Finally got one!

[GaiusIuliusTabernarius]

I was moving some logs on the side of my house and I happened across a thin brown garter trying to hide amongst the twigs and leaves. I instinctively grabbed him and brought him up to the habitat I'd prepared when I first started looking.

I left him alone with the lights on, I'm hoping he'll calm down enough for me to take some pictures of him later on. Since its raining, I'll probably go out later to find some worms for him to eat.

I should have some pictures to share soon, and if anyone has any advice on how to make a newly captive snake feel comfortable, I'd appreciate them.

[Kantar]

Interaction is the best way

[snakehill]

I would think you should leave him alone and let him adjust for now!

[GaiusIuliusTabernarius]

On further inspection its a bit bigger than I realized, might actually be female. Just over a foot long and 3/4th of an inch thick. I hope my old fish tank is big enough. It is still longer than the snake but I noticed it was pushing up against the glass... probably still trying to escape. I put a full spray bottle on top of the mesh to make sure it couldn't get out. I also filled the water dish. I'm hoping the little thing will calm down when it realizes I'm not going to eat it.

[snakehill]

Maybe you should cover the tank if freaks out to much!

[GaiusIuliusTabernarius]

I'll keep that in mind, really it only seems to react when it notices me. The room I have it in should suit a snake well. its quiet, warm, and not used much. There is artificial foliage in the tank so it should have space to hide. I also have one of those hollow rock things left over from when we had fish, (its been sterilized of course.) I'll post some pictures when my father gets home from the hospital, he has the only digital camera in the house and right now he's with my mom at an appointment.

[RedSidedSPR]

I wouldn't cover it. Let him get used to ya.

[GaiusIuliusTabernarius]

Ok I have pics, took some coaxing to get the little thing out. It was hiding under the bedding. I'm a bit concerned since its reaction was to musk so much that the whole cage started to smell of it. I'm hoping that will level off with time.









I don't suppose you can offer an opinion on its gender?

Also I'd like feedback on the enclosure I made.

[guidofatherof5]

Good looking big S.dekayi.(Brown snake)
Looks gravid unless that was a defensive puff-up.

[GaiusIuliusTabernarius]

I'm pretty sure it was a puff up, I had to coax it out into the open in order to get the pictures. It was hiding under the aspen bedding. Which makes sense since I found it hiding under a pile of logs on the side of my house. Its amazing I didn't accidentally crush it... I wasn't exactly being gentile with what I was doing. but then I'm sure the snake was avoiding what I was doing the entire time. That said it is possible that its female and gravid. I know "her" head is much smaller than her midsection even prior to the bluff, and "she" was very slow when uncovered. I'm guessing "she" was relying on "her" camouflage, brown snake, brown sticks... it probably works on the birds. It also fits in with my theory to explain why its been so hard to find these things. There are more birds than there used to be in my city, so if I am to find a snake its probably going to be somewhere with a lot of cover.