Hi from KS

[InsanePirateDragon]

Hi all, greetings from the Great Plains and the Land of Oz. I'm glad I found this place and I've been learning a lot.

I have expierence with reptiles, I keep Leos so I'm familiar with the needs of herps.

I recently acquired my first snake, a Common Garter who was a victim of a cat attack (not first attack by this demon spawn of a black cat of mine) and had doctored him up for the last couple of weeks and had been terrorized by the same cat until she lost interest about a week ago. And the poor guy has settled in finally and has taken to eating.

I did have two juvi Dekays as well that I was given, but the cat broke into the tank that they were kept and it ended horribly for the two of them.

And the garter, named Marley, is nice and settled in a 10 gal tank (was my quarentnee tank) with a couple of hides (a toliet paper and a rock hide) a couple of tiles on the other side for when I get the heating pad for the tank, but I have a low wattage bulb with him that only comes on for a couple hours and a water dish big enough for him to soak in, he's only about a foot long at the moment.

He's on aspen at the moment, which he likes to burrow in actually but under his rock hide is a paper towel and its where I feed him so that the aspen doesn't stick to the worms and reduces the risk of impaction (which I experienced once with a Leo who had a sand impaction from when I acquired her).

Any other tips would be helpful, particuarliy on diets as I have heard about feeding them fish/fish fillets but that pinkies are the best once they get big enough.

[infernalis]

[guidofatherof5]

Nice to have you on the forum. Garter snakes are awesome.
Here's a link to the forum care sheet. Sounds like you've got a good start caring for this snake.
I hope this snake in a very secure tank the cat can't get into again.
This cat may have lost interest for now but a tragedy could still happen.
Cats are notorious garter snake killers. Sorry to hear about the poor dekayis losing their lives.
I hope things turn out well for your new friend. We would love to see a few photos.
Garter Snake Care Sheet - Caresheets

[thamneil]

Welcome to the forum! You did a good deed by saving that snake. Im expecting pictures...

[chris-uk]

Welcome from another black cat and new garter owner. Useful forum this, you'll get lots of advice.

On food - there's a good thread running about which fish to feed, our little checkered garter likes salmon and pinkies.

[indigoman]

Welcome aboard, glad to read of your rescue.

[PINJOHN]

Welcome from a dark breezy Liverpool you seem to more than ready to start your garter career, i have a feeling it wont be long before you are answering instead of asking questions .
there are lots more cat loving owners on the site so i will keep my opinions on moggy's to my self.

[Mrs N1ntndo]

Welcome to the forums. I too am fairly new here but I have learned soooo much in a month and a half that I never knew. THis is a great forum for questions answered and great people. You will have fun here. Im hooked already I love it.

I hope to see some pics soon.See you around.

[Stefan-A]

Welcome aboard.

[katach]

Welcome to the forum family! Hope to see pictures soon!