It feels the same as explaining to "outsiders" why you keep snakes. You just know they're not going to understand it.
Garters pretty much have an image problem. It's not only a "beginner snake", it's a "beginner snake that you don't have to feed cute fuzzy mice". That's something the clerk at the pet shop actually asked me when I bought my first garter; Did I choose a garter because I have problem feeding mice to snakes.
In addition, it's a group of snakes that even veteran snake keepers are fairly unfamiliar with and they are generally treated as a single species. I mean, I've only been keeping snakes a couple of years and so far, I haven't found a single local garter owner who could match my
very basic species identification skills. It's scary (and I definitely don't mean to brag), but I think I might have gathered more knowledge about garters in two years, than any of the local veteran snake keepers during their entire careers. For example, even one of the veterans claims that garters eat insects and spiders.
I know it's not likely, the real pros are probably just keeping quiet, but since 2004, I've only seen two people on a Finnish herp forum discuss different
Thamnophis species. Both of them beginners. People don't know anything about garters and they don't seem to want to know.
But I can tell you this: There are no locally bred garters on the market and there haven't been any for the last three years. None. No ads and not a single snake in any of the shops I've visited. In August that will hopefully change.
..Which is why I'd really like to get my hands on a proper breeding couple.
Another rant. Sorry.