moving day!!!!

[HazAnga]

ok! Everyone is moved in and I've taken some pix so here's the pix

here's Major hiding in his hide

here's Helga chilling

Here she is again enjoying her new setup

[ConcinusMan]

Please don't persecute me but... terrible for many reasons IMHO.

[HazAnga]

? "imho"?

[ConcinusMan]

"In My Humble Opinion" or Honest opinion. What is that substrate you're using? Looks wet. Planted viv's, at least the way you've done there, are terrible idea for snakes. So is only one choice of hide. The conditions needed to keep the plants alive are not good for the garters and visa/versa. One or the other will likely get ill and/or die.

You could do a lot better for the snakes AND have a natural looking "planted" home for them that looks better and is much easier to keep clean and dry is all that I'm saying.

That doesn't look good for the snakes at all. As I was saying in another thread about aphids...

Aphids won't harm garters directly. More concern is to be had about the conditions that would allow aphids to thrive in the vivarium in the first place.

[HazAnga]

Ok. Well I've only just set it up. From for now I'm letting it dry out I agree it seems too wet. But it should be dryer tomorrow, I'm wanting to add some fir chips which will help some and add some texture to it.

[ConcinusMan]

You never answered as to what the substrate is. cyprus mulch is terrible, so is potting soil. If you're talking about gardening fir chips, the kind for landscaping, don't do that either. Honestly, your snakes are way better off on plain old dry newspaper than they are making them spend a day on that wet stuff or any of the others I just mentioned.

The current setup is a recipe for disaster and invites skin infections, scale rot, and respiratory infection.

[HazAnga]

I've gone by what the book "The Art of Keeping Snakes" and I believe fir chips like for orchids. What I have there is just plain Jane soil, not pitting soil, then some peat moss mixed in. All something the book mentions, with lava rock at the bottom.

[ConcinusMan]

Does anyone else here agree with me in the slightest? will you please tell this guy? He's watering his substrate because there's live plants directly in it. Furthermore, he plans to add worms to the substrate. Potting soil is a terrible substrate but "plain old dirt" is even worse! I explained very nicely in a PM but I'm not getting through to him. This is very bad for the snakes.

If you want to use fir bark, use the kind for reptiles. That's fine. And keep it dry for cryin' out loud. The kind for gardening is NOT recommended for reptiles.


I've already dealt with 3 know-it-all teenagers that wouldn't listen to me this year. All of their snakes died or got critically ill. If I have to say "I told you so" one more time this year, I'm going to be sick.

[ssssnakeluvr]

I agree.... if you want plants in the cage, put them in a pot. dry substrate is fine, I use aspen lately. putting worms in the soil isnt a good idea...if the snakes don't eat them, the warmth of the cage (to keep the garters warm) will dry the soil and kill the worms fast. they need cool temps to stay alive (thats why walmart and bait stores keep them in fridges). a good sized water dish that the snake can soak in should provide enough humidity for the snakes. too much can cause serious skin infections and even death.

I am not sure about this book, the art of keeping snakes. I need to look it up and read it.....but, you need to remember every different species of snake requires different conditions.....what works for one snake may kill another.... many are specialized and need specific diets and conditions.

[guidofatherof5]

Too much humidity should be avoided. In nature they well try to keep dry when they can.
I agree that a different substrate should be used.

I don't know the book but I doubt if they had garter snakes in mind when they wrote it.

Is this the book?
Amazon.com: The Art of Keeping Snakes (Advanced Vivarium Systems) (9781882770632): Philippe de Vosjoli: Books