Questions about Eastern Garters

**Pareeeee** · 01-28-13, 08:21 AM

So I've been considering catching and keeping a Garter this summer, not sure yet though. Need some questions answered first, since I don't know a whole lot about keeping them.

1. What quarantine procedures would I need to go through for a w/c Eastern Garter?

2. What foods do they eat? Can you keep them on a diet of f/t mice (fuzzies? pinkies?)

3. What size tank do you need? Same question for tub - what size? Which is better for garters - tank or tub?

4. What type of heating is best? Since they are a native snake, do I need much in the way of heating? (I don't have AC in the summer)

5. Brumation. Worried about this, since my apartment does not get colder than 19 deg C in the winter. This may be the deal-breaker.

**For anyone questioning the legality of capturing and keeping wild Garters in Ontario, I found this information, so peeplz don't get off topic:

Neither the Red-Sided nor Eastern Garter is listed in the Fish and Wildlife Conservation Act as a Specially Protected Reptile. Therefore no authorization is required to possess them.

Under a different section of the FWCA (not the Wildlife in Captivity section), there is a part addressing 'hunting' of various things. A catch-all clause within that section includes garters and all other non-Specially Protected Reptiles (browns, red-bellies, ringnecks, ribbons) and this means that in order to legally collect (hunt) one, you would need a small game hunting license. Unlike fishing licenses, there is no exemption to this for kids. Farmers (as defined in the Act- if you have ANY doubt, you are not a farmer) are exempt from this requirement, as they do not need a small game license to hunt small game ON THEIR OWN LAND.