I now have successfully gotten a REAL Garter Snake. I thought I already had one, but the truth is, he was a Dekayi . So since i have never had a Garter Snake before... I have done a lot of research already thinking my first snake was a Garter so I have some knowledge but not as much as some of you Garter Pros out there!

So I have a few quick questions:

To start off, I have a 5 gallon tank (my Garter is only a foot and a half long or so and really thin, but I will be upgrading VERY soon to a 10G) I have a basking rock, a basking light, two hides, a water dish big enough for him to be in completely, paper fluff substrate, sticks/foliage, and a reptile heating pad (80 degrees) over half his tank (under one hide).

Is this what I need for him?
What else could i do to improve his tank?
Anything MAJOR I'm missing?

ALSO, I heard you were only supposed to use distilled water with snakes? Is it okay if I am using well water, No chlorine, etc?

Also a big question i have, what on Earth do i feed this bugger
I know i can feed him:
  • Worms
  • Fish
  • Crickets?


What about:
  • Frogs
  • Toads
  • Bugs
  • Anything else?


Also, How often would you say to feed them depending on the food?

Every little piece of Information helps,

Thank you forum!!