I am new to Snakes, what do you think of my tank?

[J@50n]

Hello everyone, I'm new to snakes in general, have never had one before so i got what i have heard is a beginner snake. I got a Garter Snake! He's still a baby and I've only had him for a couple of days but i would like to make sure I have everything that everyone would recommend for them.

So first a little bit about everything:

I have gotten earth worms to feed him, he hasn't eaten yet (It's only been 2 days). He is still a baby, I'm guessing less that a year old.

In his tank i have a water bowl, large enough for him to fully be in and i have another not in the tank large enough for fish eventually.

The tank is a 5 gallon tank, kind of small but he is only a foot long or a little more. So i will eventually be getting a 10 or 20 gallon one.

The substrate I have in his tank would be sand and some larger rocks.

I have a large hid for him in the corner its just a long hollow rock.

I have a heating pad underneath that stays around 78 or 80 degrees.

I have an overhead light that i keep on during the day and turn off at night for a slight temperature variation because I had read it was good for them.

Lastly I take him out every afternoon for about an hour, and every night for about two just to let him get out of his tank, because i read that was also good for them and while he is inside his cage he seems to be very lazy and doesn't ever come out of his hide.

He is completely tame, has never musked or threatened to strike me either!

Here are some pictures of the set-up i have for him. What do you think? what am i missing, what do i need, am i making and mistakes etc. please share!!

[snakeman]

looks like a dekay snake.I never kept dekay snakes before.I have never found them in sand.Maybe someone with more expertize in brown snakes can chime in.

[d_virginiana]

Hi! Welcome to the forum The setup looks good, except sand can cause problems with the scales (and also can cause impaction in some reptiles, idk about snakes...) It'd probably be good to switch it to something like repti-bark, aspen, or carefresh.. At least I think carefresh is the name of the paper-towel substrate I use. The snakes love to burrow in that stuff.

That's a very nice looking snake!

Hello everyone, I'm new to snakes in general, have never had one before so i got what i have heard is a beginner snake. I got a Garter Snake!

You think it's a beginner snake. You'll get hooked, just wait and see.

[guidofatherof5]

Welcome to the forum.
Here's a link to the care sheet.
Sand as substrate can cause problems.
Does look like a Storeria dekayi. Care for them is much like the care for garter snakes.
Garter Snake Care Sheet - Caresheets

[RedSidedSPR]

It's a Dekay brown snake

No sand! Impaction issues and scale problems like Lora said.

I'd use ReptiBark, it's big so it won't stick to worms and get swallowed

It's too hot. It's better for dekays to be at a steady 70 degrees than what your doing. They don't even need a basking light... but you can do it with a 40-60 wat bulb. I wouldbt in that small a cage though

He's not a baby. They stay small like that.

You do not have to take him out, but if you want to you can.

Earthworms and slugs. Thats what they eat.

The setup is cool though. Just don't use sand.

The fish you mentioned will not be needed. He's not a garter, and won't eat fish.

And no, there are people who know much more about these guys. Ive never kept one, just know how.

Good luck with him.

And FYI Dekay are welcome on the garter snake forum, they count.

[Starling96]

Its funny because i saw this setup on yahoo.com lol

[J@50n]

It's a Dekay brown snake

No sand! Impaction issues and scale problems like Lora said.

I'd use ReptiBark, it's big so it won't stick to worms and get swallowed

It's too hot. It's better for dekays to be at a steady 70 degrees than what your doing. They don't even need a basking light... but you can do it with a 40-60 wat bulb. I wouldbt in that small a cage though

He's not a baby. They stay small like that.

You do not have to take him out, but if you want to you can.

Earthworms and slugs. Thats what they eat.

The setup is cool though. Just don't use sand.

The fish you mentioned will not be needed. He's not a garter, and won't eat fish.

And no, there are people who know much more about these guys. Ive never kept one, just know how.

Good luck with him.

And FYI Dekay are welcome on the garter snake forum, they count.

Thank you so much!! You were very informative and helpful XD I will be off to get a different substrate tomorrow for sure!

A question though, will these guys eat crickets?

[J@50n]

Its funny because i saw this setup on yahoo.com lol

I know lol -.-

[RedSidedSPR]

No problem. They WILL NOT eat crickets. Can't digest the exo-skeletons.

[RedSidedSPR]

Actually they WILL eat them, they just can't. If their hungry enough theyd eat it. But than the snake would die... And that would be bad.