Finally got a better pic....

[guidofatherof5]

Most garters as a rule bite as a last resort. Holding them by the neck would probably put them on guard and that could lead to a bite. Picking them up under the body and allowing them to move through your hand is the most accepted way to hold them. You maintain control but allow them to move. They usually calm down rather quickly when held this way.
They have to learn to trust you. and you have to learn to trust them.

[EasternGirl]

Okay..I tried it...she is just terrified at this point....she just gets out of my hand as quickly as she can and slithers away....really fast! Then she hides... Should I just leave her alone for a while? I don't want to push her and scare her...but I want her to get used to me. She didn't try to bite me....you guys were right about that. thanks for the help with this!

[Selkielass]

I found my snakes didn't like porcelain, glass or smooth plastic dishes. They will bathe if given one of the rough, rock like plastic dishes they sell in the pet stores, but not if the pool is smooth.
*shrugs*
Go figure.

[EasternGirl]

Yeah...she has one of the rock dishes...I saw her slither through it a couple of times and drink from it once, but she doesn't sit in it. I think that right now she is just scared to be out where people can see her. I cover her cage with a towel when I feed her...that way she feels safe to come out and eat her worms..then she goes back to hiding. She does come out...but most of the time if she sees me...she goes for cover....sometimes she stays out and stares at me, though. Lol...

[kibakiba]

I'd give her a few days to adjust to living there, only go in the enclosure if you need to feed her or change the water. That's what I did when I got Mama, who didn't like me at all. After 3-4 days she was pretty tame, she wasn't biting at me like she did before and she'd let me hold her a little bit.

[EasternGirl]

One more question...

I tried the heated seedling mat that someone suggested to heat the bottom of Selena's enclosure. It seemed to get too warm...warmer than the human heat pad I was using. I am waiting for the pet store to get a 25 watt night bulb... Should she be warm enough with only her basking bulb for now? It stays about 68-70 degrees in my house...maybe 65 at night. I am afraid to use heat on the bottom until I get a glass tank. Also, the guy at the pet store said she probably only needs a lamp...not underneath heat. I am going to buy her a ten gallon glass tank on Friday...should I increase the wattage on the basking and night bulbs from 25? Okay...that was more than one question...lol. Thanks for helping!!!

[kibakiba]

That temperature seems fine. My room is usually 65-75, no less than 60 at night. I think how you have it is perfectly fine.

[ConcinusMan]

One more question...

I tried the heated seedling mat that someone suggested to heat the bottom of Selena's enclosure. It seemed to get too warm...warmer than the human heat pad I was using.

Sorry, but I don't believe that. If that is the case then take it back - it's defective. They are designed to raise the temperature of the root area, or in this case, the substrate, by only 10-15 degrees. That is definitely not too hot. Reptile heat mats get way hotter. I use my seedling mat with about an inch of substrate. It warms the substrate to about 90 degrees but only if used in conjunction with a heat lamp. It only gets to about 82 by itself.