How to Setup Terrarium for Checkered Garters?

[aSnakeLovinBabe]

>Works OK if you want to "warehouse" a lot of snakes.

I currently have 2 racks that used to house 30+ snakes. I am now down to about a dozen.

> How are providing the necessary heat and light in a plastic shoe box?

Heated Rack system, heat tape and lighted room with timer

>Breeding doesn't just "happen". It's induced by changes of the season. They must come out of a winter period thinking it's spring.

I did the cooling thing this year. Had to bring them out because I found mites. This is my 3rd year with these garters and 2nd trying to breed them, I got 1 single baby and LOTS of slugs

>As tempting as it may be to substitute items from outside, I wouldn't recommend it.

I NEVER use ANYTHING from the "wild", never have and never will

yes, I agree it's definitely possible to meet all of a snake's needs with a plastic tub! The tubs make it easier to control temps and humidity. But they don't work very well for more active snakes that want to have stuff to explore and enjoy, as you have come here to point out!

I don't think you want to create a totally naturalistic viv that mimics outside... I think you are just looking to give them a setup that's a bit more stimulating to their senses... am I correct?

[aSnakeLovinBabe]

Oh, and here are some pictures of some cages I have done for my snakes... because I am all about making them happy!



Converted a tub into a cage!







they just LOVE these hanging tubes!

[aSnakeLovinBabe]

It's really very simple to throw together tanks that look and feel somewhat natural, but are a cinch to tear apart and clean!







I hope these are able to help you in some way!

[guidofatherof5]

I use many things(branches, rocks) from the wild but they get baked for a long time.

[ConcinusMan]

>Works OK if you want to "warehouse" a lot of snakes.

I currently have 2 racks that used to house 30+ snakes. I am now down to about a dozen.

> How are providing the necessary heat and light in a plastic shoe box?

Heated Rack system, heat tape and lighted room with timer

>Breeding doesn't just "happen". It's induced by changes of the season. They must come out of a winter period thinking it's spring.

I did the cooling thing this year. Had to bring them out because I found mites. This is my 3rd year with these garters and 2nd trying to breed them, I got 1 single baby and LOTS of slugs

>As tempting as it may be to substitute items from outside, I wouldn't recommend it.

I NEVER use ANYTHING from the "wild", never have and never will

Good answers. Forgive me if I sounded condescending. Your first 2 posts in this thread sounded kinda "newbie". It really sounded like you didn't have much of a clue. I stand corrected.

I use many things(branches, rocks) from the wild but they get baked for a long time.

I must backpedal a bit and say...

There are 2 things I have used from outside with no problems. Cured driftwood from the Columbia river (scrubbed well and scalded) and several species of moss collected from cool, moist rocks in the shade. Both of these items never have presented a problem when they are kept fairly dry in a viv. It's always a bit of a risk to see it it works out, but those items collected from the NW USA seem to work fine.

I suppose it's a matter of taste and space. Those viv's pictured above would be a little too cluttered for my taste. On the other hand, they don't need to be too barren. There are several species of live plants that would probably do well but It's just not worth it to me. I can't seem to find the right plant that can tolerate the light levels and temperature ranges year 'round.

I was only suggesting that you can make it complicated or you can make it simple. Either way can look natural and still make your snakes comfortable. As you can see, more clutter or not, the basic principle is what I was getting at and is presented in those pictures.

[DIRK]

@aSnakeLovinBabe

wow, your tanks look great. Especially the second picture is cool..
Well done....

[gregmonsta]

As stated .... it is all a matter of taste. I've stuck mostly with plastic plants and ceramic structures that have a natural look.

This is one of my older set-ups



And another



And here's what I ended up 'upgrading' too





They actually look a bit bare there .... I've added more hanging Ivies and different hides since these pics.

[OregonHerpaholic]

Good answers. Forgive me if I sounded condescending. Your first 2 posts in this thread sounded kinda "newbie". It really sounded like you didn't have much of a clue.

You have no idea. I have gotten some of the rudest private messages(here and on gartersnake groups) about me NOT treating the mites and ignoring the problem. That putting them in a cage that would increast the mites. No where in any posts I did I state I was not treating the snakes. I want to setup a terrarium WHILE they are being treated. Have it ready when I decide it is safe to put them back together. They need something more than plastic boxes on a metal rack. I cannot give Texas in Oregon but I can fake it...nicely.

The reason behind the natural design is the new Reptiles Magazine has article on Eastern Garters and gives a natural setup..soil, plants, real wood, etc. I have this for my frogs and a native rubber boa, but not my garters.

I HATE dealing with mites and do not wish anything to help these damn things breed..like soil or real wood. I think I still have mites because of the Organic way I have been dealing with it...

[drache]

I HATE dealing with mites and do not wish anything to help these damn things breed..like soil or real wood. I think I still have mites because of the Organic way I have been dealing with it...

I'd say that's only partially true
it's entirely possible to get rid of mites the "organic" way - it's just a heck of a lot more labour intensive, and despite my convictions I myself couldn't do it with the amount of snakes I have
I used the provent-a-mite the first time when I had an outbreak that kept coming back, and one of my snakes actually ended up dying; my friend who lent me his told me that he pre-treats his substrate, so I've been doing that and then I switched most of my snakes to cage carpet.
and I'm sorry, if I came across as forceful about treating for mites, but from your first post it wasn't entirely clear whether you were treating at all. somehow your wording gave me the impression that you weren't doing quite enough - I apologize for my assumption

[ConcinusMan]

You have no idea. I have gotten some of the rudest private messages(here and on gartersnake groups) about me NOT treating the mites and ignoring the problem. That putting them in a cage that would increast the mites. No where in any posts I did I state I was not treating the snakes. I want to setup a terrarium WHILE they are being treated. Have it ready when I decide it is safe to put them back together. They need something more than plastic boxes on a metal rack. I cannot give Texas in Oregon but I can fake it...nicely.

The reason behind the natural design is the new Reptiles Magazine has article on Eastern Garters and gives a natural setup..soil, plants, real wood, etc. I have this for my frogs and a native rubber boa, but not my garters.

I HATE dealing with mites and do not wish anything to help these damn things breed..like soil or real wood. I think I still have mites because of the Organic way I have been dealing with it...

The only truly effective way was already mentioned. Foot the bill for that stuff and your mites will be gone. I would highly recommend that you make sure the mites are gone before you bring anything in the house that is going in the new setup and also treat the inanimate objects and substrate going into the new setup. I wouldn't use actual soil but natural setups for frogs has worked for me. I even had a rubber boa with leaves, sand, moss and wood from outside (until the WA dept of wildlife busted me and took the boa which is on the state threatened species list) but those were cool environments for the most part and I experienced no problems with bacteria or mold.

I can see how people might have misunderstood and scolded you for the mite problem. It likely came with the checkereds. I've never got mites or any other disease from Oregon or WA wild reptiles. Only from pet stores or breeders stock.

I'm sure you'll get it under control. Meanwhile, you got a good idea how to go about setting up a natural looking garter setup without the problems. Checkereds should be no problem at all. They are perfectly happy with a dry environment which makes it easier to put natural things in their viv.