Caught a Garter snake last week

[Didymus20X6]

You just contradicted yourself

Nope. Two different scenarios. I keep my snakes in an non-air-conditioned room where they don't need any additional heat. If I kept them in the main part of the house, they would. It would only be a contradiction if I said the opposite things under the same conditions. You've got to start paying better attention to context.

[infernalis]

Nope. Two different scenarios. I keep my snakes in an non-air-conditioned room where they don't need any additional heat. If I kept them in the main part of the house, they would. It would only be a contradiction if I said the opposite things under the same conditions. You've got to start paying better attention to context.

I caught the error in a proof read after I posted, but still, my experiment proved with absolute certainty that a 100 watt bulb for a 10 gallon tank was too high.

BTW. the original poster never said anything about air conditioning in his first post..

so why not be gentlemen and we both put our weapons away and go back to enjoying the forum.

[Millinex]

First of all, I have to watch temps/and SURFACE TEMPS (something 99% of reptile keepers overlook) with a lot of frequency in regards to monitor husbandry. If you capture a snake in Florida, there is absolutely 0 reason to use any additional heat sources on the tank, other than a simple heat mat to stimulate digestion as if the animal was basking.

Second of all, 100W is too high for a garter snake regardless. Can they probably survive 110? Yep, in fact it often will hit 110 here in Colorado, is it optimal or good for the snake? Nah not the in the least bit, not to mention in an aquarium setting, it could actually cause harm. In my husbandry I have to provide surface temperatures upwards of 150 degrees, I keep the ambient temps on the warm side of over 100 for my monitors, but I also allow a very large area for them to move away from the basking zone, and hit a more moderate temperature, all he way down to 75-78.

Keep it simple, get an under tank heater, plenty of substrate that they wont lie right against it, and call it a day, light from your window or overhead light in the room is more than enough "light" for your pet snake.

-Mike

[ConcinusMan]

Avoid the rosy minnows. Those and goldfish are saturated with thiaminase (a bad thing). Once in a while probably wont hurt and other members often start stubborn feeding babies on them. Still, best to avoid them. Try guppies or mollies. I'm willing to bet your snake doesn't even need live fish at all. He'll probably take f/t and that would be better anyway.

http://www.ces.ncsu.edu/gaston/Pests...gsnakecare.pdf

[Roger Wildcat]

Yesterday I found an artificial silk flower in the garage that was left behind by the previous house owner. It take up half the aquarium when I put the flower inside of it. Will this help the snake feel more secure about the surrounding?

I also got Aspen that I could use. The snake liked to hide underneath the Aspen with the head poking out. Right now, it like to hide in the hideaway. Should I put in a thin layer of Aspen to encourage to move around more?

I do handle the snake twice a day for a minute or two. Other then that, it stays inside the hideaway. It no longer try to flee when I put my hand in the enclosure, but will flee if I try to pick it up or if it felt that my hand is too close.

Whenever I pick it up, it will try to crawl off my hands for about 15-20 seconds before settling down. Then it will stay put in my hand and may even curl the tail around my hand.

Any other tips on how to tame the snake and help it settle down in the new enclousure? The snake also need a name, though I am not sure if it a boy or a girl.

What is F/T, is that Frog/Toads?

[Sonya610]

What is F/T, is that Frog/Toads?

F/T means frozen/thawed, as in frozen pinkies or other food items that were thawed out.

If he is always hiding in the little coconut then the plant and some aspen could help. If he feels he has more "cover" he will feel safer moving about.

[Sonya610]

I do handle the snake twice a day for a minute or two. Other then that, it stays inside the hideaway. It no longer try to flee when I put my hand in the enclosure, but will flee if I try to pick it up or if it felt that my hand is too close.

Any other tips on how to tame the snake and help it settle down in the new enclousure? The snake also need a name, though I am not sure if it a boy or a girl.

Is he eating yet? I would be more concerned with getting him relaxed and eating than getting him used to be handled at this point. Maybe others will say handling is good, I don't know but if he starts eating then that can be used to tame him.

[infernalis]

Is he eating yet? I would be more concerned with getting him relaxed and eating than getting him used to be handled at this point. Maybe others will say handling is good, I don't know but if he starts eating then that can be used to tame him.

I concur.

Personally, I would let the snake be for a while to settle in.

Handling only increases the stress levels your new friend is experiencing.

[d_virginiana]

Handling only increases the stress levels your new friend is experiencing.

Sorry about that, I didn't know it still wasn't eating.. So yeahh, what the two comments above just said

[guidofatherof5]

If you post the right photo we can help you sex your snake.
Here's a link to a thread that will help.
http://www.thamnophis.com/forum/bree...xing-pics.html