I am new to Snakes, what do you think of my tank?

[J@50n]

Hello everyone, I'm new to snakes in general, have never had one before so i got what i have heard is a beginner snake. I got a Garter Snake! He's still a baby and I've only had him for a couple of days but i would like to make sure I have everything that everyone would recommend for them.

So first a little bit about everything:

I have gotten earth worms to feed him, he hasn't eaten yet (It's only been 2 days). He is still a baby, I'm guessing less that a year old.

In his tank i have a water bowl, large enough for him to fully be in and i have another not in the tank large enough for fish eventually.

The tank is a 5 gallon tank, kind of small but he is only a foot long or a little more. So i will eventually be getting a 10 or 20 gallon one.

The substrate I have in his tank would be sand and some larger rocks.

I have a large hid for him in the corner its just a long hollow rock.

I have a heating pad underneath that stays around 78 or 80 degrees.

I have an overhead light that i keep on during the day and turn off at night for a slight temperature variation because I had read it was good for them.

Lastly I take him out every afternoon for about an hour, and every night for about two just to let him get out of his tank, because i read that was also good for them and while he is inside his cage he seems to be very lazy and doesn't ever come out of his hide.

He is completely tame, has never musked or threatened to strike me either!

Here are some pictures of the set-up i have for him. What do you think? what am i missing, what do i need, am i making and mistakes etc. please share!!

http://img84.imageshack.us/img84/4674/dscf6272.jpg (http://imageshack.us/photo/my-images/84/dscf6272.jpg/)

http://img26.imageshack.us/img26/285/dscf6273w.jpg (http://imageshack.us/photo/my-images/26/dscf6273w.jpg/)

http://img12.imageshack.us/img12/9089/dscf6275d.jpg (http://imageshack.us/photo/my-images/12/dscf6275d.jpg/)

[snakeman]

looks like a dekay snake.I never kept dekay snakes before.I have never found them in sand.Maybe someone with more expertize in brown snakes can chime in.

[d_virginiana]

Hi! Welcome to the forum :) The setup looks good, except sand can cause problems with the scales (and also can cause impaction in some reptiles, idk about snakes...) It'd probably be good to switch it to something like repti-bark, aspen, or carefresh.. At least I think carefresh is the name of the paper-towel substrate I use. The snakes love to burrow in that stuff.

That's a very nice looking snake!


Hello everyone, I'm new to snakes in general, have never had one before so i got what i have heard is a beginner snake. I got a Garter Snake!

You think it's a beginner snake. You'll get hooked, just wait and see.

[guidofatherof5]

Welcome to the forum.
Here's a link to the care sheet.
Sand as substrate can cause problems.
Does look like a Storeria dekayi. Care for them is much like the care for garter snakes.
Garter Snake Care Sheet - Caresheets (http://www.thamnophis.com/caresheets/index.php?title=Garter_Snake_Care_Sheet)

[RedSidedSPR]

It's a Dekay brown snake

No sand! Impaction issues and scale problems like Lora said.

I'd use ReptiBark, it's big so it won't stick to worms and get swallowed

It's too hot. It's better for dekays to be at a steady 70 degrees than what your doing. They don't even need a basking light... but you can do it with a 40-60 wat bulb. I wouldbt in that small a cage though

He's not a baby. They stay small like that.

You do not have to take him out, but if you want to you can.

Earthworms and slugs. Thats what they eat.

The setup is cool though. Just don't use sand.

The fish you mentioned will not be needed. He's not a garter, and won't eat fish.

And no, there are people who know much more about these guys. Ive never kept one, just know how.

Good luck with him. :)

And FYI Dekay are welcome on the garter snake forum, they count. ;)

[Starling96]

Its funny because i saw this setup on yahoo.com lol

[J@50n]

It's a Dekay brown snake

No sand! Impaction issues and scale problems like Lora said.

I'd use ReptiBark, it's big so it won't stick to worms and get swallowed

It's too hot. It's better for dekays to be at a steady 70 degrees than what your doing. They don't even need a basking light... but you can do it with a 40-60 wat bulb. I wouldbt in that small a cage though

He's not a baby. They stay small like that.

You do not have to take him out, but if you want to you can.

Earthworms and slugs. Thats what they eat.

The setup is cool though. Just don't use sand.

The fish you mentioned will not be needed. He's not a garter, and won't eat fish.

And no, there are people who know much more about these guys. Ive never kept one, just know how.

Good luck with him. :)

And FYI Dekay are welcome on the garter snake forum, they count. ;)


Thank you so much!! You were very informative and helpful XD I will be off to get a different substrate tomorrow for sure!

A question though, will these guys eat crickets?

[J@50n]

Its funny because i saw this setup on yahoo.com lol

I know lol -.-

[RedSidedSPR]

No problem. They WILL NOT eat crickets. Can't digest the exo-skeletons.

[RedSidedSPR]

Actually they WILL eat them, they just can't. If their hungry enough theyd eat it. But than the snake would die... And that would be bad.

[Starling96]

Haha uea
How long have u had him?

[Mommy2many]

Nice Dekayi you have! I have one as well. He may not be a baby at a foot long or so. They don't get too large. Their favorite food is slugs then I would say earthworms. Some members have gotten them to take pinkie pieces (Infernalis).

They are the sweetest snakes to have, they don't musk or bite but they can be very fast!

They have the cutest little faces.

They do like it cooler than the garters. I like the stone hide you have for him/her. They also like to hide alot. Mine comes out when he is looking for food or more often or not at night. Maybe cause it's cooler then.

Welcome to the forum and good luck!

[RedSidedSPR]

Theyre more active at night, so yeah, they'll hide alot
In day.

