Need a bit of advice on substrate for new tank

[angrygamer]

Hi all,

I have few questions perhaps you can help me answer. I am a new keeper of three months of a Garter (I am still unsure of a lot of things, one of which is what kind of Garter, another is the sex-I think it's a female). I am changing tanks from a 10 gallon to a 30 gallon. I just got the tank this morning, and it seems really tall and thin (see pics). It's not much wider than the ten gallon. I don't know if this is common for fish tanks, but it has challenged me to think vertically and I was looking for ideas that would give her(?) as much room as possible to slither around. The previous owner used it as a fish tank an gave me all the equipment with it.



The last owner left a few things, some plastic plants, a castle for her to hide in (lower left) and some sort of fake coral that really won't serve a purpose:



For some reason, the proportions from my webcam make these objects appear a bit smaller than they really are.

I have it really simply set up in the current tank. I have a paper towel cardboard (which she loves!) a rock to hide in and a piece of wood leaning to the side of the tank. That stuff I will put in the 30 gal. I know it's not much so far, but I have been waiting to do this changeover for a while and I didn't want to overdo it with the ten gallon as it is-she seems cooped up in there and when I take her out and put her back in, she wants to get back out. She's OK after she settles down a bit, but it's really the only time since have owned her that she seems irritated.

For ground cover I use a mix of straw, wood chips (not sawdust, mind you!) and leaves:



So I could surely use some advice, I want to do this right. One thing I am very cautious about is trying not to add too much-as I have discovered, adding too much can be just bad as not having enough-the poor snake can't slither!

In the mean time, I am going clean the tank down now-it's got some lime deposits that I am going to clean up.

I look forward to your responses!

[EasternGirl]

Okay...the tank will be okay in terms of space...it is a bit tall...usually most people use tanks that are long...in measurement they are called 20 gallon long, thirty gallon long, etc...which makes them longer in length...but the snake should have plenty of room in the tank you have there. I'm not sure about the plants and stuff...my concern would be the fact that they were in a fish tank before...I don't know a lot about it but I don't know if bacteria or diseases could be transferred...your best bet is to get some fake plants from a dollar store...if you are looking to save money and you don't want to buy stuff at a pet store. The cardboard boxes and stuff that you already have are fine...if that is what the snake likes, go with it. You need to be careful with your bedding...you don't want anything the snake can ingest...best to get something made for snakes like aspen or carefresh. Also...I don't know enough about lime deposits to know if that would be any risk to the snake...but you said you are cleaning it up...just be very careful with what you are using to clean the tank...make sure you get any traces of cleaner out of the tank and air it out properly before putting the snake into it. If any other more experienced members can comment on my advice..please do...I'm fairly knew to all of this myself! Do you know about hides and lighting and all of that?

[chris-uk]

Cleaning - use vinegar in water to clean the tank, any residues will be better than chemical cleaners.

Space - What Marnie has said about using long, low tanks is sound advice. Garters climb, but they aren't climbers, so more ground area is better.

Decoration - If they've been in a fish tank clean everything in boiling water, that depends what they are made from, but most aquarium ornaments will be made from stuff that can take boiling water. Cardboard tubes are great for them to hide in, bark hides and coconut halves are good too.

Substrate - Other than having substrate that can't be ingested its important thing is to use stuff which won't bring parasites and bacteria into the tank, so it depends where you get the leaves, straw and sawdust from.

Type of snake - Post up some photos of the snake and you'll have an answer to that very quickly.

[ConcinusMan]

Aspen shavings are great and very cheap at walmart. Look into it if you have a walmart nearby.

[angrygamer]

Okay...the tank will be okay in terms of space...it is a bit tall...usually most people use tanks that are long...in measurement they are called 20 gallon long, thirty gallon long, etc...which makes them longer in length...but the snake should have plenty of room in the tank you have there. I'm not sure about the plants and stuff...my concern would be the fact that they were in a fish tank before...I don't know a lot about it but I don't know if bacteria or diseases could be transferred...your best bet is to get some fake plants from a dollar store...if you are looking to save money and you don't want to buy stuff at a pet store. The cardboard boxes and stuff that you already have are fine...if that is what the snake likes, go with it. You need to be careful with your bedding...you don't want anything the snake can ingest...best to get something made for snakes like aspen or carefresh. Also...I don't know enough about lime deposits to know if that would be any risk to the snake...but you said you are cleaning it up...just be very careful with what you are using to clean the tank...make sure you get any traces of cleaner out of the tank and air it out properly before putting the snake into it. If any other more experienced members can comment on my advice..please do...I'm fairly knew to all of this myself! Do you know about hides and lighting and all of that?

Thanks. I wasn't sure about the tank-I have had aquarium fish before, but not dealing with tanks this size. I had seen a few on Craigslist, but this one didn't have a picture with it. I thought it looked a bit odd, but at the time I figured that is the standard and that's what everyone used, it made sense to me because there's is a wider viewing angle for fish.

I'll get creative with it and at worst, if I don't feel like she's comfortable with it I'll sell it and get a longer one.

