snake owners

[graceanne]

Ok, so my kids found a garter snake out in the back yard. It's a baby, maybe 9 inches long, if that. I'd say closer ot six inches. I'm going to get it a heat lamp, and I have a large goldfish bowl for it, that I put dirt in, and I'm gonna plant some grass in there for it.

Question: What do they eat? Should I buy it some crickets? Or will cat food do? Also, do they like water for swimming? Should I put a tupperware container of water for it to swim in?

 

[INSIDEYOURMIND]

Ok, so my kids found a garter snake out in the back yard. It's a baby, maybe 9 inches long, if that. I'd say closer ot six inches. I'm going to get it a heat lamp, and I have a large goldfish bowl for it, that I put dirt in, and I'm gonna plant some grass in there for it.

Question: What do they eat? Should I buy it some crickets? Or will cat food do? Also, do they like water for swimming? Should I put a tupperware container of water for it to swim in?

graceanne,

My first bit of advice would be to release it, it is a wild animal, and typically the stress of confinement will not bode well. It can be a wonderful lesson to your kids to respect nature, and leave it where it is. They are nocturnal, so they are not active at all during the day, the kids will be constantly checking on him, and he will just get increasingly stressed.

Your Garter snake will eat mice, a snake can eat something 10 times the size of their head, so don't worry, he can swallow it. He is used to his prey being alive so consider that you will need to get a fresh mouse for him at least once a week.

He is used to capturing his own food, cat food, or crickets won't satisfy him. As he gets hungrier, he will become nippy, they are not poisonous, but they do have teeth, and they do hurt! They have an anti-coagulant in their saliva, so the little guy will make ya bleed! See attached photo!

He needs fresh clean water, and I wouldn't suggest using dirt, they defecate an incredibly smelly, and foul poop, and the dirt will only serve to keep it in.

If you are consigned to keep it, he should be in an at least 20 gallon tank with a warm side, and a cool side. He will need day heat, and night heat. Use a good replaceable substrate, or just a clean layer of paper towel.

I am a snake educator, and the first thing I teach is to leave nature just where you found it, respect it, and allow it to go on its way.

 

[graceanne]

I wonder how much it would cost to buy them a garter snake? They've wanted a snake for a while, but their's no way I'm getting anything that gets as big as some of your snakes.

Is there any snakes that don't eat mice? Cause I really like mice. *sigh*

*edited to add* I know they bite, I've been bitten (as a child) by a garter snake. I also know they're not poisonous cause their are no poisonous snakes in the northwest.

 

[Stegral]

snake owner

I wonder how much it would cost to buy them a garter snake? They've wanted a snake for a while, but their's no way I'm getting anything that gets as big as some of your snakes.

Ummm there are egg eaters & bird eaters but they probably would be an order in snake... the most docile one around today that I would recommend to anyone is a Ball (or royal) python... they max at about 5 ft, make wonderful pets (I have 4 of these) & are very low maitnence... but they do need a covered water dish with a heat pad under it.... the inital set up can be a bit costly... but compared to fish it is relative... & snakes have very long life spans if kept healthy.
& I will agree... release the snake... it will not live well in a cage or with all the odd noises & smells around.

 

[DVS]

& I will agree... release the snake... it will not live well in a cage or with all the odd noises & smells around.

I agree. although I'm not a snake person, I love all animals. I know a wild creature needs to stay in the wild to survive.

And, yes, it would be a good lesson for your kids...make a big deal about it, and let them all participate. Make sure they know why they need to let this little snake go, and it will help start an education about the wilderness for them that will pay off, in the future.

I remember all of the "pets" I found just in my back yard...they all died, even though I had good intentions. Not only did I feel bad (I had probably helped cause their deaths), I wanted to help every little bird, snake, frog and toad that happened to wonder into that back yard.

The rules of life in the wild are harsh, but they are rules just the same. Nature is there to observe. Except fot those mesqitos. There's nothing better for them but a quick death.

 

[graceanne]

Actually I promised them we'd buy them another snake. insideyourmind suggested a . . . crap I forget. I'll have to PM him again. But he said it doesn't have to have mice. Cause I could never feed a live animal to another animal. Especially mice - they're too cute. Although, evidently, I can get them already killed and frozen.

