Which Aquarium to get

[philthechil]

I've narrowed it down to 4 of them on craigslist so I'd be picking them up. Here are the links


20 gallon aquarium (http://minneapolis.craigslist.org/for/988258806.html)

46 Gallon Bowfront Aquarium - As Is (http://minneapolis.craigslist.org/for/985844704.html)

29 gallon aquarium (http://minneapolis.craigslist.org/for/985686926.html)

reptile terrarium setup (http://minneapolis.craigslist.org/for/979822918.html)

[brain]

This depends on how “many” snake you plan to have. A single garter can live quite a while in a 10 gal tank.

The one with the stand would work a long while.
reptile terrarium setup (http://minneapolis.craigslist.org/for/979822918.html)

[philthechil]

I have one Garter which I think is like 26 inches. If I can get ahold of another one, I'm going to put it in with Gwenne but I would have a bigger tank by then.

[infernalis]

I'd get the bow front, and build a wooden back for it.

Then you can drill holes for wires, mounts, whatever.

Would make a great project.

[philthechil]

That's not a half bad idea.... I was thinking on getting either that one or the 20g with the accessorys. How much should I offer on the bow front?

[infernalis]

they are expensive new, I'd offer $20.

Most people who would want it will want it for fish, and the cracks will deter them.

I got a nice cracked tank for free once.

I got lazy and taped over the crack, it still holds snakes, and I used clear tape, so it looks good.

That 29 is too good a deal to pass up...

29 is a nice size, room to climb up and move around.

[brain]

There you go bigger is better sometimes

[infernalis]

There you go bigger is better sometimes


Garters are a very inquisitive snake, they like to explore.

Unlike a Corn, King, Milk or BP they will spend all day hiding, not a Garter, they are all over the place.

[philthechil]

I found 2 more for you guys to look at. I think I'm gonna go for the bowfront. :D Unless you guys say otherwise.

Reptile Aquarium-(20 gal long)-Snake Cage w/Accessories (http://minneapolis.craigslist.org/for/997994299.html)

20 Gallon Glass Aquarium (http://minneapolis.craigslist.org/for/995695749.html)

[guidofatherof5]

Micheal,
Just buy them all. You know your going to need them in the future:rolleyes:
Start stocking up now. If there's any you don't want just ship them to me. I don't mind.:D

I just picked up a 30 gal. long with 3 different lids, heat mat, rocks, filter and a light for $20 I don't need the filter but it's nice to have in case the need arises. Craigslist to the rescue.

[brain]

If the bow front back is 21” x 36” that’s a big habitat.

So I guess the front is Plexiglas and the rest is glass? Yea get the bow front.

[guidofatherof5]

Sorry, Michael
I though you very looking to buy the enclosures. My bad!

[philthechil]

Nice grab steve! I love craigslist as well. :D

[philthechil]

Well, the Bowfront is 46 gallons... So I think I could have 4 maybe 5 full grown Garters in there right? I have an off topic question. You know how you're not supposed to feed Gold Fish to Garter snakes because of that one thingy that I can't remember right now? Would it be bad if I fed Gwenne one as a treat every few months?

[reptile3]

Micheal,
Just buy them all. You know your going to need them in the future:rolleyes:
Start stocking up now. If there's any you don't want just ship them to me. I don't mind.:D

I just picked up a 30 gal. long with 3 different lids, heat mat, rocks, filter and a light for $20 I don't need the filter but it's nice to have in case the need arises. Craigslist to the rescue.

Steve before reading your response I was thinking the same thing.. just buy them all... you will need them in the future. I have given away 5 tanks in the last 3 yrs. Cause I never thought I would need them. Boy was I ever wrong...

I love projects, they are FUN!

[brain]

ROTFLMAO :D:D:D

It’s ok Steve

But yes if you can't build your habitat buy all you can afford or store. I have 5 ten gal. just in stand by.

[philthechil]

Well, I live in the suburbs of minnesota, and I really would no chances to go snake hunting, and I've only seen Garter snakes in the wild on 4 occasions. So, I don't plan on having multiple setups. But once I upgrade, I will still have the 10 gallon and I have like a 1 gallon plastic tank thingy just in case. I also have this thingy.


http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y262/jaren19/Picture005.jpg




http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y262/jaren19/Picture002.jpg



http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y262/jaren19/Picture006.jpg

[guidofatherof5]

You're new here so I'll let you in on a little secret. Once the word is out that you have Garters, they will come to you. Suddenly you will find yourself inundated with the little scrubs. You'll see them along the road, holding there little signs up "I need a good home" "I don't eat much" "Will work for worms"
You'll see there poor little faces posted on the side of the worm containers. Suddenly your eyes will be opened to this new world that has escaped your notice.
You will need all the enclosures you can get.
You'll find yourself say "Just one more, it's only one more"

You have been warned!
Just remember, It's all good!

