Need advise from snake experts

[guidofatherof5]

Garden snake! Very common mistake. Nothing to get roughed-up over. As far as for the Radix. "Tough as nails" and calm down quickly. Eats like a pig and very hardy. I just don't think you can go wrong with one of these. Let me know what you want to do.

[guidofatherof5]

Garden snake! Very common mistake. Nothing to get roughed-up over. As far as for the Radix. "Tough as nails" and calm down quickly. Eats like a pig and very hardy. I just don't think you can go wrong with one of these. Let me know what you want to do. Here's a picture of a Radix

[adamanteus]

Thnk you all so much your so helpful here...LOL I got treated MUCH more rough on craigslist...and only bc I called them GARDEN snakes instead of GARTER! LOL

You won't be treated roughly here.... all are welcome, we must all begin to learn somewhere.

[jitami]

Awww, thank you for trying to save the little guy. Sorry the outcome wasn't better. He was probably already too injured or sick to help, but you tried your best and I think it's wonderful that you did. Lots of like minded, good hearted people here. You really can't go wrong with one of Steve's babies if you decide you'd like to keep a garter. That was a very nice offer Steve See what I mean about good hearted people?

[Sylverkitti]

So is Radix the breed name? I was looking here: South Dakota Snakes to see what snakes we have running wild around here, and found my snake was a Plains Garter Snake. There's another around here I guess, a Common Garter Snake...very pretty with all that red...but I have never seen one. And I also see a Smooth Green Snake...I really like the looks and sound of that one...wonder if their hardy?? So small...and easier to house..and feed. I was looking at what Garters like to eat on here...It seems I would need to feed a Garter Earthworms (NEVER red wigglers..and that petco lady was going to give me those but they were out) or pinky PARTS? Would I seriously need to tear apart a baby mouse? I don't know if I could do that...will they eat raw steak?? LOL

[drache]

plains garters are thamnophis radix
"common" garters are usually thamnophis sirtalis sirtalis
smooth green snakes - opheodrys (liochlorophis) vernalis eat insects and I don't think they're hardy, in fact - I just looked it up for you - they're considered difficult to keep
most radix will take unscented rodents and no, you don't need to tear them apart - it's pretty easy to chop them into strips when they're frozen - think of them as very small steak with the legs still attached - but easier to cut

[guidofatherof5]

Cutting up frozen pinkies is a breeze. Let them thaw and you're good to go. You might need to scent them with a cut-up worm at first but then they should take them without any trouble.
I wish you could have been here when I told my little Radixs someone might be adopting one of them. They cleaned there room and all took a bath. They want to be presentable

[Lori P]

Welcome, and sorry your experience was not a better one! But do stick around, we'll have your house full of garters in no time.... :-)

[Stefan-A]

"common" garters are usually thamnophis sirtalis sirtalis

Well, it is the common name for the whole species T. sirtalis.

[Sylverkitti]

Cool..I had a radix...LOL well I am concerned about housing as well...many things come into play with getting a garter or any other kind of snake...affordability..not just on food but housing...Its just me and my daughter and we have cats already...the only reason I thought the small green might be OK is I wouldn't have to upgrade tanks too much since they stay fairly small....and sounded cheap to feed. HMM.....well for now I have enough knowledge...if any more show up I can maybe keep them alive till it warms up...I'm sure if more show up...I'll be here asking if I'm doing it right....