Need very quick assistance...

[GRT]

it may already have stopped eating because it was getting prepared for brumation..... you can try and feed it but don't be too surpriesd if it doesn't show any reaction to the food.... just keep checking in and asking questions on here and we will all help you with brumation ect.... but so far it sounds like you're doing a great job for your snake.... o one more thing it may not be eating also because it is too cold... you can give it a lamp and warm him up soon... but if i was right about him not eating because he is going into a brumation state then it prob won't eat even with the extra warmth.

So it can be in brumation and active (defecating/urinating, moving about)? I thought they'd be sleeping (sorry for noob-ness). Thing I'm worried is how do I tell if it's just not eating, say due to brumation and is doing well or if it's not eating because of some other reason and not doing well.

Also for heat/light, what do you recommend and how warm should I go? The care sheet online I saw says 60-70 range with a bask spot of 70, is that correct? I would've honestly gotten it the equipment already, but I am afraid that if its not adjusting at all that the equipment will end up for nothing. Believe me, if it eats, I'd go out and buy it a good cage because then I'd know that it's doing well and has adjusted...

Then again, it appears that releasing it in the wild would mean certain death for it too...I want to do it good but don't want to buy up a nice cage with all the accessories if it wont make it in captivity. It's tough, I want to do what's best for it but at the same time I'm limited in what I can do.

[Zephyr]

No sorry.

It has a very light pattern, kinda checkered but really light. No stripe like I see on some other garter snake pictures. I tried to measure it and its about 10 inches. Don't know how else to describe it, sorry for the lack of pictures, but I am pretty sure its a garter from what I've seen on how garters look in pet stores and on the web.

If you don't mind me asking, what state are you in?

[GRT]

If you don't mind me asking, what state are you in?

New York State.

[jitami]

GRT, what area are you from? Maybe we can narrow it down and point you toward pictures of what kind of garter we think it may be and you can just confirm by looking at the pics? At 10 inches it's likely a baby born this year. If you can pick up a cheap thermometer and get the temps up to around 80 it'll be easier for him to digest his food and he'll be more likely to eat for you. Just be careful because a smaller terrarium like that can easily get too hot. It's perfectly fine for now, but keep your eyes on craigslist, yard sales, and the like. I've gotten a few tanks for free or practically free lately You're off to a great start. I'm sure he'll come around for you

[Snake lover 3-25]

what color is the snake??? very dark? brown black? tan?

[GRT]

what color is the snake??? very dark? brown black? tan?

None of the above actually, its a really light color...more like light gray.

[Snake lover 3-25]

interesting....... how light?

[Zephyr]

None of the above actually, its a really light color...more like light gray.

Hmm... You may actually have a dekay's snake.

Like that?

[Snake lover 3-25]

lol beat me to it!!! i was just going to do the EXACT same thing lol o well...

[Zephyr]

lol beat me to it!!! i was just going to do the EXACT same thing lol o well...

EPIC.
FAIL.
lol