 

[Stegral]

Actually I promised them we'd buy them another snake. insideyourmind suggested a . . . crap I forget. I'll have to PM him again. But he said it doesn't have to have mice. Cause I could never feed a live animal to another animal. Especially mice - they're too cute. Although, evidently, I can get them already killed and frozen.

yes you can in some areas... I actually have a small business breeding rats & mice for snake food.. please do not feed crickets to a snake that can & should eat rodents... trust me they aren't alive for long...do your self a favour & surf & research this pet...

 

[graceanne]

yes you can in some areas... I actually have a small business breeding rats & mice for snake food.. please do not feed crickets to a snake that can & should eat rodents... trust me they aren't alive for long...do your self a favour & surf & research this pet...

I wouldn't. Feed it somethign it's not supposed to eat. For one thing, then you end up with a ton of crickets and a hungry snake. I always research my pets . . . that's why I'm here asking questions. But my kids want a snake, and I think it'd be cool. I just won't be able to feed them live mice. All the mice would have to do is look at me, then sit back on the haunches and wipe at their face . .. and I'd have another pet. Not to mention a ticked of hubby (cause of the other pet).

 

[Vixandra]

I had a Mexican/Desert Rosy Boa and adored it. Fed it premie mice that I bought froze in packs of 20. Never had a pet that I could buy food for about every six months or so and be okay.
Nifty site: http://www.anapsid.org/rosyboa.html

I had mine in a 25 gallon tank with a carpet like ground cover. Once or twice a month I'd pull out the current one, put the second one in and rinse out the old one in the shower and maybe the washer depending on how bad it was.

I miss my Jose. I'd wear him around the house like a bracelet on my wrist, occasionally forgetting he was there.
Imagine having someone answer the door for a phone instal guy and thier "bracelet" starts moving. I did that, was hilarious, for me at least. Scared the hell outta the phone buy.

Kept a water dish large enough for him to laze about in, a couple of "logs" and a half dome thing for him to hide in and Jose was a happy snake.
Here's a pic from Google:
http://www.californiaherps.com/snakes/images/ltgraciakern.jpg

 

[Stegral]

I miss my Jose. I'd wear him around the house like a bracelet on my wrist, occasionally forgetting he was there.
Imagine having someone answer the door for a phone instal guy and thier "bracelet" starts moving. I did that, was hilarious, for me at least. Scared the hell outta the phone guy.
Kept a water dish large enough for him to laze about in, a couple of "logs" and a half dome thing for him to hide in and Jose was a happy snake.
Here's a pic from Google:
http://www.californiaherps.com/snakes/images/ltgraciakern.jpg

OMG the snake is beautiful.... it would make beautiful babies with my beige florida kingsnake...

 

[marieR19]

awwwww! You all are making me want a snake so badly! My mom hates snakes so I've never been able to have one. And my gf says that when we move in together and get a snake, she's going to feed my mice to it. lol I like mice and snakes.... can't snakes eat something less adorable?


Heather

 

[INSIDEYOURMIND]

awwwww! You all are making me want a snake so badly! My mom hates snakes so I've never been able to have one. And my gf says that when we move in together and get a snake, she's going to feed my mice to it. lol I like mice and snakes.... can't snakes eat something less adorable?


Heather

Rats

 

[Guest]

 

[brioche]

i was a nanny for two kids who caught baby snakes and took it really hard when one of them died. It's better to leave stuff in the wild. Same reason i refuse to go to Marineland (think SeaWorld). As for store-bought snakes, they're sonditioned differently from birth.

 

[graceanne]

We let it go this morning. I got permission from K to get the kids another snake. K wants a boa constrictor, but I pointed out we DO NOT have the room for a snake that's gonna get that big. He was seriously bummed.

I don't have a problem with feeding them mice, it's LIVE mice that I can't do. Frankly I got a cat just to get rid of our mice - but I'm sure not gonna catch them for her. I'd definately buy the frozen mice.

Besides, my kids wouldn't go for it. As it is I spent most of today nursing a mouse they rescued from my cat. It died while we were at church. I tried to tell them a mouse that's had a cat bite it will not live, but they insisted.