Wild taken eggs

[SNAKEKEEPER]

I do not have a snake but i want one so i plan to take a egg from the wild and hatch it in a inqubaiter. I was wondering if this is a good idea.

[Stefan-A]

Garters are livebearers, so there are no eggs to hatch. Personally, I think it would be a terrible idea anyway.

[ssssnakeluvr]

taking eggs from the wild is not a good idea....if you disturb a nest, you won't know what type of animal laid the eggs, then, since the nest was disturbed, the humidity required to keep the eggs moist will be gone and the rest will die. best bet is to find someone on here with baby snakes for sale.....check the classifieds (I have baby wandering and valley garters)

[guidofatherof5]

I agree with Stefan's and Don's advise. There are way to many other options for getting a snake. The great part about Garters is the fact the mom does all the incubation for us. I'm not sure what part of the country your in, but you should be able to find a captive bred somewhere in your area. Good luck and welcome.

[Didymus20X6]

If you find any garter snake eggs, take as many as you want! Just be sure to get them in the incubator before they hatch. :p

*disclaimer: you're not going to find garter snake eggs anywhere.

[SNAKEKEEPER]

Thank you every one :(

[SNAKEKEEPER]

If that won't work then can you tell me how to catch a live wild baby garter???:)

[Thunder.x.Tiger]

well, the only way would be very hard. I suggest just buying a baby one from a breeder for cheap prices. IN the US, they usually selll garters for like 10 dollars.

[Didymus20X6]

If you know where any garters can be found, my suggestion would be to build yourself a trap. I have a thread where I show how to build one.

However, you may want to check local wildlife regulations to see what you can and cannot do for catching snakes. For example, in my native Georgia, it is illegal to capture, keep, transport, buy, or sell Thamnophis sirtalis without a license. So if I ever needed to go back home for some reason, I'd have to do something with my snakes. Probably find a science teacher or snake lover who would take them off my hands.

But like Thunder Girl says, your best bet might be to find someone on this forum who is willing to part with some of their babies.

[Thunder.x.Tiger]

True... but i just found out that it's illegal to sell native animals in a store though... so yeah but I really wouldn't buy one from a pet store, most are inbred and some are taken away from the wild.

[aSnakeLovinBabe]

well, the only way would be very hard. I suggest just buying a baby one from a breeder for cheap prices. IN the US, they usually selll garters for like 10 dollars.
that would depend largely on species/subspecies! I price my babies anywhere from $15 to $100 at the moment, $10 is a bit low for me... a lot of work goes into raising and feeding the little buggers. next year I will have some higher end stuff that will sell for more than that.

[Stefan-A]

True... but i just found out that it's illegal to sell native animals in a store though... so yeah but I really wouldn't buy one from a pet store, most are inbred and some are taken away from the wild.
In that case, try to find a local breeder, or select a non-native species. As for the inbreeding part, it's often exaggerated. There are a few lines that are inbred, but for the most part, we're talking about animals that are a generation or two removed from the wild population.

[SNAKEKEEPER]

well, the only way would be very hard. I suggest just buying a baby one from a breeder for cheap prices. IN the US, they usually selll garters for like 10 dollars.I live in canada

[SNAKEKEEPER]

If you know where any garters can be found, my suggestion would be to build yourself a trap. I have a thread where I show how to build one.

However, you may want to check local wildlife regulations to see what you can and cannot do for catching snakes. For example, in my native Georgia, it is illegal to capture, keep, transport, buy, or sell Thamnophis sirtalis without a license. So if I ever needed to go back home for some reason, I'd have to do something with my snakes. Probably find a science teacher or snake lover who would take them off my hands.

But like Thunder Girl says, your best bet might be to find someone on this forum who is willing to part with some of their babies. How do you build a trap for a garter..... I live in canada, ottawa and i am not sure of whtch breeds there are pleas help.

[Didymus20X6]

Follow these simple step-by-step instructions.
http://www.thamnophis.com/forum/enclosures/5889-snake-trap.html

A bit of advice: you don't really need to screen the top (it makes a mess when it rains anyway). Just drill a bunch of holes near the bottom.

[SNAKEKEEPER]

Thanks all

[GarterGeek]

If you want to find wild garters, visit a junkyard! Turn over tarps and boards until you find one. It will be impossible to catch a garter at this time of the year, but during late spring and summer you're very likely to succeed.

Good luck! :)

[snakecharmer]

I remember when I was a kid and I got a garter as my first reptile, they were nearly all wild caught. I was concerned about this and had asked the shop owner about getting a captive bred one and he assured me they were, but I'm pretty convinced I was sold a wil caught one as she was so nervous, had a parasite problem, took ages to feed properly, musked, the whole works. she tamed up eventually but never seemed that happy. I would always choose captive bred over wild caught as you are pretty much guaranteed for the animal to have a full bill of health, be a good feeder etc. Plus, just look at what over harvesting has done to so many animals, including reptiles and certain garter subspecies!
I can't imaging tacking down a captive breeder near you would be any more costly than building a trap and then if you catch a snake having to put the extra time and effort in to tame it etc.

[ConcinusMan]

I have never purchased a garter snake. They are just to darn abundant around here, with several species to choose from. Sirtalis (concinnus) is my fav though. If any of them had parasites, I was blissfully ignorant of it. They settled right in, eating from my hand within a couple of weeks, and lived many years in good health, and even ate goldfish fairly often with no ill effects. Of course, I can afford to be very selective of which one's make the grade to spend their lives with me, only choosing the healthiest, most attractive and personable individuals.

The only snakes I've ever seen with nasty parasite problems were captive bred!

