Hello!!

[maxmommy]

OMG! I haven't had such a warm welcome from a forum like this EVER!!! You guys are GREAT!!!
As a matter of fact, yes, I DID get my babies from Reptilesncritters. I have always had luck with them, and the animals have been very healthy.
Now, I am REALLY confused about something. If these so-called "Indonesian Garter Snakes" don't fair very well in captivity (OR IN THE WILD???) why are they selling them? They are obviously docile, beautiful and easy to handle...why then the short life span? I cannot bear to lose my pets; I, like many of you folks, get attached very easily to my babies, and I am just devastated when they succumb to something and I'm left in the dark.
If any of you have had good luck with them, PLEASE let me know what I need to do to keep them alive! Thanks in advance

[Stefan-A]

Now, I am REALLY confused about something. If these so-called "Indonesian Garter Snakes" don't fair very well in captivity (OR IN THE WILD???) why are they selling them?

Because people will buy them.

They might otherwise do well in captivity, but the specimens that are usually available, are wildcaught. They're often kept in very poor conditions over there and then transported half way around the world to be kept in only marginally better conditions before being sold to pet stores who keep them under conditions that vary from decent to atrocious. Only a fraction of the snakes caught actually survive that long and those that do, develop all sorts of problems.