Beginner Snakes

[osubeaver22]

As some of you have or may know, last year I had a snake for 6 months, and I really feel in love with garters. I let it go since it was wild caught in early spring. So I am thinking of getting a garter snake, as this is the reason I joined this site. lol.
I think I might get a Red-Sided from Scott Felzer [is he a reliable source?]
So..also, what are some good beginning garters, or what are your personal favs?

[Stefan-A]

Scott Felzer definitely has a good reputation, although I don't have any personal experiences to share. But he definitely seems to be one of the more well-known reliable sources.

Beginning garters.. Well, my personal recommendation would be wandering garters (Thamnophis elegans vagrans). The ones I have are very easy to handle and feed and they don't seem to respond to perceived threats the same way as my two T. sirtalis. When they get scared, they flee, but wandering garters seem to just curl up flat against the ground and try to stay unnoticed. Makes them much easier to deal with, when you don't have to worry about them going ballistic the second you look at them funny.

Having said that, I did myself start with a very calm red-sided garter, which is still my all-time favourite.

[Zephyr]

Easterns!
I've never had a more tame snake than my eastern Fatty. :P
She eats anywhere I take her, I even pack her a lunch when we go places. XD
Also, they grow decently large and are very calm. :P

[osubeaver22]

stefan, what size terrarium do you keep your red-sided. I want to get one [as of now] as a baby, but for when it evolves to an adult, would a 25-30 gallon terrarium be enough?

[Stefan-A]

stefan, what size terrarium do you keep your red-sided. I want to get one [as of now] as a baby, but for when it evolves to an adult, would a 25-30 gallon terrarium be enough?

Can't picture the gallon sizes yet, but I have my 37" female in a 300 litre terrarium. It should be big enough for another one or two females.

It's not the same red-sided garter snake I started with, by the way.

[count dewclaw]

300 litres is a little over 79 gal. 30 gal. is about 113 litres. If that helps any.

[adamanteus]

I know I'm like a broken record but I would recommend radix. They're good feeders, quite robust, even tempered and readily available.

I'm no good with the whole gallons/litres thing.... I just go off dimensions. My Garters are in vivs 48 inches long, 24 inches high, 18 inches deep.

[Stefan-A]

I just go off dimensions. My Garters are in vivs 48 inches long, 24 inches high, 18 inches deep.

What's that in decimeters?

[adamanteus]

About this big......

[Stefan-A]

About this big......

~340 litres.