Newsgroups: rec.pets.herp
Subject: Re: Questions Preparing for a Garter Snake
From: <CBTCC@CUNYVM.BITNET>
Date: Monday, 25 Jan 1993 18:11:06 EST
Organization: City University of New York/ University Computer Center

In article <1993Jan25.183839.11723@parc.xerox.com>, putz@parc.xerox.com (Steve
Putz) says:
>
>My 9 year old daughter Jennifer desperately wants a pet, and after much
>discussion and some research at the library, she has decided she wants a
>garter snake. I am impressed with how carefully she has read the books.

Make sure she is EMOTIONALLY prepped for watching a snake eat its prey whole.

>This weekend we built a wood terrarium (24" x 12" x 12") from vinyl-laminated
>particle board.  It has a removable plexiglass front (slides up) and a sliding
>top with large cut-outs securely covered with fiberglass shade screen.  We
>are thinking of adding some ventilation holes in the side walls.  The floor
>is covered with a removable piece of "imitation grass" carpet.  For a water
>bowl there is a Pyrex glass bread pan.
>

ALL snakes are escape artists (I never did fine my gopher snake...:( ).  Get
rid of the wood and the astro-turf.  Both are too difficult to keep clean.
Don't drill ventilation holes in the sides; the beast will get loose.  Even if
the holes are near the top- snakes are also excellent climbers.  If the top
screen is removable, glue the front panel down.  If it isn't removable, make
it so.  Weigh it down securely, or use secure clips.  THEN glue the front
panel down.  Snakes NEVER stop probing for a way out- and they are amazingly
adept at lifting for critters without thumbs, let alone hands!

>We installed a light-bulb socket in one wall near the top. We tested it with
>a 40 watt bulb for a while and the temperature near the floor was around
>80 - 85 degrees (measured with one of those flat thermometers.  The 40 watt
>bulb seems too bright and hot.  We have a 25 watt tubular aquarium light we
>can try.  I was also thinking of adding a dimmer.
>
>I am wondering how we can best heat the terrarium.  It a light bulb enough?
>I have heard bad recommendations about "hot rocks" and good recommendations
>about heating pads.  But heating pads only work with glass terrariums, right?
>

This sounds fine, as long as the animal has a place to cool off.  A hide
box made of an old tissue box works well- you can always replace it when it
gets shat in (and it will).  A heating pad should work OK, even in wood. Stay
away from the hot rocks, if you value your pet.

>A local pet store has two kinds of garter snakes for sale: "Indonesian" ($20)
>and "Red Headed" ($25).  Most were fairly small (1 foot).  My daughter wants
>to get one of the Indonesian Garter snakes.  We are told they eat goldfish.
>We have a small bowl suitable for keeping feeder fish.
>
>With a North American species, I figured we could release it in the back yard
>if for some reason we could not keep it.  I assume that is not advised for
>these species?
>

Sorry, can't help you on that- don't know the other species.  But the common
garter snake (_Thamnophis sirtalis) will do fine in almost any area of North
America.

>Ok snake experts, are we ready to purchase a snake?  Any advice or comments
>are welcome.
>

You sound more than ready- the most important thing is doing your homework and
making the committment to take care of it.

>--
>Steve Putz <putz@parc.xerox.com>
>Xerox Palo Alto Research Center
>Palo Alto, California

Chris