I found an Albino Garden Snake

[EasternGirl]

Okay...this is very important info to know then..glad I asked. So does that mean that I should not be using basking bulbs, light bulbs of any kind with the new snake? What kind of day and night heat lamps should I use for him?

[kibakiba]

I didn't mean everything is exactly the same, but basic care is the same, they eat the same food, setups can be the same, humidity shouldn't be a problem. My NWs and concinnus get along fine with care being the same.

[d_virginiana]

I've always wondered... With albino snakes, does the bright light bother their eyes or their skin? Or both? I know albino frogs can get 'burned' by UV lamps, but idk about snakes since their skin is so much thicker than amphibians'.

[chris-uk]

Our albino checkered doesn't seem too bothered by normal room lighting (she comes out at any time, even on the rare occasions we have bright sunlight shining down the hall) , but she's in a viv with a heatmat rather than a lamp. I'm pretty sure she wouldn't like being in the T. cuitzeoensis viv where they have a 50W daylight lamp on during the day as well as their heatmat. For albinos I think heatmat is definitely the way to go, it just completely removes the UV and bright light issue.

Just a note on about the OP. I think if she has come back to the forum recently she may well have been scared off by some of the recent posts in this thread, especially if she stopped back to report that it's died or released. I'd read some of them as being quite critical, and give the impression that there's a bunch of people that would want to take her son's snake away, assuming its probably dead because someone inexperienced found it... I know that's not the case, everyone would be just as happy to give her the advice she needs to look after it.

[PINJOHN]

I've always wondered... With albino snakes, does the bright light bother their eyes or their skin? Or both? I know albino frogs can get 'burned' by UV lamps, but idk about snakes since their skin is so much thicker than amphibians'.

an albino garter named Jock
thought protecting his skin was a crock
but being so vain
was to bring him much pain
going out, and not using,sunblock

[infernalis]

Just a note on about the OP. I think if she has come back to the forum recently she may well have been scared off by some of the recent posts in this thread, especially if she stopped back to report that it's died or released. I'd read some of them as being quite critical, and give the impression that there's a bunch of people that would want to take her son's snake away, assuming its probably dead because someone inexperienced found it... I know that's not the case, everyone would be just as happy to give her the advice she needs to look after it.

I saw that too. and I am just a little dissapointed in the entire situation.

[Chondro788]

Our albino checkered doesn't seem too bothered by normal room lighting (she comes out at any time, even on the rare occasions we have bright sunlight shining down the hall) , but she's in a viv with a heatmat rather than a lamp. I'm pretty sure she wouldn't like being in the T. cuitzeoensis viv where they have a 50W daylight lamp on during the day as well as their heatmat. For albinos I think heatmat is definitely the way to go, it just completely removes the UV and bright light issue.

Just a note on about the OP. I think if she has come back to the forum recently she may well have been scared off by some of the recent posts in this thread, especially if she stopped back to report that it's died or released. I'd read some of them as being quite critical, and give the impression that there's a bunch of people that would want to take her son's snake away, assuming its probably dead because someone inexperienced found it... I know that's not the case, everyone would be just as happy to give her the advice she needs to look after it.

I was in no way "trying to take her son's snake away", lol! If an albino is found, it is best that it ends up in the hands of someone who can care for it properly, and hopefully breed it out to make more albinos available for the hobby. Its not about money, its not about credit, its about having more beautiful animals in our hobby, and to attract more people to our hobby who love the unusual colors that abberant animals like this one offer. If this person is so concerned about having a snake for their son, maybe they should start with a snake a little less demanding than a W/C NWern.

[infernalis]

I was in no way "trying to take her son's snake away", lol! If an albino is found, it is best that it ends up in the hands of someone who can care for it properly, and hopefully breed it out to make more albinos available for the hobby. Its not about money, its not about credit, its about having more beautiful animals in our hobby, and to attract more people to our hobby who love the unusual colors that abberant animals like this one offer. If this person is so concerned about having a snake for their son, maybe they should start with a snake a little less demanding than a W/C NWern.

I understand what you are saying, but I also understand that when a brand new poster shows up on the boards looking for help, folks need to tread lightly at first.

Nothing drives away a new member faster than criticism and lusting after their new find.

What makes Thamnophis so different in the hobby of keeping snakes is that virtually all new members (from the North American Continent anyways) have found a snake on the ground and are seeking information on how to care for it.

It's a lot different than when someone makes the (uninformed/spur of the moment) decision to buy an unsuitable animal at pet shop or reptile show, those people deserve criticism.

My first recommendation to anyone who simply finds a healthy garter snake going on about it's daily life is to just leave it alone and let it be on it's way.

[chris-uk]

I was in no way "trying to take her son's snake away", lol! If an albino is found, it is best that it ends up in the hands of someone who can care for it properly, and hopefully breed it out to make more albinos available for the hobby. Its not about money, its not about credit, its about having more beautiful animals in our hobby, and to attract more people to our hobby who love the unusual colors that abberant animals like this one offer. If this person is so concerned about having a snake for their son, maybe they should start with a snake a little less demanding than a W/C NWern.

I agree with all the principles of what you've said there, and that this particular snake had genetic value to the hobby way beyond the knowledge of someone with limitted or no knowledge.
It wasn't just one comment that I was referring to, but a build up over a number of posts from several different people and an urgency in some of the posts to find out more and contact the OP, that gave me the impression that if I was the original poster I'd be reading and thinking "What's this hornets nest I just stepped into.". I think if anyone puts themselves in the shoes of someone who stopped by the forum for some casual advice, and reads back through the thread, they'd be able to see why the OP may have stopped by again and decided not to post again. I just wanted to make the observation.

[infernalis]

I agree with all the principles of what you've said there, and that this particular snake had genetic value to the hobby way beyond the knowledge of someone with limitted or no knowledge.
It wasn't just one comment that I was referring to, but a build up over a number of posts from several different people and an urgency in some of the posts to find out more and contact the OP, that gave me the impression that if I was the original poster I'd be reading and thinking "What's this hornets nest I just stepped into.". I think if anyone puts themselves in the shoes of someone who stopped by the forum for some casual advice, and reads back through the thread, they'd be able to see why the OP may have stopped by again and decided not to post again. I just wanted to make the observation.

Very well said.