Hello, snake newbie here

[Kevinh583]

Hi everyone,

I’m Kevin and I am new to this forum, though I’ve been lurking for a couple days now. I found the following snake by my house 3 days ago. It seemed pretty harmless so I caught it thinking I was going to let it go. I have always pretty much hated snakes but there was something about him (or her) that made we want to keep him. The snake seems healthy and in good shape other than some mites and a couple scars-no doubt sustained in some intense life or death struggle.

Anyway, I have never kept a reptile as a pet before so I’m learning as I go. The people at the pet store helped me purchase the stuff I need including a spray to get rid of the mites, but I have some questions and you all seem like a knowledgeable bunch. I hope you don’t mind answering some complete newbie questions.

First I was hoping someone could help me identify the approximate age, species and sex? The snake is about 1.5 - 2 feet long. I fed it feeder goldfish the first day till I read that was not good for snakes and switched to live baitfish for the last couple days. Are baitfish safe or do they still pose the same thiamin deficiency risk as goldfish? And since this is a wild snake is it ok to feed it things from around the house (frogs, slugs, leeches, baby birds/eggs)? I have a couple ponds with thousands of frogs just asking to be eaten and there is no shortage of other small wildlife that I am sure is equally tasty.

I don't think it will be a problem to get it to eat dead pinkie mice since it readily took a dead feeder fish I gave on the first day but I figure I am already taking the snake’s freedom may as well give him tasty warm and wiggling meals if possible. Everything I’ve read says it’s a bad idea because of parasites but the material seems to be more about store bought snakes than wild snakes.

Finally, is the substrate I am using ok? It was recommended at the pet shop and it even had a picture of a snake on the bag. However, the bait fish have a tendency to jump out of the bowl when they see the snake. The last one was swallowed along with a few splinters and I’m worried it could hurt the snake. Thanks

http://i1039.photobucket.com/albums/a479/Kevinh583/Snake002.jpg

http://i1039.photobucket.com/albums/a479/Kevinh583/Snake017.jpg

[Stefan-A]

Welcome aboard. :)

Finding out the species would be easier if we knew where it was caught and sexing would be easier with a picture of the vent from below. But it looks like either a T. sauritus or T. proximus. Others may disagree.

The age is nearly impossible to know, because the growth rate depends on the abundance of food and the climate.

It would be good to know the exact species of the fish you are feeding it, as some species do contain thiaminase. The substrate is otherwise okay, but it can be harmful if swallowed.

[guidofatherof5]

Great having on the forum. Another victim(good thing) of that garter snake magic.
Taking some time to read the Care sheet will help you a lot on the care issues. Here's a link:http://www.thamnophis.com/caresheets/index.php?title=Garter_Snake_Care_Sheet
Here's a link to help with sexing your snake. It will help you learn how to do it yourself and also give you an idea about what photos to post for help. Here's that link: http://www.thamnophis.com/forum/showthread.php?t=5069&highlight=Sexing+pics

[Mommy2many]

Welcome to the forum from Connecticut!

[Hollis_Steed]

Welcome! from Utah

[Kevinh583]

Thanks. The snake was caught in northeast Texas. I'm not sure what the proper name for the fish I am using is but they just called them "shiners". I don't have any better pictures of the tail yet. The snake hasn't posed on its back and I still have not worked up the courage to grab the darn thing.

Steve, I know what you mean about that garter snake magic. Before observing this little guy I would have never thought snakes could have more personality than: "get away from me, I'm going to kill you". I haven't had the snake for a week and I'm already thinking to myself that the rack I'm using would look so much better with another tank or two on it. Some of the blame for that also falls on this forum and its members for posting all the cool pictures.

[infernalis]

http://www.thamfriends.com/mat.jpg

[Stefan-A]

Thanks. The snake was caught in northeast Texas. I'm not sure what the proper name for the fish I am using is but they just called them "shiners". I don't have any better pictures of the tail yet. The snake hasn't posed on its back and I still have not worked up the courage to grab the darn thing.
Possibly T. proximus, then.