Anyway, I take it that the OP must know where to find reptile eggs of some kind, in order to make such a suggestion. Disturbing nests is a bad idea, unless you are saving them from certain destruction, and you intend to take ALL of them to be incubated.

I've only found reptile eggs once buried a pile of rotting leaf litter. Not hard to identify the reptile since Coluber constrictor mormon is the only egg laying reptile living in my area.

[stripe&houdini]

I always catch Garters in swamps. Swamp Garters can be picky, though.

[aSnakeLovinBabe]

I always catch Garters in swamps. Swamp Garters can be picky, though.
probably because they've been feeding on frogs... their FAVORITE!!

[ConcinusMan]

They're not picky! you just have to offer the "right" foods.

I don't really have what I would call a "swamp" around here, but we do have areas around creeks and rivers that flood seasonally. We call them "wetlands" if there is 2 inches or more water for at least 6 mos out of the year. In addition to those areas, we have flood plains that fill with a few inches of water when rivers and creeks go over their banks and beyond the wetlands. All of the above mentioned environments is where I find abundant Thamnophis sirtalis concinnus.

Anyway, more to the point, I could never get any garters that are restricted, that is, only found in wetlands, to eat anything that they wouldn't normally find where they live. Most abundant prey is amphibians and their larvae, and small fish (trapped in small drying pools) And of course, they almost never refuse a nice fat juicy night crawler. Couldn't get them to eat mammals of any kind though.

My point is, your "swamp" garters are there, in that habitat because that is where their food is. Later in summer the edges of permenant bodies of water allow a quick and affective escape. Take note of the time of year and environment when the snakes are most concentrated. I think you will find that it coincides with concentrations of amphibians (mostly small frogs and tadpoles).

I guess my point is, I would speculate that your "swamp garters" would go nuts over fish, frogs, and perhaps night crawlers. Not picky, just specialized feeders.

Just use your powers of observation. Those snakes are there for more than one reason, but mainly because there is plenty of food. Find out what that food is, and your "picky" eater will become an enthusiastic eater as long as you provide for their other needs, and make them feel safe and comfortable.

[stripe&houdini]

I can get one of mine to eat fish, but he won't go for mice. I should have said big pond.

[ConcinusMan]

In order to stay on topic, I really want to point out that taking eggs is really a bad idea especially if it's garters you're after; that building or using some kind of trap is not necessary; and the easiest way to obtain wild garters is to go out when the weather/season permits them to be active, and just get them the old fashoned way; catch them! They really aren't that hard to find. Catching aquatic garters can get a bit challenging since they tend to escape across water. A long handled, fine mesh net can help to scoop them from the surface. For terrestrial species the best way is to find an area in early spring where they are concentrated and simply grab them. Or, you can place plywood or other objects around the area for them to hide under, then go out on a cool day when they aren't active. You'll find them hiding under stuff and they'll be easy to collect. Best to find out if this is at all legal where you plan on doing it.

[aSnakeLovinBabe]

They really aren't that hard to find. Catching aquatic garters can get a bit challenging since they tend to escape across water. .


that would be the part where I'd be diving into the water headfirst!! I'm a pretty good swimmer and I have swam, waded or dredged through water after more than one snake!!! :p

[ConcinusMan]

Oh yeah. Been there done that. No nasty stagnant, polluted water is going to keep me from grabbing that ultimate gorgeous concinnus. I should have mentioned, net or no net, waders are recommended, but don't be afraid to get wet or muddy!

Actually, the largest concinnus I ever encountered in the wild happened when I was about 10yrs old. I was so astounded and impressed by the "regalness" of this snake, I didn't even hesitate. I dove in after it, and got it! This thing was friggen huge!

[Steven@HumboldtHerps]

Getting cold and wet is mandatory if you want to go after our inland Oregon Garters. Ninety degree weather, mountain river water in the low fifties! They dive right into and under the rapids; and they'll stay there for a good five minutes. Does anyone know whether or not aquatic garters have modified a swim bladder out of their vestigial lung?

[ConcinusMan]

Interesting question. I do know that concinnus I have observed don't dive, or require anything to keep them upright, like a fish would need. In fact, they must keep forward momentum across water or they will sink tail first. They only stop when there is supporting vegetation, and only "dive" for food in very shallow water. In other words, their activities on and around water generally wouldn't require a swim bladder since they don't really swim like sea snakes do. But they aren't found in icy cold water but are instead found at low elevations in relatively warm, still water. Downright stagnant at times. In fact, I think the only reason concinnus are found there is for the food. The escape route is merely a secondary benefit. I have actually found them miles from water. As long as there's a summertime supply of frogs and perhaps some temporary spring pools with larvae, that's all it took. No permanent body of water is required to find concinnus but it just so happens there usually is one. In early spring when the water is high, and they are concentrated, some pretty darn big, fat, ordinoides can be found too. Attracted by the easy food, I'm sure, but also just as happy feeding on nothing but earthworms and slugs away from water. My point is, although not considered aquatic, ordinoides do just fine at swimming and won't hesitate to do so if that's their only escape route. They also tend to be larger in concinnus' habitat. Concinnnus wouldn't be so content with nothing but worms and slugs and so are found where there's frogs and easy pickin's of trapped fish and amphibian larvae or fish year 'round while ordinoides can exploit habitats that concinnus do not.

That always amazed me though, how those mountain garters can spend so much time in that frrrrreeezin' water. My guess would be that they are ice age "surviors" and are cold hardy, finding their food in swift streams, whereas concinnus probably survived by staying in warmer, lowland areas? Who knows. Where there's a niche with a food source, there's a predator to exploit it.