Tom's Snake Enclosure

[Mommy2many]

Tami,

You just got me thinking along those lines too! I will have to ask my Husband (who is a wonder at figuring this stuff out, cause God knows I'm not!) If we could do the same idea between fish tanks! That would be sooo cool. Hhhmmmm...

[jitami]

Showed hubby the picture and he said it would be fairly easy. Have to get a glass cutter or have someone cut the glass. Then get 2 pipes w/ flanged ends and use aquarium sealer to glue it onto the inside of both glass tanks. Use a coupler in between, but don't glue the coupler together. Simply pull it apart and use an appropriate sized cap to close off either side for cleaning.

Does anyone know if a filter would pose a problem for garters? I'm thinking not. In my little brain I'm thinking snakes are stronger than fish and the fish don't end up stuck to the filter so the snakes should be ok

Hubby was actually mildly excited about it... more so than he has been with anything else to do with the snakes or fish. Seems combining them is more his style <gg> Wonder if the guppies could sustain a healthy population with predators in the water?

Thanks for the great ideas Didymus!

[Didymus20X6]

You're very welcome!

Also, I used plumber's glue. Not only does it hold pretty decently, but it also helps to seal any leaks. I put a big dab on each of the bolts, too, to keep them from rusting. With glass, bolts probably won't be much of an option.

I do have a question: I recently bought some eucalyptus, which I had intended to put into the water section. However, that stuff has a powerful smell. I originally thought these were just scented plastic, but no, they were real. I ended up using them to decorate the outside of the water enclosure - to give the snakes a sense of privacy - but I'm afraid to put them inside for fear the odor would be too overpowering for them.

Have any of you had any experience with eucalyptus and garters? I've thought I might put a few of the larger branches in the main enclosure for them to climb on, if it's not harmful to them.

[count dewclaw]

I would be concerned that the eucalyptus oil in the wood might irritate the snakes skin and/or lungs (kind of like the cedar oils), but I have no proof that it is a problem.

[Mommy2many]

I would use pothos. They like water and can grow fairly full. One of my garters likes to hang in them like "tree tops"

[Mommy2many]

Tami,

I am also thinking the same as you. I would like to get a supply of fish in one side, to be able to leave them there. I don't know if they would be around long enough though, to reproduce

But my snakies like to swim and soak, so that would be nice for them.

[jitami]

Le Ann, when I net guppies for my guys I sometimes get babies as well as the intended adults. I used to tediously remove the babies, but I've found that if I just go ahead and leave the babies in the container and place it in with the snakes they eat the adults and ignore the babies. Not sure if they're too small for the garters to see or if they're just not interested in the small size, but a day or so later I remove the bowl with now only babies left and put them back in the fish tank. I'm thinking with enough plants/hiding spots the guppies may be able to sustain a population? Would be interesting to find out

[Mommy2many]

Tami,

I think we should try! Couldn't hurt and worse case is they get eaten. I'm gonna have to get my husband working on something like this

[jitami]

I'm gonna have to get my husband working on something like this

I think it would be awesome! Mine's super busy and I've slowly learned (it was a painful process!) that tho he has good intentions I should not hold my breath waiting for help with something like this He really does have good intentions, but often takes on too much. Household projects, let alone fun extra stuff like this, seem to move further and further down the list

Maybe in a year or two <gg>

[Mommy2many]

me too...