We got our first snake last year, an albino checkered, from a shop. I think we got lucky. I can't understand why there aren't more around, and I think there's a certain amount of snobbery in reptile circles in the UK - if it's not a boa, or the latest royal python morph it's a second class snake. I say bollocks to that, give me garters.
I think if there is going to be snake snobbery, then those of us with garters should be the snobs...they are obviously the superior snake over pythons and boas...I mean, seriously, is there any competition?