Lazy-*** Garters

[kimbosaur]

I have had my two garters for about 8 months now and they seem to rarely ever come out of hiding. They have one hide that they like and they will just stay in it for the entire day. They aren't exactly "shy" either. I hand feed at pretty much every feeding and if I wiggle my finger by the glass, they will sometimes come out. They don't even switch between cool and warm sides.

I have tried everything: Raising temps, lowering temps, increasing light, decreasing light, different substrates, removing hides, adding hides, switching hides, changing the layout, feeding more, feeding less, fasting for a week. The only thing that kind of gets them exploring is when I change the layout of their tank. They will explore for a while, find a hide they like and not come out. At one point they were staying only on the warm side so I put their dome light directly over, not realizing temps reached 120 degrees and they still didn't budge.

Any suggestions?

Edit: Here's a pic of the current layout. It's a 20 gallon.


Their spot used to be at the top of the platform in a cardboard box. Since I've switched that hide for a coconut, they don't hang out there anymore. Instead, they're in that other box in the middle (it's mostly buried but you can see the flap). It reaches all the way to the back of the tank. I probably should also mention that if the boxes aren't in spots they like, they will switch to the cocount.

[Light of Dae]

Try getting one of those waterfall feature things in place of the water dish. The little water noise it will make SHOULD draw them out. Also try leaving a radio on quietly beside the tank all day, shut off at night. The Changing noise of radio songs to commercials sure keep mine guessing.

Stimulation draws them out. Like changing the layout. I find noise works great for... ALL of my reptilian pets, garter snakes, lizard, king snake, even my scorpion(Not a reptile I know) comes out when I turn on the radio.

Both my Garters come out when I'm pouring water in the dish, they LOVE the sound, I;m going to see if I can get a waterfall thingy next time one is on sale.

[Light of Dae]

Maybe try staving them a bit. lol When ever mine are hungry the cruise around looking for food, then they get 'rewarded' for being out n about. Just an Idea, it don't hurt them to miss a feeding or two. Then anytime you see them out, hand them a worm or something small, treat size!

[kimbosaur]

Hmm, radio huh? I'll have to try that. I have a stereo system in the room and when I listen to CD's they don't seem to notice at all. Maybe if I put it closer to the tank. I can try one of those cheap little submersible filters for a waterfall but I don't really like the idea of keeping one in all the time because I feel like there would be places for bacteria to build up.

As for the whole starving them thing, I've tried it already! They do seem more alert and will be more likely to come out when I wiggle my finger at them but other than that, not much difference.

[scott5017]

Glass tanks make most snakes nervous, try covering every side except the front, it will make a huge difference.

[guidofatherof5]

Do you hand/hemostat feed them? If not, you might consider it.
That way they will associate seeing you with food and will come a runnin'

[Didymus20X6]

My snakes are afraid of the hemostats. To them, they look like giant robot claws.

[guidofatherof5]

My snakes are afraid of the hemostats. To them, they look like giant robot claws.

I suppose they are afraid of lasers too. Probably think it's a disintegration beam.

[chris-uk]

I suppose they are afraid of lasers too. Probably think it's a disintegration beam.

Giving me ideas. I want to strap a frickin' laser beam to my snakes' heads and send them out to hold the world to ransom - for one million dollars.

Kimberly - you've already found that changing up the layout stimulates them for a while, I try to switch things round every week. Just little changes peak their interest. The radix in the livingroom comes out and prowls the front of her tank a couple of times a day, she's been more active since I taped some dark paper to the outside of her tank covering the bottom 10cm or so.
Unfortunately we also have some garters which are reclusive - the Blacknecks are worst, and the Cuitzeos are quite shy (but Lacrimosa will happily spend all day and night in the open on her platform.

[EasternGirl]

Kimberly...remind me what kind of garters you have again? One is an albino right? Your snakes sound exactly like my checkered albino...and I think I remember you have a checkered albino too. Hermes...my checkered albino...rarely comes out...he only seems to come out when I move things around in his tank...just like you said. He and Possum, my snow radix, were never coming out...and they prefer cardboard boxes to coconuts too! They will stay in those darn cardboard boxes and never come out. Interestingly...I kept making things more secure for them...putting in more plants and hides, burying the hides down in the substrate for them, and covering the tank with a towel...thinking that making things more secure for them would make them feel more safe and come out more. But that seemed to actually make them hide more. So, I took some of the plants out...brought the hides up out of the substrate and made things more open and less cluttered in the enclosure...and put a regular lamp with a normal light bulb in it next to their tank...so that they would get some light. Before that I was always using red bulbs and keeping it dark for them because they are albino. Interestingly, they are now coming out more. They seem to come out more now that there is more open space in the enclosure...and they like to come out in the evening when I put the light on near the tank. Possum has been out every evening exploring when the light is on...and Hermes actually comes out a little too. Also consider they may be coming out at night when you aren't around. Mine never come out during the day...but I am up during the night. If I walk out to look at them at any given time during the night...they are out and active.

Chris...that is a good idea with the paper at the bottom of the tank. I may try that!