Newbie here!

[Mix]

Hi all! I'm Mix, I've been a 'lurker' here for a while, but I thought it only fair to show my face.

I'm new to keeping snakes for myself, but have experience handling family's snakes, and have 'babysat' my best friend's corn (who was no trouble).

I have wanted a garter for as long as I can remember, and we are on the search now, but am having real trouble finding garters! I have been told that they are not very popular and are 'hard to sell'??
Then I have been offered corns galore, as they are 'easier'...
Is there something sinister about garters I'm unaware of?
Has anyone else in the UK had this problem?

I can locate only 1 garter which is not grown already, an albino checkered born this year, but I have no experience of albinos - do they have any care or health issues that differ from others?

Thank you for reading!

Mix

[Stefan-A]

Welcome aboard, Mix.

[infernalis]

[infernalis]

I can locate only 1 garter which is not grown already, an albino checkered born this year, but I have no experience of albinos - do they have any care or health issues that differ from others?

Thank you for reading!

Mix

They are the same exact care as any other garter snake, they have the same diet and husbandry requirements as a non albino.

You may feed it cut up trout, minced pinkie mice or diced up earthworms.

Feeder guppies are an all time favourite and most checkered garters go crazy over those little flopping fish.

There will surely be a whole lot more great advice from this wonderful lot here, Many really nice people who are more than happy to help you along with your new snake.

[Hollis_Steed]

Welcome Mix from Utah USA!
I have a T.radix Nebraska Albino and she is no trouble at all! Might be a good start for you

[Stefan-A]

They are the same exact care as any other garter snake, they have the same diet and husbandry requirements as a non albino.

Except that UV bulbs are a no-no, as with most albino animals.

[Mix]

Thank you everyone for the warm welcome!

I have to admit that I am already considering the possibility of getting the albino AND another... My ultimate wish would be a melanistic.

I have sent a message to Alan Francis, asking if he knows of any breeders near to me, and also ONE store has said that they will check their list of breeders to see if they can find one for me. Fingers crossed! I just can't believe that they are 'unpopular' here.

[Charis]

Hello & welcome from Idaho, USA!

[infernalis]

Except that UV bulbs are a no-no, as with most albino animals.

Who uses UV for Thamnophis?? Unless you are referring to an unscrupulous pet shop trying to get deeper into this nice lady's pocket

[Mix]

No one has suggested UV. So far.

To be honest, I listen to pet store staff (because some of them know what they're talking about), but I put a lot more stock in the advice of people like your good selves, who have years of experience and also actually read up on news relating to their pets.
A perfect example is hearing that some pet stores advising the use of goldfish as a feeder food. Even as a newbie, I learned about that after even an hour or two's research.