What do you do with your garters when you travel?

[RedSidedSPR]

It just accured to me that I have no idea what to do with my garter when I travel. I doubt I could put my 20 gal in the trunk. Can I just leave him? What about heating and lighting?

[guidofatherof5]

Great question.
I have friends that help care for mine when I leave.
3-4 days alone isn't a real problem if left with sufficient water and were well fed before leaving.
Just my opinion.;)

[Stefan-A]

3-4 days alone isn't a real problem if left with sufficient water and were well fed before leaving.
In fact, that's a normal week for me and my snakes.

[RedSidedSPR]

But can you leave heat and light on all that time?

[Stefan-A]

I use timers.

[RedSidedSPR]

How much do they cost? Or where do you get yours?

[Stefan-A]

I get mine from the nearest hardware store. The price is around 5€, or just under $7.

[guidofatherof5]

Walmart would probably give you your best price. They have a wide assortment for mechanical to digital timers.

[Spankenstyne]

Fresh water, lights on timers and you should be fine for a holiday. When I cool mine for winter brumation they go 2 weeks without food to make sure their system is empty, and do so without issue. If your snakes are healthy & not babies then a week or two away without food is no big deal. If you're gone more than a week though I would make sure a friend or neighbour can change out the water.

Timers are just the lamp timers you should be able to find at any hardware store.

[Spankenstyne]

Yep or Walmart like Steve suggested. I think I got most of mine there.

[RedSidedSPR]

I thought they would be way more epensive:D Ok, so I can just leave for a a week at any time?

[guidofatherof5]

I thought they would be way more epensive:D Ok, so I can just leave for a a week at any time?

It would be good if someone could come in and at least change their water and check on them.

[ConcinusMan]

I just use a timer too even when I'm home. A nice multi-programmable digital cost me about $10. I had to be sure that it was the 3-prong grounded type and high rated (can take a heavy load) so I could plug in my strip with multiple items plugged into it. Some cheaper ones are only 2 prong and can't handle much more than a single lamp.

I'm rarely gone for very long. Last long absence was only two weeks so I just fed them well before hand and gave them fresh water before I left. You can always turn off the heat if you're going to be gone more than two weeks. In doing so, their need for food will be reduced.

One of the nice things about keeping snakes is that with the exception of very young babies, you can leave them unattended for a week or three. No biggie. The only downside is the water. Mine really should be changed about every other day.:cool:

[RedSidedSPR]

I can handle the water. I wont be longer than a week, so I think I got covered. Thanks!

[guidofatherof5]

Leaving them is always hard. I'm just a worrywart Dad.
I know my big adults will be wondering what's going on as they see me everyday.
The babies will think they're going to starve. They probably think that everyday when I walk out of the room.:D

[infernalis]

it's been so long since I traveled, I forgot what it's like. ;)

[mustang]

i let my neighboors watch him...they love him!

[infernalis]

I doubt I could trust someone else to even take care of my snakes for a day.

[Mommy2many]

Travel?
What is that...like from here to the grocery store?:D

[RedSidedSPR]

Travel?
What is that...like from here to the grocery store?:D

No, from like here to Iowa:D