So my friend, while on his camping trip brought home a Garter snake, later that day he said he couldn't care for it, so I adopted it as my own.
Im fairly clueless although many of the threads here are helping me greatly!
I just have a few questions :]
The snake is Thamnophis radix as far as I can tell, and from what I have read im thinking its a female. (I will refer to it as bunny, since thats his/her name)
as well Bunny is about 2 feet long
Any idea how old Bunny might be?

Im working on a budget right now but I want to make the little fella happy as can be, what are some good for now mandatory things I should look for while putting together it's habitat, then for later what are some things to go get or upgrade on to make sure the environment is stable. and Finally for the habitat what are some not so much mandatory but recommended additions that would make this snake a happy camper! (I read they enjoy plains, meadows and marsh type environments)

Second im curious about the food, my friend said crickets but I was thinking about that and I have never heard of a snake eating crickets, so im thinking some small feeder fish or some worms? I believe I read earth worms and small guppies, but I can't go get those till tomorrow. Any handy at home things that may do the trick? P.S my house is VERY fish friendly so we always have cooked and raw fish. What do you find is the preferred diet?

and last I was thinking about making a marsh type environment since it was caught in the woods near a pond, according to my friend so I figured some swimming water and some branches would be fun for the snake to climb on, but im worried it will get very hot or moist in the makeshift tank (until I can fully upgrade). Should I be to concerned? will the moist heat make Bunny happy, sad or just like....wag her tail at me and say...your crazy boy.

I know I should release it but its real home is a bit of a ways away and I have grown attached to the cutie :] So im looking for your expert advice, and im very glad I stumbled onto this forum As well im reading page after page on this snake and the environments they say it thrives in, but that's alot of ground to cover so any help is loved.
Thanks in advance!