[infernalis]

Once upon a time... I had a snake.

Then 2 then 3 then 4 then 40 then like 100..

Get used to it.

[philthechil]

Well, I'm 14 and I still live with my parents so I don't think I will be getting that many. :P

[guidofatherof5]

This addiction doesn't age discriminate. Shoveling snow, cutting grass= snake stuff!
You can always try the old "it will help teach me responsiblity"
Be creative!

[Stefan-A]

http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y262/jaren19/Picture005.jpg




http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y262/jaren19/Picture002.jpg



http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y262/jaren19/Picture006.jpg
Doesn't look escape proof. Lots of big holes in the lid.

[philthechil]

Ya I know. I used it when I first got Gwenne and she got out before I put ducttape over those holes.

[jitami]

I like the 20 longs. A 20L will house one adult garter comfortably, two would probably be ok. I have a 29 with two adults and the extra climbing space is nice. I also have a 20L with two juveniles and they have plenty of room. I'd probably go with the one with the stand, but both seem to be a decent deal with all the accessories. Then you don't have to worry about making a lid or doing any modifications, just clean, decorate, and let Gwenne explore :)

Wayne, did you make a lid for your bow front? I can't say I haven't eyed the guppy tank a time or two and threatened to just let the garters have it, fish and all :)

[infernalis]

Wayne, did you make a lid for your bow front? I can't say I haven't eyed the guppy tank a time or two and threatened to just let the garters have it, fish and all :)

It came with a light hood cover.

Works fine, since I only keep small babies in it anyways.

[jitami]

It came with a light hood cover.

Works fine, since I only keep small babies in it anyways.

Makes sense... mine has light hood and cover as well, but also has a little gap in the back for wires, etc. Since I won't have babies anytime soon I guess the fish can stay a bit longer :) Btw, I have at least 50 guppies from my original 5 now :D No more hunting for feeder guppies for me :D

[infernalis]

Cool, I have 200 guppies on backorder.

A friend is setting me up with a group of fancy guppies.. Bigger food.

[jitami]

Sorry for the threadjack... so fancy guppies are bigger than feeder guppies? And do the females look "fancy" too? I still don't know exactly what I have!

[infernalis]

Fancy guppy - 3 to 4 times bigger than feeder guppy

http://www.grizzlyrun.com/Files/Images/Image_Gallery/fancy_guppy.jpg

feeder guppy - Small and plain.

http://nas.er.usgs.gov/XIMAGESERVERX/2005/20051107160911.jpg

I get my feeders for around a dime each, fancy ones cost 3-5 dollars each, but if you are breeding them, then who cares how much the parents cost.

[jitami]

I'm guessing I have kinda boring fancy guppies... My girls look like the feeder pic but with black starting about halfway back and they are good sized now. My male is definitely fancy after seeing those pics, but not anything near as colorful as the one above! His fins are an indigo blue, iridescent and pretty, but no crazy rainbow colors or spots :D Thanks Wayne, I had never been able to find pics of the feeder guppies and mine are definitely more boring than the purposefully bred fancy guppies. Cool. Doesn't matter a lot either way, but I was curious :)

[philthechil]

Haha you guys... Way to go off topic. :P I don't care though. Talk about what you want. I offered the $20 for the Bowfront but I haven't gotten a reply yet. I will probably go with that and when I go out west in march, I will be watching for cool accessories for the tank. Question: I want to get a live plant and keep the base of it outside the tank, but have it grow into the tank... I want something like ivy that will grow vines, but I know that ivy is poisinous right?

[guidofatherof5]

Vines thru the tank means an unsecured tank. They will find the flaw in your security and exploit it. They are escape artists. You will be giving them an out.
Having a live plant inside the tank isn't a problem. It also gives them some soil to mess with. They love to dig. I put a few worms in the soil so they can go hunting. I have also found them buried in the soil when I pull the plant out for a cleaning. I just know they were aware of the possible flaw in my security system. Then they look at you like "who me, I wasn't trying to escape" Don't fall for that one. Put them in iso(isolation) for a few day. No visitation and exercise time and they'll change their tune.

Sorry, I forgot we were talking about snakes!

[Charlet_2007]

Unlike a Corn, King, Milk or BP they will spend all day hiding, not a Garter, they are all over the place.


my king snakes are always out looking around and exploring stuff. lol :p

[philthechil]

Well, I'd let it grow out and the very edge, I'd feed through a hole in the screen, or I would cut a few out and then tape it there after it grew through. :D I'd have to find a good vine type plant though... :P

[infernalis]

I want something like ivy that will grow vines, but I know that ivy is poisonous right?

