questions regarding thamnophis marciauns snake care

[Tora]

So, most of the care sheets I've found for Thamnophis m. are general care sheets for all garter snakes. I was wondering if there are anything specifically different or if I can follow these care sheets. Thank you!

[d_virginiana]

What kind of garter do you have? The general care for most garter species is pretty much the same. About the only big difference is that Wandering Garters cannot be housed together (they are the only species that really cannibalizes).

[Tora]

I'm planning on getting an Albino Checkered Garter in august because my best friend's two female checkered garters ended up being a male and female and now he has a litter of babies. I know what to feed and I have a 10 gallon and 20 gallon tank. Just wondering if they need the uvb lights like the other species of garters because I was reading that checkereds are nocturnal unlike most garters. is this true? if not, I have an extra few uvb bulbs since I have a couple different tropical species of lizards.

[guidofatherof5]

Thamnophis marcianus - Checkered garter shouldn't require anything different from the care sheet.

[d_virginiana]

As far as I'm aware, no snake species actually needs UVB light? Someone correct me if I'm wrong (the second I say 'no snake' I'm sure there's going to be one species that's different or something).
I would be cautious about using UVB light on an albino anyway. I feel like it could potentially mess with their eyes.

[Tora]

Okay, thank you ^-^ I have pretty much everything for the set up, just need to get some aspen with it gets closer to august since I use it for my rabbit, pet mice(old retired show mice from a close friend of mine x3), and hamster as well so any aspen in the house is fair game xD

[snakegirl909]

Yes, no snake needs uvb, diurnal or not. I would recommend not using aspen, and using either repti bark, or simply paper towels/newspaper. Aspen tends to stick to food easier, making it more likely to get ingested.
Good luck with your future baby. Warning: garter snakes are addicting!

[Tora]

haha, thank you very much ^-^ and I know just how addicting animals in general are xD I got my first lizard almost a year ago and now I have 3 species of anole and a crested gecko and I'm looking into getting a few long tailed lizards for my collection too ^-^ I'd probably have more if I had more room in my house xD

[d_virginiana]

See the great thing about garters is that you can house them together. There went your last excuse not to have more snakes.

[Tora]

haha, yep xD I wanna get a few more species of geckos, hopefully some fruit eating geckos so that I can feed them CGD and not spend more on crix and mealworms than I have too xD I just have no room to put a huge tanks of garters in my house xD especially since the fam is really skittish around herps xD the only one they like is Pasquale because he is one of the calmest crested gecko juvis you'll find ^-^