Quote Originally Posted by mtolypetsupply View Post
My most basic set ups are the tubs. While cheap, and secure, I do NOT like them for garters at ALL. I much prefer tanks with lids. Due to space constraints, and energy efficiency, the tubs do work out, with a little extra caution.

Garters are a much more, um, *energetic* snake than many others, and I have had them try to leap out of the tub as soon as I crack open the lids, many times.

If you are going to use tubs, I suggest:

1. ONLY ONE snake per tub, no matter how big. That way, if you have one hand on the lid, you have one hand to catch the resident.

2. Use ONLY ONE hide. You don't want to be looking in multiple hides and have your snake get loose leaping out of the hide you *weren't* looking in.

3. Use newspaper as a substrate. Loose thick substrate is fun for them, but again, while you're digging through it on one end, they can slither under and leap out the other side.

4. BE EXTREMELY CAREFUL WITH MAKING HOLES when you have juvies or babies. It's much better to have a zillion small holes that they couldn't possibly fit through, than having one get stuck, or escape through larger holes.

If I had unlimited room, I'd have enclosures for all of them that not only provide floor space, but climbing space and a pool area. They seem to LOVE to climb, burrow, swim, guess they're truly the athletes of the snake world!

If you don't have to worry about space, the larger the enclosure, the better, in my opinion. Give them plenty of space and "furniture" in which to hide or on which to climb. Also, enough room in the "pool" to soak and "swim" (ok, wiggling in place isn't exactly swimming, but it's better than a small drinking only bowl).


All good points. I do have some experience with raising concinnus litters so I think I'll manage. There are many pitfalls that you can have with tiny babies that you wouldn't have with adults. One of them being that when they get wet they can and do scale vertical walls. Also, when they are just born and still not the strongest, they can drown in their water dish. I keep it very shallow such as a cottage cheese lid, and line it with pebbles. I do not use newspaper however. I'll be using fine aspen shavings. Babies get stuck between layers of newspaper. The aspen is easier to keep an area moist and an area dry too.