Afternoon everyone.

I bought my wife a snake yesterday, it's an albino chequered garter snake (T. marcianus we think), and it's our first snake, and she's called "Binky". From what we've read online I think we have a lovely little snake and I'm glad to have a garter rather than a rat or corn snake (I'm guessing you guys on here would agree). I've got a few questions where I've read conflicting information. There's a few questions, so thanks in advance for the advice you're about to give us.

She's about 32cm long, we didn't get a DOB from the shop (I'm trying to find out more from them) but I'm guessing that means she's about 5-6 months old which would tie in with a Spring birth. Is her size in the right ballpark?

She was quite active when we first put her in it's viv, she had a good explore, a bit of a burrow in the aspen, and wasn't bothered by us watching, then she found the cool hide full of moss. We've not really seen her since.
- Is it normal for them to disappear into a hide for something like 18 hours? Is this part of acclimatising to the new home?

According to the shop she's been with them for 2 weeks and had two feeds, eating pinkies. She would have been due a feed today, but they advised only feeding once a week...
- Given her size, I should be cutting the pinkie into smaller pieces?
- Should I not feed her until she's happy in her new home?
- And I'm planning to feed her twice a week based on previous advice on here, is she likely to eat a whole pinkie twice a week, or half at a time?

I've referred to her as female, we don't know for sure. When she decides to come out I'll try to get some photos of her tail so that you can tell us whether she is actually a he...

Thanks for taking the time to read about our Binky.