First time snake owner...

[EasternGirl]

I have never owned a snake before...I found a baby garter in our basement, we get them all the time. Because it is so cold outside, I didn't have the heart to put him outside, so now he is our pet.

[EasternGirl]

As I posted earlier, I found what I believe to be a baby garter in my basement. I have been told he could simply be a male, as males do not get very big. My son named him "Bibur"...which is short for the Mexican word for small snake, "Bibura". He is very frightened and will not engage with us very much. Interestingly, he will come out if I call his name, but then he will hide once he sees me. He has not eaten anything I try to give him...waxworms, nightcrawlers, pinkies, guppies, rosies. He just crawls right over the food and ignores it. I have tried to make his home optimal...he has aspen bedding, a hide box, a little cave, some sticks to crawl on, a water dish, a heating pad under one side of the cage, and a basking lamp. I am wondering if I should just prepare him for brumation at this point. I have not tried to handle him much either, because he is so scared. I am also not sure what kind of garter he is...I will try to get a pic if he lets me! I live in Northern Delaware, if that helps. Advice anyone??? Thanks!

[Stefan-A]

Welcome aboard.

In case you're wondering why your post didn't show up, it's because new members' first few posts need to be approved before they're actually published. It's a way controlling spammers and trolls.

When did you find the snake? Has it had time to adjust itself to both captivity and higher temperatures?

Brumation may be an option. How cold does it get in your basement?

You can skip the wax worms; they're not garter food. Keeping handling to a minimum is a good idea for now. I also don't think the snake can actually hear you. In fact, none of them can. However, they do pick up on vibrations and movement. Even if it doesn't see you, it can easily pick up on your movements as you approach the enclosure.

[EasternGirl]

Hi...thanks for posting a reply. I found him about three weeks ago. He probably hasn't adjusted to captivity, as he is very skiddish at this point. He spends most of his time hiding and trying to escape. He does seem to like to come out and bask under his lamp some. My basement is unfinished and damp. It gets pretty cold. I have heard, though, that I can take the lamp and heat pad off and cover his cage for brumation. My house stays pretty warm though, so I don't know if that will be cold enough for him. He does seem to be curious of me....he pokes his head out and back into his bedding as if he is playing peek-a-boo! I just worry because he isn't eating.

[EasternGirl]

I managed to take a pic of my little guy....not a great one...but maybe someone can tell me what kind of garter he is?

[ConcinusMan]

Welcome to the forum. Judging from your location it is likely that you have a Thamnophis sirtalis sirtalis (Eastern Garter Snake) but sometimes people come here that cannot seem to identify what type of garter they have, and it turns out that it isn't a garter but is a Dekay's snake instead. If that is what you have, then slugs would be the food item to offer them, and the snake would not like to be heated. It's worth a try to see if he'll eat slugs, even if he's a garter.

[guidofatherof5]

Nice to have you on the forum.
Here's a link to the care sheet:
If you can tell us what part(State) of the country you live in we maybe be able to guess what you have. Posting a photo would be even more helpful.
It's best to identify your snake first to make sure this care sheet applies.
Thanks for taking the time to be concern for the little one.;)
Once again, welcome.

Garter Snake Care Sheet - Caresheets (http://www.thamnophis.com/caresheets/index.php?title=Garter_Snake_Care_Sheet)

[Odie]

Hi, from Oregon, Marnie :)

[Mommy2many]

Welcome to the forum!

[Stefan-A]

I managed to take a pic of my little guy....not a great one...but maybe someone can tell me what kind of garter he is?
Thamnophis sirtalis sirtalis, also known as the eastern garter snake.

[guidofatherof5]

Good looking little snake.

[gregmonsta]

Greetings :D

[ConcinusMan]

Thamnophis sirtalis sirtalis, also known as the eastern garter snake.

Definitely. At the time I was writing my last post, the pic wasn't available. You posted the pic while I was writing it.:p

I'm pretty sure that snake ended up in your basement because he was already prepared to brumate. They often get in and under house foundations to brumate. He probably found a crack or gap somewhere and ended up inside the basement. Wouldn't surprise me if you had a whole bunch of them using your house (or at least the foundation) as a den.

Give him at least 13 hours of warmth (75-88) and daylight and keep his temperature from falling below 65 at night. After a while of doing this, he'll probably snap out of it and start eating. It could take a few weeks. In the mean time give him plenty of cover and/or plants (fake is preferable) and don't mess with him too much. He's more likely to eat if he feels safe, comfortable and secure.

[Stefan-A]

Definitely. At the time I was writing my last post, the pic wasn't available. You posted the pic while I was writing it.:p

I know. These things happen.

[ConcinusMan]

The snake looks to be very healthy and has good body mass. Don't worry too much about him starving. He/she could go weeks without food easily and without harm.

[EasternGirl]

Here are a couple of better pics of my little guy....

Thanks for all the posts! I did think that he was probably an Eastern Garter....I am in Newark, Delaware. So earthworms are the best bet, then?

[EasternGirl]

His mother...who is quite large...lives under our steps outside. I agree there are most likely many snakes in our crawl space under the house, as they often come into our basement. In the past I have taken them to a snake rescue...but decided to try to have this little guy as a pet.