As far as the plants and the castle go, I will probably just get more stuff-I plan on adding a few more things anyway, as I am trying to get the most out of this tank. As far as the bedding goes, from what I have read up on, dirt, soil and sand aren't really safe, but I thought the bedding I picked was good. I was thinking of the safest natural environment I could with some variety thrown in.

I have read up on hides and warmers and lighting, yes I am getting a couple of new heat lamps with this tank.

As far as the lime deposits go, they have to go. They obstruct the view. I don't think it is harmful from what I've read, they are just a pain to get off. A scraper and vinegar is what it takes-but I have a problem with it (read below).

Cleaning - use vinegar in water to clean the tank, any residues will be better than chemical cleaners.

Space - What Marnie has said about using long, low tanks is sound advice. Garters climb, but they aren't climbers, so more ground area is better.

Decoration - If they've been in a fish tank clean everything in boiling water, that depends what they are made from, but most aquarium ornaments will be made from stuff that can take boiling water. Cardboard tubes are great for them to hide in, bark hides and coconut halves are good too.

Substrate - Other than having substrate that can't be ingested its important thing is to use stuff which won't bring parasites and bacteria into the tank, so it depends where you get the leaves, straw and sawdust from.

Type of snake - Post up some photos of the snake and you'll have an answer to that very quickly.

Yeah, I am using vinegar and and a scraper, the problem is, the store in my area only sells a 5% concentration and I need a higher one. I just have to keep soaking and scrubbing.

As far as the tank itself goes, I was thinking of something vaguely similar to this:
Attachment 3440

except have it join where two low inclines meet. It's hard to explain but I will keep looking for a picture that resembles what I'm talking about more closely.

As far as the straw and the leaves go, it was from my parents land in the country so it is safe from any sort of industrial contamination, and those are wood chips, not sawdust! I read something where the author was very explicit not to use sawdust.

Yes, I will definitely post some pics when I get the time, hopefully over the weekend, I wanted to tackle this first.

Aspen shavings are great and very cheap at walmart. Look into it if you have a walmart nearby.

OK, I'll do that, what department? Gardening?

[kibakiba]

No, pet supplies for the aspen. The gardening department aspen has bugs and possibly chemicals used in them, it could harm your snake.

[dieselbaby]

that looks alot like my tank what are its measurements. my biggest problem was locating a screen top for it, i had to custom make mine. I have two 4 month old checkered garter babies, and they love climbing in the plants and sleeping up on top of my um weed plant(fake of course), and i cut down an aspen tree(small diameter) and cut it to length and made a fat climbing log for them after boiling and baking the log to kill any nasties that might have been in it since i cut it down in the fall. get some rocks for them and it will also support your log if it doesnt wedge just right. the plants with suction cups that suction to the glass work the best in my tall tank for them to climb up. I have found the vertical space has worked out well for my snakes, they love it, and go up and down all the time. you can rough up the log a bit to add traction or wrap a fake vine around it as well, then they can hang on better. Like i said mine spend as much time in the canopy as they do down below on the ground.. really depends on the snake i think.. I use cocohusk mixed with reptibark for a nice natural look with plenty of green plants. you can check out my thread Lexi and Indy there are pics of my current tank set up on there near the end. Cant wait to see pics of your snake and his/her habitat when you are done. there is alot you can do with vertical space.

[angrygamer]

that looks alot like my tank what are its measurements. my biggest problem was locating a screen top for it, i had to custom make mine. I have two 4 month old checkered garter babies, and they love climbing in the plants and sleeping up on top of my um weed plant(fake of course), and i cut down an aspen tree(small diameter) and cut it to length and made a fat climbing log for them after boiling and baking the log to kill any nasties that might have been in it since i cut it down in the fall. get some rocks for them and it will also support your log if it doesnt wedge just right. the plants with suction cups that suction to the glass work the best in my tall tank for them to climb up. I have found the vertical space has worked out well for my snakes, they love it, and go up and down all the time. you can rough up the log a bit to add traction or wrap a fake vine around it as well, then they can hang on better. Like i said mine spend as much time in the canopy as they do down below on the ground.. really depends on the snake i think.. I use cocohusk mixed with reptibark for a nice natural look with plenty of green plants. you can check out my thread Lexi and Indy there are pics of my current tank set up on there near the end. Cant wait to see pics of your snake and his/her habitat when you are done. there is alot you can do with vertical space.

there is alot you can do with vertical space.

yeah, that's I was thinking too, that if constructed correctly there are a lot of possibilities but it has to be well thought-out. It forces you to use the space you have as wisely as possible. I will look at your thread for sure! Anyway, the dimensions are:

LxWxH
30"x12.5"x18"

This one did come with a lid, but it's a fish tank lid and not a screen. It does have a nice 24" light fixture though, but it's not snakeproof (yet).

[angrygamer]

No, pet supplies for the aspen. The gardening department aspen has bugs and possibly chemicals used in them, it could harm your snake.

OK, I never really thought of Wal-Mart as a really extensive pet supply store. I am probably going to go up there this weekend.

[infernalis]

http://www.thamnophis.com/forum/husb...spen-ever.html

A thread I started.... enjoy.