5 gal. tank?

[infernalis]

what do you want Richard?? More pictures? a diagram? a complete history of all the people who raise baby snakes in shoe box size poly totes??

use a modest wattage bulb, 30-40 watts will gently warm one end.

Flexiwatt - A very well known heat tape product could also be placed underneath one end to provide a nice little hot spot.

Garter snakes are not rocket science, they thrive outside in conditions far inferior to the inside of that cage.

[RedSidedSPR]

I agree, Richard, that it would be hard to heat it, that was a concern of mine, but according to Wayne, it's not as hard as we thought. So if I can manage to heat it, I'll probably do it. If I need to get a bigger tank, I'll buy it. Anything I put in this will probably be temporary.

I am not trying to be cheap at an animals expense. I just wanted to know if I could have a use for that free terrarium.

[infernalis]

nevermind.......

[ConcinusMan]

what do you want Richard?? More pictures? a diagram? a complete history of all the people who raise baby snakes in shoe box size poly totes??

Just had to go and mention another thing I would never do, didn't you?

There is successfully raising and keeping them alive and healthy, and then there is quality of life / comfort. The latter doesn't necessarily go along with the former.

[Millinex]

I've raised young garters up to a reasonable size in nothing larger than a 1$ rubbermaid from walmart... Snakes are extremely low maintenance and don't require much in all honesty. Anyone who feels you can't keep a baby/multiple babies in a 5 gallon is sadly mistaken and doesn't know much about husbandry.

-Mike

[infernalis]

I've raised young garters up to a reasonable size in nothing larger than a 1$ rubbermaid from walmart... Snakes are extremely low maintenance and don't require much in all honesty. Anyone who feels you can't keep a baby/multiple babies in a 5 gallon is sadly mistaken and doesn't know much about husbandry.

-Mike

I like you already..

[kibakiba]

I keep my 5 babies in a one gallon tank. I would prefer having them in something larger, but there is no money to be spent for another couple months. Since they are around 3-5 inches, there is a lot of room for them all still. I won't be keeping them all, so there is still a ton of room left for the two I will be keeping. My (almost) one year olds haven't even hit 9 inches and would fit in it, and still be able to stretch out fine. They don't need a huge area, to live. For other species of garters, they should probably have a larger space, since they aren't born being 1-3 inches long.

[infernalis]

I have a few little 2.5 gallon plastic fish tanks that I keep babies in, never had an issue.

They turn up in rummage sales often for a couple bucks.

[justme]

I would rather have less animals and provide each with an adequately sized enclosure than the other way around.... As a reptile hobbyist, it's easy to attain anything we want just for the sake of it.., just because we can.... There's so much eye candy. But this sort of attitude doesn't sit right by me.

I do feel baby garters can be kept in 5 gallons but I prefer to move mine into a twenty gallon by the time they are one years old. Garters are active creature, they love to climb and explore. And when I have an animal that utilizes space, than "space" I give. I feel happy seeing them at their best. ;-)

I know many people do not share my views as this is a debatable subject.

Good luck.

Karen

[kibakiba]

My garters got nervous when added to a 20 gallon, from a 15 gallon. Mama and Snakey have always been super comfortable in their 15 gallon, They don't fuss when I try picking them up, but when I have added them to a 20 gallon, I couldn't even get near the tank without spazzing.
I do believe in giving my snakes a lot of space, but only when they are comfortable with it. I have Snap in the 20 gallon now and she's perfectly happy in it. I have 4 others in my other 20 and they all seem happy.
I believe if they're uncomfortable in a larger tank, respect it and leave them in something smaller.