Hi garter people!

[KittyKitsch]

Well I am interested in getting one maybe more... I pretty much know NOTHING about them so bear with me!

[chris-uk]

Having an interest is a good starting point. You'll start getting one, then you get drawn in and get another, and maybe a couple more... That's what happened to me and the wife anyway.

[guidofatherof5]

Well I am interested in getting one maybe more... I pretty much know NOTHING about them so bear with me!

Then the care sheet link I posted is a great place to start.

Here's a couple of big no no's.

No insects-garters can't digest the exoskeleton.
No goldfish- Goldfish and some other fish contain thiaminase, a substance that will kill garter snakes.

[EasternGirl]

Well, we are glad to have you here! So wonderful to see another person who can appreciate these wonderful, and as you very correctly stated, underrated snakes. They truly are a treasure to have, and it is so fun to learn all about them. It is okay if you don't know anything about them...that is why we are here. And as Chris said, you will soon learn it is very hard to have only one! Feel free to ask any questions and to browse our threads.

[KittyKitsch]

Aha! I figured goldfish would be bad due to the thiaminase(sp?)! I was thinking of getting some guppies for my community tank to have some fish, and my local fish shop sells feeder guppies and minnows... which I assume are okay?
I am going to read that care sheet right now. Thank you guys for being so welcoming!

[guidofatherof5]

No minnows as a rule.
Heavy parasite load and most(no all) minnows also contain thiaminase.

[KittyKitsch]

I just read that :/

[katach]

Welcome to the forum family! I'm Kat. Our thamily has 6 garters and another on the way next week. We have 2 Pugets (T. s. pickeringii) 4 Northwesterns (T. ordinoides) and the one on the way is a Checkered (T. marcianus), she is an albino. We are looking into getting even another 1 or 2 in the spring. You will find yourself saying "just one more" a lot! They are wonderful, sweet (most of the time), curious, and interactive. You will love having one..... or more!

[KittyKitsch]

Are the pugets blue and black? I LOVE those black with blue stripers, I love the look of the red sided too.

[katach]

Our Pugets are black with a neon yellow/green stripe. The blue variations only occur in a very small population of them. If you want to see ours, they have their own threads. Ours are unique in the fact they have almost no lateral striping.
http://www.thamnophis.com/forum/general-talk/8812-cotton-pics.html
http://www.thamnophis.com/forum/gene...less-pics.html