Ruth's obscurus UK

[Ruth]

As a few of you have started threads on your wonderful Garters I thought I too would start one. I have only had her a few months and am very much learning. Thanks to you lot I now know she's an obscurus so I thought if I put up pictures of her growing you might tell me if you think I'm doing something wrong or give me ideas of how I could do things better.

Please do share with me anything you wish you had known when you started as I know not everything is wrote down in books and articles.DSCN5949.jpgDSCN5953.jpgShe often stinks on me
I saw someone on here tor up pieces of card for bedding which I thought was a great ideaDSCN5960.jpg

[-MARWOLAETH-]

Nice Chapala! you can get some cardboard bedding that's non printed so no risk of poisoning.

Repti-Card Maxibale

Hope it helps!

[Ruth]

Nice Chapala! you can get some cardboard bedding that's non printed so no risk of poisoning.

Repti-Card Maxibale

Hope it helps!

Thank you it is card from food packaging so no carcinogenics and obviously food safe grade but it did go through my mind It's scary when you think of the amount of nasty's around us.

[guidofatherof5]

Good looking snake and nice thread.

[chris-uk]

Always nice to see enthusiastic keepers on this side of the pond and channel. You seem to have the right ideas, and as you've been working through the information on Steven Bol's website that's a very good foundation.

The muskings will stop when you gain her trust, although that can take some time you will get there eventually.

[Ruth]

Always nice to see enthusiastic keepers on this side of the pond and channel. You seem to have the right ideas, and as you've been working through the information on Steven Bol's website that's a very good foundation.

The muskings will stop when you gain her trust, although that can take some time you will get there eventually.

Thank you. Sadly there doesn't seem to be that many keepers which I find odd. Why are corn snakes so incredibly popular but not garters ? Is it just that it's harder to rear baby garters compared to corns. It's making it a harder task to find other garters and when I see all these posts from people seeing them in the wild I'm rather jealous. I've only ever seen two snakes in the wild, one was a slow worm and another I'm not sure what it was but it was large 3 1/2 ft and swimming in the river.

[-MARWOLAETH-]

I think its because you can't bung Garters in a box and throw a mouse at them once a week like you could with Royals ect. They need large vivs with bright lights to thrive so are of no interest to big breeders.But its not all bad as people like us who don't see snakes as moving £-signs benefit from the cheap prices

[Ruth]

You may be right.

I showed my mum my girl today and she was in her box having a swim , she was surprised with her colouring and her take is that they just don't grow big like the boa's and pythons so people don't see them as impressive. Owning a bulmastiff I certainly have witnessed that mentality that bigger is better Sadly the type of people that think that way with the big dogs can never control them and I imagine it's the same for the snakes and they end up neglected and needing new homes, just as the dogs do.

[thamneil]

They look good! Nice to see another thread about somebody's snakes. I'm sure your collection will slowly begin to expand. Look forward to updates!

[chris-uk]

Be patient and you'll start to find other garters. We are a tiny minority amongst reptile keepers, but when you've put in the time and effort to acquire a snake you're more likely to treat it as it deserves - I'd wager that of the neglected snakes in the UK there's a significant difference between garters and corns/royals.

How often do you read online about some nobber looking for the biggest snake available, then you see them post photos of themselves wearing a gym vest to show their physique as much as the big snake they are holding. So many snakes are owned by the sort of person that wants to boast about the size or danger of their animal rather than being genuinely interested in keeping them well. RFUK is rife with examples.