Hey there from Ky!

[chris-uk]

Hey everyone. Thanks for the welcomes, really makes me feel well, welcomed =). Im looking at getting a chekered garter snake from bhbreptiles. Is this a good source for garters? I wish i knew the scientific name for it so i dont sound so ignorant =P.

Thamnophis marcianus

I do have a quick question about the smell. How bad or often do they actually smell. Ive heard it can be pretty bad. How often do your snakes musk? The problem is that since im still living at home i have to have the cage in my room and i have a pretty sensetive sense of smell so i dont want to get a pet only to be kicked out of my room by the smell, if that makes sense. Any help answering these qs would be great. Thanks in advance!!

I don't know who has told you that they smell bad. OK, so a musking isn't a pleasant smell, but they only do it if they are unhappy with how you handle them. My marcianus girls haven't musked me since they were a couple of months old, and when they are small the volume of musk is minimal. Also, the marcianus musk isn't the worst, Cuitzeo musk is much worse. The other thing to remember is that if you get musked it will generally be on your hands, so get some good soap. ;-)

[guidofatherof5]

Thamnophis marcianus.
Musk stinks like nothing else. Garters as a rule don't with the right substrate it shouldn't be a problem.

[ProXimuS]

I currently keep my snake in my room(Gulf Coast Ribbon Snake), and so far haven't had any issues with smell. I clean his cage about once a month, with occaisional spot cleanings when needed. Mine has also never musked me. So, it's kinda dependent on the snake and situation.

[-MARWOLAETH-]

BHB isn't a good source for the active and intelligent snakes such a garters because they don't give them any stimuli in their cage and keep them in a rack where they don't have a photo period.They keep them as if they are a nocturnal sedentary species like a corn snake.

[kueluck]

Welcome to the Tham-ily. I'm happy to see that you are going to learn about them, BEFORE getting one, and you've come to the perfect place for information & support. As for where to get one, I would only purchase a garter from a breeder on this site, just my personal opinion.

[guidofatherof5]

I currently keep my snake in my room(Gulf Coast Ribbon Snake), and so far haven't had any issues with smell. I clean his cage about once a month, with occaisional spot cleanings when needed. Mine has also never musked me. So, it's kinda dependent on the snake and situation.

Someday Emily, someday.

[Invisible Snake]

Hi and welcome to the forum!

[EasternGirl]

Welcome to our forum family! You are certainly in the right place. Don't feel ignorant about anything...we all started somewhere...ask any questions you like..we are here to help. Garters usually do not smell in general...like others have said...they only smell when they musk. Now, I have found an exception to this when keeping wild garters that are very frightened. Sometimes they will musk all over their enclosure when first taken into captivity and it can smell a bit. But like Steve said...the right substrate can help with that...and since you are looking to purchase a captive bred garter...it shouldn't be a problem. Some garters musk and some don't. I have some that musk pretty much every time I handle them and some that have never musked me. It smells...but you just wash your hands and that is that. I have twelve garters in my living room and my house smells fine. No bad smell emanating from the tanks.

[Didymus20X6]