Newcomer Looking For Advice

[Ambaryerno]

Heh, never said I was one to take the easy way out. ;-)

Where do you see being the main bottleneck? Water depth or surface area? Was thinking I could squeeze in more water by making a custom tank where the part containing the water feature would actually be deeper than the floor of the rest of the tank.

Maybe use a sheet of clear acrylic in front, with another material for the sides, back, and bottom. I'd kinda have to draw what I'm thinking, tho.

[bigsnakegirl785]

Originally Posted by Ambaryerno

Heh, never said I was one to take the easy way out. ;-)

Where do you see being the main bottleneck? Water depth or surface area? Was thinking I could squeeze in more water by making a custom tank where the part containing the water feature would actually be deeper than the floor of the rest of the tank.

Maybe use a sheet of clear acrylic in front, with another material for the sides, back, and bottom. I'd kinda have to draw what I'm thinking, tho.

You have to make sure you have adequate total volume, it's not just depth or surface area. Not enough water, and the fish will cause the ammonia level to rise to dangerous levels. A filter and conditioners can only do so much.

If you make the fish's tank below the snake's tank, make sure that it's easy for the snake to get in and out of, and not too tiring to navigate. I'm not sure how deep garters are willing to dive, so if the fish are the snake's only source of food, if you make it too deep they may not be able to catch enough fish (assuming they don't dive more than a few inches to a foot). Vary the diet and that should fix that problem, if they will dive all the way to the bottom then it doesn't matter so much. I would still vary the diet, though, variety for these guys are best.

The snake drowning is the main worry I see here, since you'll have to make the pool area much taller than it is wide to provide the breeding fish adequate water volume without taking up too much of the snake's floor space.

A couple fish in the water just long enough to eat won't pose these problems, but you sure do have your work cut out for you trying to actually breed them inside the snake's enclosure. lol

[Ambaryerno]

Originally Posted by bigsnakegirl785

You have to make sure you have adequate total volume, it's not just depth or surface area. Not enough water, and the fish will cause the ammonia level to rise to dangerous levels. A filter and conditioners can only do so much.

Yeah, I know. Mainly trying to establish which would be the better approach: Go for a larger footprint and shallower water, or make the water deeper. If I make something myself I've got more flexibility. Based on Aaron's post I'd want to be able to allow for at least 20 gallons of water. With a 75 gallon footprint I could do it with a water area measuring some combination of 16 x 18 x 18. Maybe 18" long, 18" wide, and 16" deep. Start with the 21" height of a 75 gallon, allow 12" between the top of the tank and the surface of the water and I'd need to extend the water area about 7" below the bottom. So make a custom tank with a total height of 30". Use a false bottom for the "land" side (supported by, say, PVC tubing supporting the actual bottom) to make up the difference in height.

I really need to sketch this out...

If you make the fish's tank below the snake's tank, make sure that it's easy for the snake to get in and out of, and not too tiring to navigate. I'm not sure how deep garters are willing to dive, so if the fish are the snake's only source of food, if you make it too deep they may not be able to catch enough fish (assuming they don't dive more than a few inches to a foot). Vary the diet and that should fix that problem, if they will dive all the way to the bottom then it doesn't matter so much. I would still vary the diet, though, variety for these guys are best.

The idea would be to simulate the bank of a creek or stream, so the "shoreline" would slope down into the water. Maybe a combination of gravel and larger stones to shape it. That should make it accessible for the snake to get in and out for feeding and soaking.

And I do already intend to vary the diet. Say a mouse once a week or every other week (or better yet frogs if I can find a way to provide them), supplemented by fish, or maybe include some nightcrawlers as part of the microfauna.

The snake drowning is the main worry I see here, since you'll have to make the pool area much taller than it is wide to provide the breeding fish adequate water volume without taking up too much of the snake's floor space.

The thought I'd had was to put a driftwood branch or something in the water both for the snake to use as a perch if it goes into the water to hunt or soak, while doubling as cover for the fish.