Hello! A couple questions

[bkhuff1s]

My experience (being the two pugets I own) are very social. Never struck at me despite being wild caught.

[ConcinusMan]

I wasn't sure how to take "social", I mean, does that mean social with people, or social with each other?

I've had wild snakes in captivity less than a week. They wouldn't strike you as wild caught either. Means nothing.

[Snakeknot]

A great place to buy snakes is to find a local reptile show. You will buy from breeders so you will get snakes cheaper than any pet store. And when it comes to garters, a lot of pet stores will tell you to feed them crickets! A big no-no! Reptile shows are addictive! If you need to talk to someone about snake keeping, there's a lot of good info there. ( If you ever get fed up with the internet and want your info NOW! )

FIND A GOOD HERP VET! I love mine and he has been a wealth of knowledge.

I'm a new mom to a baby, wild caught, garter. So far I can only get her to eat salamanders. ( I AM trying to switch her to better food. ) But she LOVES her silly-manders! Babies are very fast! Try to get something older and well acclimated to people. I have her in little tank in the bathroom window and she tends to wander the tank whenever someone takes a shower and steams up the place. So far she has yet to bite me but she has musked me several times! Please get a domestic bred.

I have several snakes. I started with sand boas. They're very slow, fat and colorful and they don't get that big. Sand boas are also a great starter snake. ( Yes, they eat mice but your mom really needs to see them. They just look different.) Then I have a couple corns. They're very pretty and gregarious with people. But garters are different. LOTS of personality!

Welcome to the list! Enjoy your studying!

Devon

[Charis]

As long as your night time temps drop down as much as you say they usually do, the garter should be fine. Might make sure he has a nice big bowl of water to climb into to help cool off. It probably also depends a bit on the species of garter you end up with. Some are more used to really cold conditions & some to more temperate climes & would do better at those temps. Occasionally my room got up to 85 last summer & the garters did okay. But I really don't like to be that hot, so usually turned the AC on & kept it at 80 instead.

[Tyrel26]

Quote "I have her in little tank in the bathroom window and she tends to wander the tank whenever someone takes a shower and steams up the place"

I was wondering if this is a good place for a garter? I honestly dont know but i would be concerned about overheating due to the sun and too much moisture from the steam, also if she is still musking maybe she should be in an area with less traffic for now.

Like i said im not sure and im not trying to pick on you but you seem to care very much for your snake and im sure some of the guys here could tell you more.

[Stefan-A]

Quote "I have her in little tank in the bathroom window and she tends to wander the tank whenever someone takes a shower and steams up the place"

I was wondering if this is a good place for a garter? I honestly dont know but i would be concerned about overheating due to the sun and too much moisture from the steam, also if she is still musking maybe she should be in an area with less traffic for now.

I agree.

[infernalis]

I have her in little tank in the bathroom window and she tends to wander the tank whenever someone takes a shower and steams up the place. So far she has yet to bite me but she has musked me several times! Please get a domestic bred.

Devon

Sorry, but that is the last place I would dream of keeping any snake....

[Snakeknot]

First of all, since she is a wild caught, that is the only "snake free" room in the house to keep her separate in. Secondly, we live in the woods and the window gets very little direct sunlight. Our house also dates back to the 1870's so its on the cold side most of the time. The upstairs bathroom is actually one of the few large rooms in the house. I'd rather keep her in the bathroom than the attic which, with slate roofing, cooks or freezes most of the time or the basement which is cold and VERY DAMP most of the year long unless the wood stove is cranked and then it is too hot and very dusty. Either of these rooms has a temps much too difficult to regulate. And I use aspen as bedding, fluffy enough for her to burrow in. I'd like to use something else but that's what is easily available here for bedding.

Devon

[drache]

I have a tank in a window also
it only gets early morning sun filtering through a tree - modifiers

we get rather high temps in the summer and I move some of my less heat tolerant animals to the basement
in terms of garters, I'd go with a southern ranging species, such as T. marcianus (checkered garter)

[Dragonfiremule]

Thanks for all the replies everyone. It makes me feel welcome.

The only questions left is the one involving slugs; otherwise you guys answered the rest. Thanks! =D