Hey everyone! I apologize if this is not the correct section, I don't really post on forums often...

I am possibly going to purchase an Albino Checkered Garter Snake, and I need someone to check on this, tell me if its correct, and help with some questions I have please!!


As for tanks, I would buy a 15-20 gal tank when it is adult, with mesh cover, clips, etc. I would have a hiding structure, some logs for it to climb, a decently sized water dish, and some pretend foilage. As for substrate, I was thinking of newspaper pellets, like the kitty litter named Yesterday's News. I read in multiple places that newspaper pellets are very good because it can be spot cleaned, it is highly absorbent, relatively inexpensive, and wont stick to the wet food Garters eat. I would probably do a full cleaning of the cage every month or so, and spot clean when needed.


Feeding, I am thinking of feeding frozen-thawed tilapia with calcium supplement. You can get frozen tilapia pretty inexpensive, and it is thiaminase free. I would probably throw a nightcrawler in there every so often when we get some to fish with as well.


My biggest concern: Heating. I know snakes need under belly heat, but UTH heaters kind of scare me, and I have no idea what is best, and because it is sticky I could never transfer it to the bigger tank as it grows. So I began looking at heat lamps (I would stick a plain flat rock under the heat lamp if the belly heat was necessary, NOT a heated rock) but I have NO idea what to use...my house is 68 degrees right now (winter...ugh), which is too cold and my room would be even colder. However in the summer it is more in the low seventies. So I definetly need heat, but I've read only 8-10 hours of heat, so when would I turn the lamp on and off? It would be in my room, so if I use a lamp, could I use the red or blue moonlight lamps? I normally sleep in pitch black darkness. Also, with it being albino, are there any special light requirements? As for the summer, would I have a different schedule on heating since the temperatures would be different?

Oh, and because the Garter will be a baby, what should I do with the tank then? I have a small tank (it's either a 2.5 or 5 gallon tank, I can't tell it is buried in the garage). Would that work? Ive also seen people keep their snakes in plastic tubs (air holes of course), which would be VERY convenient until it grows up, but how would I heat it? Obviously, most convenient would be to just get the 15-20 gallon now, but I wouldn't want to scare the little guy!! Also, how long until a little baby can be transferred to a 15-20 gal tank without terrifying it?

WOW...I have a lot of questions... I am sure these are some basic questions that have been already answered, but I am the kind of person that would frustrated with 40 different tabs saved on my computer for this