getting a baby garter snake soon-QUESTIONS

[FitnessFreak]

hey guys i am getting a baby garter snake in about 2-3 months, so i really want to get alot of info.

1-what should the aquarium be like,(how big and what should go in it) what common tap water be good for a little pool i am guno make it?
just help on what i shud put in it plz

2-how/what to feed them, i took care of my friends baby garter last year and i fed it about 1 earthworm a day and i had to forcefeed it(my friend said it wudnt eat otherwise) so how often like 1 earth worm a day? and do u need to force feed them all as they r a baby?

3-what should i name it lol

i really appreciate your help in advance guys ty!!!!!

[JAdkins2451]

I would personally suggest againts garters for pets. They dont make good pets, plus force feeding a snake will just stress it out.

There are many other snakes that dont get big, and are CB. That are easier to take care off.

Jamie

[Boots]

I have to disagree with garter making good pets. Garters make great pets. It might take a while for them to get used to you, but they are active and do not require as much specialized care as other snakes.

As to the force feeding, I can not say as I never had a problem with a garter taking food.

Jason

[Sinner696]

ok .. well i disagree also .. and here is why .. in Germany the have a specific requirements minimum houes any crocodilians.

minimum land area must be 3 times the largest animal's SVL (snout-vent length)
wide and 4 times long
minimum water area must be 4 times the largest animal's SVL
wide and 5 times long

so wan u are looking at a baby alligator that will be about 12" the SVL will be around 6" so you will be look at a land area of 18" by 24" and the water area 24" by 30''
so the over all tank or pond that u are looking a is 24" by 48" .. now this is minimum
keep in mind that thay will get around 3 feet with in the frist year

and as for the feeding thay need more then 1 worm a day .. u are looking mix of insects and fish .. and a lot way more then 1 a day .. in a day thay can take around 12 small fish

Joe ..

[gonesnakee]

Sounds to me like you are waiting to find one in the wild & take it home as a pet or get one from your friend maybe? Wild caught garters do not make good pets, specially babies. Captive bred garters are not easy to take care of either, they are not a begginer species. Judging by your questions you have no where near enough experience to properly care for a garter snake. You do not fed snakes daily & force feeding is something a breeder would do as an absolute last resort to keep a baby alive until it can be established properly on proper food. You do not force feed snakes DAILY! Snakes even babies eat weekly. I would suggest getting a captive bred "established" (that means they are feeding readily on their own of FT thats frozen thawed prey) snake from a breeder. I would suggest a cornsnake for starters as they are good for begginers & tend to thrive well. An unestablished baby garter is most likely just going to die either from starvation or from stress, specially if being continually force fed. Garters requirements are not always easily met & can be a tricky species even for an experienced snake keeper, they are not for begginers. Sorry to rant, but thats the reality of it, Mark
P.S. yes I have tons of snake experience having kept literally 1,000's & breed every year.

[garterman07]

i have about a 2.6 foot common gartersnake...and i need to know will it take small crickets i ran out of meal worms...and it would also be good for the original poster and i to know what other foods workwell besides mealworms and night crawlers

[Boots]

You can also try feeding it fish like flathead minnows, guppies, zebrafish but beware of those containing thiaminase which includes goldfish. Strips of raw meat and fish will also work, as well as mice or mice part depending on size of the garter.

Jason