Caught a Garter snake last week

[ConcinusMan]

Avoid the rosy minnows. Those and goldfish are saturated with thiaminase (a bad thing). Once in a while probably wont hurt and other members often start stubborn feeding babies on them. Still, best to avoid them. Try guppies or mollies. I'm willing to bet your snake doesn't even need live fish at all. He'll probably take f/t and that would be better anyway.

http://www.ces.ncsu.edu/gaston/Pests...gsnakecare.pdf

[Mommy2many]

I only turn my heat lamps on in the winter and during the evenings when temps could drop to the 30's or 40's. Other than that, I use no lamps for heat. My temps average around the 70 degree end in the night time hours. I'd say that's pretty perfect for my snakes.

[Didymus20X6]

You just contradicted yourself

Nope. Two different scenarios. I keep my snakes in an non-air-conditioned room where they don't need any additional heat. If I kept them in the main part of the house, they would. It would only be a contradiction if I said the opposite things under the same conditions. You've got to start paying better attention to context.

[infernalis]

Nope. Two different scenarios. I keep my snakes in an non-air-conditioned room where they don't need any additional heat. If I kept them in the main part of the house, they would. It would only be a contradiction if I said the opposite things under the same conditions. You've got to start paying better attention to context.

I caught the error in a proof read after I posted, but still, my experiment proved with absolute certainty that a 100 watt bulb for a 10 gallon tank was too high.

BTW. the original poster never said anything about air conditioning in his first post..

so why not be gentlemen and we both put our weapons away and go back to enjoying the forum.

[Roger Wildcat]

Yesterday I found an artificial silk flower in the garage that was left behind by the previous house owner. It take up half the aquarium when I put the flower inside of it. Will this help the snake feel more secure about the surrounding?

I also got Aspen that I could use. The snake liked to hide underneath the Aspen with the head poking out. Right now, it like to hide in the hideaway. Should I put in a thin layer of Aspen to encourage to move around more?

I do handle the snake twice a day for a minute or two. Other then that, it stays inside the hideaway. It no longer try to flee when I put my hand in the enclosure, but will flee if I try to pick it up or if it felt that my hand is too close.

Whenever I pick it up, it will try to crawl off my hands for about 15-20 seconds before settling down. Then it will stay put in my hand and may even curl the tail around my hand.

Any other tips on how to tame the snake and help it settle down in the new enclousure? The snake also need a name, though I am not sure if it a boy or a girl.

What is F/T, is that Frog/Toads?

[Sonya610]

What is F/T, is that Frog/Toads?

F/T means frozen/thawed, as in frozen pinkies or other food items that were thawed out.

If he is always hiding in the little coconut then the plant and some aspen could help. If he feels he has more "cover" he will feel safer moving about.

[guidofatherof5]

If you post the right photo we can help you sex your snake.
Here's a link to a thread that will help.
http://www.thamnophis.com/forum/bree...xing-pics.html

[d_virginiana]

Sounds like you're doing a pretty good job of making it more tame already. Wrapping the tail around you is definitely a good sign, since it means he's not thinking about trying to get away from you when he does it.
He'll probably like the flower too; probably spend less time buried under the aspen if he has more shelter.

Keep us updated on him!

[Sonya610]

I do handle the snake twice a day for a minute or two. Other then that, it stays inside the hideaway. It no longer try to flee when I put my hand in the enclosure, but will flee if I try to pick it up or if it felt that my hand is too close.

Any other tips on how to tame the snake and help it settle down in the new enclousure? The snake also need a name, though I am not sure if it a boy or a girl.

Is he eating yet? I would be more concerned with getting him relaxed and eating than getting him used to be handled at this point. Maybe others will say handling is good, I don't know but if he starts eating then that can be used to tame him.

[infernalis]

Is he eating yet? I would be more concerned with getting him relaxed and eating than getting him used to be handled at this point. Maybe others will say handling is good, I don't know but if he starts eating then that can be used to tame him.

I concur.

Personally, I would let the snake be for a while to settle in.

Handling only increases the stress levels your new friend is experiencing.