[infernalis]

Actually they WILL eat them, they just can't. If their hungry enough theyd eat it. But than the snake would die... And that would be bad.

Every single cricket will die before one gets eaten. Dekayi will starve before they will eat bugs or even try.


Theyre more active at night, so yeah, they'll hide alot
In day.

They are diurnal like garters, but will feed during the very early AM hours and in the late evenings right after dew falls.

If you still cannot get your snake to eat, gather up some garden slugs, they can be found anywhere it is damp and grassy.

Garden slugs are ambrosia to a Storeria (Dekayi)

[RedSidedSPR]

Every single cricket will die before one gets eaten. Dekayi will starve before they will eat bugs or even try.

I was talking more about garters... And yes, I've watched it happen.



E They are diurnal like garters, but will feed during the very early AM hours and in the late evenings right after dew falls.

They are? From what I've read, they can be active in day, but are most active at night... but what do I know?

[infernalis]

but what do I know?

More and more every day, just open up your mind and absorb. ;)

A friendly piece of advice, I learned this the hard way myself... Don't speak in absolutes until you are completely certain.

Once upon a time I would repeat things I read in posts as if it were gospel, only to find out that sometimes I was quoting mentally deficient individuals.

[RedSidedSPR]

Good advice.....

But I was pretty certain... All the field guides and books I have, websites, they say they're most active at night... So naturally, I thought they were..

[infernalis]

Good advice.....

But I was pretty certain... All the field guides and books I have, websites, they say they're most active at night... So naturally, I thought they were..


You know what, I have to agree, late into dusk when the dew is falling qualifies as night to me.

And since they despise heat, they do spend the bulk of the day under hides in shady areas.

However, on a rainy overcast day, food is at it's most abundant, guess who's out feeding?? Storeria and Thamnophis.

[RedSidedSPR]

Yeah, so it's not really nocturnalism.. just the comfort of it... huh. Cool.

[RedSidedSPR]

Actually they WILL eat them, they just can't. If their hungry enough theyd eat it. But than the snake would die... And that would be bad.

That's not acually true, i said that because, if you did feed him crickets, it's POSSIBLE he'd eat it, because i've seen it happen. But really, they won't touch crickets. Garters or Dekays.

[RedSidedSPR]

Dang, not wording stuff right today...

I know what my problem is... MORE SMILEYS :D :D :D

Anyway, I wasnt serious about the "no questions", I was joking. Obviously, nobody gets it, I shouldn't have said it. my advice would actually be, if you have a question ASK THE FREAKING QUESTION :D

And yeah, it can be ingested. I just meant, it's big, and not as likely to get stick to food and get swallowed.

Sorry, sometimes it just doesn't come out right with me.

[RedSidedSPR]

Crap i just posted that on the wrong thread!!!'

[infernalis]

Ships happen. No biggie.

[J@50n]

Would he be able to eat small amphibians, such as baby toads?

[kibakiba]

There would be a big risk of parasites. You'd have to freeze them for 3 weeks at 0 degrees

[ConcinusMan]

Actually they WILL eat them, they just can't. If their hungry enough theyd eat it. But than the snake would die... And that would be bad.

It's more likely that any crickets left alive in the tank without any other food source, would begin to dine on the snake and they are quite capable of inflicting significant injury.

I doubt your info came from "yahoo.com". It's more likely that yahoo.com is your internet search engine and you got your info from another website that could be located by using just about any search engine. At any rate, I could post something, even a dedicated website, that says it's a good idea to put gasoline-soaked clothes in a clothes drier. Doesn't mean it's good advice.

[infernalis]

Would he be able to eat small amphibians, such as baby toads?


They will only eat worms and slugs/Snails.

This species is a specialist feeder, any other food items aside from what I just mentioned above will simply not be viewed as food by your snake.

[RedSidedSPR]

I never said anything about yahoo. I also cannot describe, what an idiot idea it is to put crickets in there. I was only saying, that I've personally witnesses a garter (and corn) eat a cricket. So, just because it's bad, doesnt mean they CANT

[RedSidedSPR]

Would he be able to eat small amphibians, such as baby toads?

Sure, just freeze it for a few weeks first. Live, unfrozen amphibians will carry a ton of parasites

[infernalis]

Sure, just freeze it for a few weeks first. Live, unfrozen amphibians will carry a ton of parasites

Please read back a few posts.....



They will only eat worms and slugs/Snails.

This species is a specialist feeder, any other food items aside from what I just mentioned above will simply not be viewed as food by your snake.

[RedSidedSPR]

Sorry, didn't see that, and I also forgot we weren't talking about garters... I need to just stop tlking...

[J@50n]

Sure, just freeze it for a few weeks first. Live, unfrozen amphibians will carry a ton of parasites

Alright, thanks :)

[RedSidedSPR]

No don't!! I was wrong!! Forgot we were talking about decay!!!

[J@50n]

Actual garters will eat toads and other animals though correct?

[J@50n]

No don't!! I was wrong!! Forgot we were talking about decay!!!

Oh haha alright :P

[RedSidedSPR]

Actual garters will eat toads and other animals though correct?

Yeah, that's one of the main food sources in the wild. Some people freeze frogs as a "treat" for their garters. Not dekayis though. Sorry 'bout that.

[infernalis]

Actual garters will eat toads and other animals though correct?


Yes, Garter snakes are opportunity feeders, if a small mouse crossed a garter snakes path, chances are it will get eaten.

Garter snakes prefer amphibians, fish and earth worms, many larger specimens will clean out a mouse nest (eat all the pinkies) and are drawn to almost any motion looking for food.

Dekayi will only seek out slugs/snails/worms.