[guidofatherof5]

Thanks. The snake was caught in northeast Texas. I'm not sure what the proper name for the fish I am using is but they just called them "shiners". I don't have any better pictures of the tail yet. The snake hasn't posed on its back and I still have not worked up the courage to grab the darn thing.

Steve, I know what you mean about that garter snake magic. Before observing this little guy I would have never thought snakes could have more personality than: "get away from me, I'm going to kill you". I haven't had the snake for a week and I'm already thinking to myself that the rack I'm using would look so much better with another tank or two on it. Some of the blame for that also falls on this forum and its members for posting all the cool pictures.

Blame we gladly take, thanks.

[gartermorphs]

[QUOTE=Kevinh583;132326]Thanks. and I still have not worked up the courage to grab the darn thing.


you could try handling it with leather gloves until your comfortable handling with bare hands

[guidofatherof5]

Thanks. The snake was caught in northeast Texas. I'm not sure what the proper name for the fish I am using is but they just called them "shiners". I don't have any better pictures of the tail yet. The snake hasn't posed on its back and I still have not worked up the courage to grab the darn thing


So don't grab it. Put you hand in there and let the snake come to you. Their natural curiosity will help. If it gets up in your hand see of you can grasp it but not lift it. Garters adapt quickly to human contact, as a rule.
The picking up part can come later. Before long you'll have it eating out of you hand, literally.:D

[Charis]

Hello & welcome from Idaho! That is a very cool looking snake!

[aSnakeLovinBabe]

So don't grab it. Put you hand in there and let the snake come to you. Their natural curiosity will help. If it gets up in your hand see of you can grasp it but not lift it. Garters adapt quickly to human contact, as a rule.
The picking up part can come later. Before long you'll have it eating out of you hand, literally.:D

Ditto! And don't bother with leather gloves.... this snake cannot hurt you and they will probably just freak the snake out more.

[Odie]

Hi, from Oregon, Kevin :)

[oki-inu]

Hello, welcome from Florida. You'll get a lot of great info on this forum and you got a nice snake there.

[Napta]

Hello, from France :)

[gartermorphs]

Ditto! And don't bother with leather gloves.... this snake cannot hurt you and they will probably just freak the snake out more.


Ive never had the problem with them freaking out and I go herping with them on and i was just saying this so that he would feel more comfortable holding the snake for his first couple times

[Kevinh583]

Thanks for the welcome everyone. I also appreciate the advice and reassurance regarding handling. I have stuck my hand in a couple times and so far he just stares at it, only popping his head out of the safety of his hide. I can just imagine the snake debating to itself weather those strange smelling fingers would make a good meal.

However, probably more so than a bite I'm afraid of the little guy getting away and escaping into some corner or behind a piece of furniture before I can react. He sure seems pretty fast when darting around his terrarium if startled.

[Lovok]

Time to throw in my two cents (since I've been gone for a bit). Since no one has commented much on the feeding, I'll say this:

From what I've read here, and just from thinking about it, any time you can give a garter what it would naturally feed on in the wild, do it. BUT, take care that you collect the goodies from sources you trust. For instance, you mentioned you have a place nearby where there are tons of frogs & probably other amphibs it'll eat. Don't collect anything from a source you suspect could be contaminated with toxic runoff from fertilizers, insecticides, sewage, etc. It's my understanding that in the wild, garters may pick up parasites from these frogs anyway, so research & investigate any place you're considering gather foodstuffs before you actually do it. Offer as much of a variety as you're able, and you'll find out his favorites in no time.

Also, I'd ditch the idea of using gloves to handle your new friend. The gloves will only scare him, and probably confuse the hell out of him because they'll smell differently than your hand. So if your goal it to be able to handle him, don't use the gloves. Even if you DO get nipped, it'll be more of a surprise than be painful. I've had Scylla for almost a year now, and she's only struck at me 3 or 4 times (and she still didn't even connect); when I surprised her, and when she was pre-shed when her eyes were clouded over. So both times, it was MY bad, not hers.

