safer spending more time out and less time hiding.

Finally, if the new ones are from a different litter than the first one, do a 90 day quarantine period before introducing them. If they're from the same litter, it probably wouldn't really matter, but otherwise that's just standard.

EDIT: I take it from your name that you also have hognoses! You should post pictures on the Other Pets thread in the Lounge section of the forum because hoggies are adorable.

[Jeff B]

This site (Thamnophis.com) has a very good care sheet tab at the top of the page.
Scott Felzer has a lot of great info on his site.
Scott Felzer's Garter Snakes, specializing in aberrant garters (http://www.albinogartersnake.com/care.html)
Additionally, the link below will take to you to a care sheet on the Reptiles Magazine web page with basic care information.
Garter Snake Care Sheet (http://www.reptilesmagazine.com/Garter-Snake-Care-Sheet/)
I also really like the info on this site:
Garter Snake Care Guide - Gartersnake.info (http://www.gartersnake.info/care/)

[guidofatherof5]

Garter Snake Forum - Garter Caresheet (http://www.thamnophis.com/index.php?page=caresheet)

[HognoseConcinnus]

Well the cage is filled with hidey holes like logs and hides and their water dishes. My snakes are using aspen bedding presently and I feed frozen tilapia mixed with frozen guppies. Right now thrbfeeding schedule is every other day and in about a week or two will be switched to every two or three days. Then I'll bring it to once a week. So on and so forth. The temps are kept between 75-88. At night its about 69-71. I use two daylight bulbs, a basking light, and a uvb. I put liquid calcium in the water. I have climbing plants for them but they are being cleaned in water and soap at the moment haha. At night their bulbs are infrared and a full moon light/heat emitter. :) thank you everyone for all the info! I will check it all out and write it all down!

[HognoseConcinnus]

The new ones are from the same litter as well as a side note! And yes hoggies are freaking adorable haha

[BLUESIRTALIS]

Just make sure if you buy tilapia at the super market that it has not been treated with anything especially trisodium phosphate!
well the cage is filled with hidey holes like logs and hides and their water dishes. My snakes are using aspen bedding presently and i feed frozen tilapia mixed with frozen guppies. Right now thrbfeeding schedule is every other day and in about a week or two will be switched to every two or three days. Then i'll bring it to once a week. So on and so forth. The temps are kept between 75-88. At night its about 69-71. I use two daylight bulbs, a basking light, and a uvb. I put liquid calcium in the water. I have climbing plants for them but they are being cleaned in water and soap at the moment haha. At night their bulbs are infrared and a full moon light/heat emitter. :) thank you everyone for all the info! I will check it all out and write it all down!