Hello, snake newbie here

[mustang]

Thanks for all the great advice. I finally got around to handling my garter today. Despite some of your advice I did use gloves at first to get him out of the cage. But I quickly ditched them when I noticed no threatening behavior.

It was a surprisingly calm and clean experience. I expected the same kind of quick jumpy reactions as I see when reaching in to the terrarium to replace the water dish. However, he actually completely calmed down once I had him in my hands and was even content to just sit in my hands looking around at times. Oh and thankfully there were no stinky fluids involved. I now feel pretty silly for being nervous about it in the first place.

same with checker ....maybe hes scared stiff/to hell
oh welcome !

[ConcinusMan]

Thanks. The snake was caught in northeast Texas. I'm not sure what the proper name for the fish I am using is but they just called them "shiners". I don't have any better pictures of the tail yet. The snake hasn't posed on its back and I still have not worked up the courage to grab the darn thing.

Steve, I know what you mean about that garter snake magic. Before observing this little guy I would have never thought snakes could have more personality than: "get away from me, I'm going to kill you". I haven't had the snake for a week and I'm already thinking to myself that the rack I'm using would look so much better with another tank or two on it. Some of the blame for that also falls on this forum and its members for posting all the cool pictures.

Amazing. One again, garters work their charm on an unsuspecting "snake hater" except that we really don't call that a garter snake where I come from, we call THAT one a ribbon snake.

[mustang]

o didnt see that ur in texas too how far from san antonio?

[Kevinh583]

o didnt see that ur in texas too how far from san antonio?

I'm a couple hours northeast of Dallas. Its about a six hour drive to san antonio.

Amazing. One again, garters work their charm on an unsuspecting "snake hater" except that we really don't call that a garter snake where I come from, we call THAT one a ribbon snake.

I am amazed at how much personality the snake has, it has definately changed my outlook towards snakes somewhat. Ribbons still fall under the themnophis genus, right? I don't have to leave the forum or anything?

[ConcinusMan]

They are thamnophis, yes. Now get out! (just kidding)

[mustang]

oh cool! ya im right on this border line of sanantonio and helotes.....helotes zip code but we live in sa since it was annexed...a friend of mine had a cat that drug in a ribbon snake about a month ago...they let it go and he corectly identified it (see what you learn after bein a science fair partner of mine lol