Depending on where you keep the tank, close the doors to the room, and cover any floor vents. They're fast, but they seem to duck for cover of any kind, rather than seek out specific holes. He'll go under a table or dresser right next to you before bolting across the room for the door, if you know what I mean. Another good piece of advice that I read here somewhere, was try to handle him like, 20 minutes per day, the exception being after a feeding- it's like running after eating a big meal for us. He'll regurgitate, and that's never good for humans OR snakies. That should help get him used to you in no time.

If you haven't seen it yet, you will find he'll have a distinctive personality. Scylla still is flighty, but nowhere NEAR what she was when I found her. She still won't climb up on my hand in the tank, but she doesn't panic as much anymore, and when she sees me, she'll often climb the glass toward the top & to my face, because she knows it's either "play time" or "feeding time". I put her in the bath tub when I wash her tank, and where before she'd try to get out at any cost other than using my hand, she now seeks out my arm when I reach into take her out of the tub.

You're going to really enjoy having a garter. They're not an "average pet", but that's what makes them so cool!

[Kevinh583]

Thanks for all the great advice. I finally got around to handling my garter today. Despite some of your advice I did use gloves at first to get him out of the cage. But I quickly ditched them when I noticed no threatening behavior.

It was a surprisingly calm and clean experience. I expected the same kind of quick jumpy reactions as I see when reaching in to the terrarium to replace the water dish. However, he actually completely calmed down once I had him in my hands and was even content to just sit in my hands looking around at times. Oh and thankfully there were no stinky fluids involved. I now feel pretty silly for being nervous about it in the first place.

[mustang]

Thanks for all the great advice. I finally got around to handling my garter today. Despite some of your advice I did use gloves at first to get him out of the cage. But I quickly ditched them when I noticed no threatening behavior.

It was a surprisingly calm and clean experience. I expected the same kind of quick jumpy reactions as I see when reaching in to the terrarium to replace the water dish. However, he actually completely calmed down once I had him in my hands and was even content to just sit in my hands looking around at times. Oh and thankfully there were no stinky fluids involved. I now feel pretty silly for being nervous about it in the first place.
same with checker ....maybe hes scared stiff/to hell
oh welcome !

[ConcinusMan]

Thanks. The snake was caught in northeast Texas. I'm not sure what the proper name for the fish I am using is but they just called them "shiners". I don't have any better pictures of the tail yet. The snake hasn't posed on its back and I still have not worked up the courage to grab the darn thing.

Steve, I know what you mean about that garter snake magic. Before observing this little guy I would have never thought snakes could have more personality than: "get away from me, I'm going to kill you". I haven't had the snake for a week and I'm already thinking to myself that the rack I'm using would look so much better with another tank or two on it. Some of the blame for that also falls on this forum and its members for posting all the cool pictures.

Amazing. One again, garters work their charm on an unsuspecting "snake hater" except that we really don't call that a garter snake where I come from, we call THAT one a ribbon snake.

[mustang]

o didnt see that ur in texas too how far from san antonio?

[Kevinh583]

o didnt see that ur in texas too how far from san antonio?

I'm a couple hours northeast of Dallas. Its about a six hour drive to san antonio.


Amazing. One again, garters work their charm on an unsuspecting "snake hater" except that we really don't call that a garter snake where I come from, we call THAT one a ribbon snake.

I am amazed at how much personality the snake has, it has definately changed my outlook towards snakes somewhat. Ribbons still fall under the themnophis genus, right? I don't have to leave the forum or anything? :)

[ConcinusMan]

They are thamnophis, yes. Now get out! (just kidding)

[mustang]

oh cool! ya im right on this border line of sanantonio and helotes.....helotes zip code but we live in sa since it was annexed...a friend of mine had a cat that drug in a ribbon snake about a month ago...they let it go and he corectly identified it (see what you learn after bein a science fair partner of mine lol:D