Your thinking of "Poison Ivy" that is not even poisonous, it just causes strong allergic reactions in MOST people.

I have been so exposed to it, anymore I could roll in the stuff and not even know it was there.

That only represents one strain of IVY, there are many different kinds.

[philthechil]

No, I meant regular Ivy the. Like the vine stuff. Like this:

http://sydfish.files.wordpress.com/2008/03/symbol_ivy_full.jpg

[infernalis]

That should be fine.

I use the fake IVY from Michael's

[philthechil]

Are you sure? Becuase some people at petco told me that Ivy is poisonous to Reptiles...

[guidofatherof5]

Remember,
these are the same people who don't know what kind of snakes
they are selling and don't know that goldfish are bad to feed them.

[philthechil]

Ok, because my sister has an ivy plant that I might steal... :P So it's ok to do so?

[infernalis]

Remember,
these are the same people who don't know what kind of snakes
they are selling and don't know that goldfish are bad to feed them.


Thanks Steve, I was going to say something quite similar.

[aSnakeLovinBabe]

Ivy may very well be poisonous to reptiles. But, seeing as snakes will never for any reason eat a plant, no harm is done. That statement is probably more directed at lizards who are often omnivorous and will eat plants. If you're going to have a live plant, keep all of it in the cage because otherwise it's not going to be secure enough.

[Stefan-A]

Ivy may very well be poisonous to reptiles. But, seeing as snakes will never for any reason eat a plant, no harm is done.
I can see how the snake could come in contact with the poison a couple of ways that don't require that they intentionally try to eat it. Accidental ingestion while feeding and accidentally damaging the plant while climbing on it.

[infernalis]

:D Thanks Wayne, I had never been able to find pics of the feeder guppies :)

Try this sometime........

http://www.dekayi.info/1/feeders.jpg

[jitami]

Eh, I could... but it's easier to just ask you :p

[anji1971]

Eh, I could... but it's easier to just ask you :p

I see you follow my line of thinking, Tami.:D
Research???!! I don't do no stinkin' research! Just ask someone else.

[infernalis]

Fine, you all be that way, next time I'll just post a link;)

Google (http://www.google.com/)

[misskris]

Well, I'm 14 and I still live with my parents so I don't think I will be getting that many. :P


Don't think :) My kids are 10,8, and 5. The youngest has been begging for a snake for awhile.. My Dh and I said "just one" "one is enough".... The buggars grow on even the most reluctant parents :rolleyes:

[philthechil]

Well, you I'm sure have lots of previous experience with snakes, while my parents do not... :( Right now my 12 year old brother is trying to convince my parents to let him get a Cornsnake.

[Snake lover 3-25]

my parents don't either lol i just started collecting them and one day i asked if i could keep one....... they're not at all involved with my reps.... well my mom was in love with my turtle for the first few months..... went up there every day lol but not anymore lol...... and now i've got 4 snakes!!!:D

[misskris]

Well, you I'm sure have lots of previous experience with snakes, while my parents do not... :( Right now my 12 year old brother is trying to convince my parents to let him get a Cornsnake.


Nope.. Simone is our first snake. To be honest the first couple weeks I was scared to death of her, I'd get up in the middle of the night too make sure she had not got loose.

[philthechil]

I'm offering $25 for this one because the guy with the Bowfront hasn't replied yet... :(

http://minneapolis.craigslist.org/for/979822918.html (sale-979822918@craigslist.org?subject=reptile%20terrari um%20setup%20-%20$40%20%28Minneapolis%29)

[Snake lover 3-25]

that happens alot.... when i'm looking i send emails out to everyone with a tank i'm interested in..... most of them will never reply back......

[Lori P]

I think timing is everything on Craig's List... it's kind of like Freecycle, if you don't respond within .02 seconds of the post appearing, it's already gone!

[Snake lover 3-25]

yeah..... my brother found a porche (sp???) on craigslist and he called my dad and 2 seconds later it was gone........ it was really cheap and only had 30,000 miles on it......:(

[misskris]

Have you tried placing a WANTED add for a tank? If you can hold off for a couple months, start checking the Garage/Yard sales. I saw several cheap tanks at a yard sales around here last spring.

[philthechil]

Well, I have only gotten a reply from this one.


20 gallon aquarium (http://minneapolis.craigslist.org/for/988258806.html)

[infernalis]

20 talls have merits.

I have 3 of them, they are great for snakes that like to climb.

That crack is nothing, face that side to the back.