Sku's new roomie

[GarterNovice]

So this is probably a no brainer, but I need to go ahead and completely clean out Sku's viv now that I already had the Keelback in there for a couple of hours before I read your replies?

[ssssnakeluvr]

Why do pet stores say they are garters? I still haven't yet to see any garters, ribbons or keelback snakes.

cuz people that are smart and know their reptiles are too smart to work in pet stores.... I have seen snakes with all sorts of wrong names.....and garters are rarely seen in pet stores cuz they don't want to pay for decent captive bred specimens, just cheap wild caught ribbons by the hundreds.....(although there are a few good ones, got a fish specialty store here that has some herps, wants melanistic easterns when I get them, and another wants some of my cheaper normal garters.....I did get my albino checkered from him, rare find here!!!!)

[drache]

petshops just get deliveries from distributors who get them from importers
out of three I had, only one survived
he's a lovely snake

[GarterNovice]

I guess this just goes to show how much of a newbie at this I really am. I could've sworn he looked like a common garter. Of course I didn't realize he had the two brown stripes till I got him home. So I should keep them separate for two months or so? Will the parasites just work themselves out on their own or do I need to feed him a special supplement to do that?

[drache]

it depends on what he's got
without a fecal exam you won't know whether he has harmless stuff he'll just eliminate over time, or whether it's something that's gonna kill him over time
your vet can determine that much better and give the appropriate treatment
always better to be safe than sorry

[GarterNovice]

K. Thanks!

[GarterNovice]

That's a downer because that means we probably can't keep him. Pet store people really irritate me. I don't understand how it can be legal to sell a snake as a garter when it is not. The pet co we got Sku at still has the other ribbon that was in with him. Looks just like him except smaller. They have what looks like two of the snakes that we just got housed with the ribbon.

[drache]

That's a downer because that means we probably can't keep him. Pet store people really irritate me. I don't understand how it can be legal to sell a snake as a garter when it is not. The pet co we got Sku at still has the other ribbon that was in with him. Looks just like him except smaller. They have what looks like two of the snakes that we just got housed with the ribbon.

send him to Shannon - she wants one
she might even send you something nice in return

[GarterNovice]

Would you mind letting us know what Shannon's screen name is? It's a shame cause he is a very nice looking snake. I really like the patterns on his back and belly.

[GarterNovice]

I know where to get a couple more if anyone would be interested