best garter for a beginner

[Tora]

which garter do you think is the best for a beginner with snakes? I have owned a multitude of reptiles so I understand their basic needs, but I'm unsure of what to get. my best friend's garter who was gravid, just passed away before delivering and the scrubs were all underdeveloped, she was an albino checkered garter.

I'm looking at about a $150 budget in August to get one (and a decent set up as well) so it doesn't exactly have to be ultra fancy, but I kinda have my heart set on an albino garter (love red eyes!)

Do you think any breeders that will be going to the NRBE in August will have any garters? If I can't find a breeder near me, I don't like shipping because I like buying the animal when it's in front of me so I can check for anything that could be wrong with it, I'll end up going to petco, the one closest to me is actually the best petco I've been to, the animals are all taken care of unlike most of the others I've been in.

so back to the topic at hand, which garter do you suggest for a beginner?

[Zdravko092368]

If you like albinos and want an easy to care for garter that is generally readily available than you are looking at three options. Albino Thamnophis radix(Plains garter), Albino Thamnophis marcianus(Checkered garter) or an Albino Thamnophis sirtalis(Common Garter). They are $30-60 usually, checkered being the cheapest. I don't really know where you can get one without shipping unless a breeder lives close to you. The expo will most likely only have checkered garters if they even have any garters at all. Thamnophis are not well respected in the pet trade yet.

[slipknot711]

u can find albino checkereds at petsmart pretty often. usually run about $35. i bought a male from their, he has gotten huge and very healthy.

[snakegirl909]

I would recommend an eastern, they are my fav, but it's really up to you. I'm just going to warn you, garters are very addicting, so soon you'll have a room full of 'em . Good luck!

[Tora]

haha, I know just how addictive reptiles are xD I got an anole as a birthday present a few years ago and I'm now up to 12 of them and 2 crested geckos and I just want more xD I'll guilt trip my mom into taking me to the expo because I'm also in the market for a pair or trio of flying geckos.... so many I want and so little room

[guidofatherof5]

I would say a T. radix - Plains Garter is a good starter garter. They are hearty eaters and the females have great personalities.

[ObsidianDragon]

I love my Checkered, but he's a little spaz who isn't keen on handling. Or...on being seen. Or...anything to do with me, really. they're neat, I love them, but if you want one that tolerates you a bit more a Checkered--at least, a male one--may not be a good choice. He's not the only one I know of like this, or I wouldn't say much!

I'm jealous of Steve's garters, who seem to at least appreciate him as a food source. XD

[bigsnakegirl78]

Personalities depend on the individual. My garter is hilarious when he notices someone saw him, he goes all rigid and springs back in forth. I can just imagine an exclamation point above his head. Generally, our presence doesn't stop him from exploring, and he's even shown several instances of being thoroughly interested in me. I've had him follow my finger around his tank. lol

Although he's out and about sometimes nowadays, he was a lot more active before I gave him enough bedding to burrow in. That's where he spends most of his time. I also haven't been handling him now, so getting him out of his tank has been...interesting. But, he's usually good once I have him out, just have to work with him to get him to calm down.

I also know someone on DA who has an older and much larger male albino checkered, who's apparently extremely docile and calm, but from what I've read it's as OD says, males are spazzy. haha Females seem to be a bit more laid back, and they're larger.

I'd really love an Iowa snow plains garter, though. I think they're just beautiful.

[Tora]

If I get lucky enough to get a female from my petco, once again I don't fully support petco but ours has reptile knowledgeable people working there now, but I will be extremely happy. Would guys recommend a UTH or an overhead bulb like the Zilla Mini Halogen? I use the 25w for my cresties, and 50w for my anoles but I'm not sure whether to go with the uth or the overhead bulb.

[ObsidianDragon]

UTH! With a thermostat, naturally. I don't usually like using heat lamps for snakes, though. My humidity is crappy enough in the winter as it is.

None of my local Petcos or PetSmarts ever have garters. Corns, BPs, kings, maybe a red tail. That's it. A little disappointing, really. (Yes, I know, they're not the best place anyway. But my local ones take decent care of their animals, at least. Well--the PetSmarts do. PetCo makes me shudder.)