Some females will eat only smaller portions of food, so try to offer your female some food but dont force her to eat. We earn a commission if you make a purchase, at no additional cost to you. In this manner, the garter snake falls into the same category as terms like duct tape of constantly being called the wrong name but no real harm coming to it. One of the more recent discoveries about the garter snake has been the fact that it is venomous. Its not recommended. Also, because of the many places they can live, dont be surprised to find one hiding in your garden or yard. Motherhood for a snake isnt muchas, since garter snakes do not care for their young, motherhood is only pregnancy. While your snake is learning to trust you, consider wearing gloves to protect your hands from bites. If you have a garter snake thats less than 1-year-old, provide a humid hide box for it. They like yourflowerbeds as much as you do. Most subspecies of garter snake are diurnal (active during the day), so you can observe their activity at a convenient time. Jen has over 23 years of experience living and caring for all types of pets from axolotls, snakes, rabbits, turtles to dogs and cats. Whichever is clearer for you. small amphibians), but nowhere near strong enough to do any damage to a human. However, in captivity, you are in control of many key factors such as ovulation and temperature. Garter snakes can go 2-3 months without eating, but this would be a red flag in captivity. If it isnt cleaned quickly, the snake could get sick. If there are red bumps around the mouth or a cottage cheese-like substance in the mouth, this indicates that a snake has mouth rot. Retrieved August 11, 2022, from https://www.snakesforpets.com/garter-snake-pet-care/. They are quick to adapt to their surroundings and easy to care for, so they do make good pets. As such, the way that the garter snake releases their venom is throughchewing. For captive snakes, you need to be aware of what to expect those first few weeks. Whether a female snake is pregnant or just digesting her most recent meal is definitely something I would want to know. MLA Style: Carter, Lou. It the temperature goes above 33C (91F), your snake will overheat. If you're not certain, the snake may be venomous, making it even more important to keep your distance. Dont use your fingers. It may flatten itself to the ground and get ready to strike or bite (uncommon), It may try to hide its head and thrash its tail, It might release an unpleasant musky odor (and any feces it has available). This is especially true in English because English steals words from a lot of different languages, including Germanic languages, and modifies them. Besides how disgusting this is, it is a very ineffective and slow acting process which has led to the gartersnake not using this approach to attempt advancing its hunting efforts. In this care sheet, well cover how to look after a garter snake. Remove your snake to a second secure tank so you can clean the tank/vivarium thoroughly. Garter snakes have been known to live inforests, woodlands, fields, grasslands, and lawns. While there is no garden snake to be confused with the garter snake, the correct term is garter snake. Male garter snakes are shorter and thinner than their female counterparts, so they dont require as much tank space. We earn a commission if you make a purchase, at no additional cost to you. Your email address will not be published. Our mission at Pet Keen is to make the life of you and your pets easier and even more enjoyable. So while not pleasant when they do attack, it is not something you should be overly concerned about. And when Skinner checked on the groupings, he removed the snakes from the enclosure, cleaned the space and put the snakes back in. Because garter snakes are aquatic in nature they are also prone to eating fish, amphibians, and other reptiles that are found among the sand or mud along the water. Naturally, since they dont have to take care of their young, there isnt too much of an issue with the number of babies that they have so long as they have the energy to keep up with the pregnancy process. Garter snakes can get vitamin deficiencies if you dont vary their diet. How Long Can Garter Snake Go Without Eating? This can create a bit of a problem when you are trying tobreed your snake. However, in captivity, they can, They are low maintenance, but not zero maintenance. Its uncommon for snakes to overeat. Allow for it to slither through your fingers and up and down your body so that it is used to you as its owner and it wont be too scared of you. The snake will stay in sunny areas this will be the case as they are warming their pregnant body up. If you do decide you want to use something other than newspaper, you can find some possibilities here. Know what an indigo snake (Drymarchon species) looks like. Because garter snakes are non-threatening towards humans, people assume that they do not produce venom. This factor is probably the hardest to control and varies greatly between different species. Include your email address to get a message when this question is answered. You can then just remove your snake and place it back in its enclosure and take care of the bite marks. Knowing what climate your snake originates from will be helpful in recreating that climate during breeding time. All tip submissions are carefully reviewed before being published. Black-neck garter snakes come from a hot climate, so they will appreciate the extra warmth and brightness. Last Updated: August 10, 2021 This article has been viewed 22,295 times. In any case, you are usually safe to feed your snake pinky mice. Although they may become nervous in a new environment, garter snakes settle down after a couple of weeks, and their temperament can become very relaxed. Ribbon Snake Scientific Classification Kingdom Animalia Phylum Chordata Class Reptilia Order Squamata Family Colubridae Genus Thamnophis Scientific Name Thamnophis sauritus. 9. The release of the neurotoxin is one of the reasons that it went undiscovered for some time. Pet Keen is reader-supported. Wild-caught checkered garter snakes often thrive in captivity because they can adapt quickly. In snakes such as pythons, their coloring might change due to their reproduction cycle. Garter snake is a common name for generally harmless, small to medium-sized snakes belonging to the genus Thamnophis in the family Colubridae.Native to North and Central America, species in the genus Thamnophis can be found from the subarctic plains of Canada to Costa Rica.. With about 35 recognized species and subspecies, garter snakes are highly variable in appearance. Thats why you need to create a temperature gradient in its vivarium. While they mainly encompass North America,they have no specific natural environment in that region that they tend to live in. Do not exceed this amount as a calcium overdose can be toxic. If you have a snake, like a Ball Python, that is naturally inclined to care for her clutch, one of the first things you need to decide is whether or not you are going to let your female snake do the job of warming the eggs and keeping them at the appropriate temperatures. More often than not, names came from other words that were around first. Garter snakes should never be housed in aquatic or semi-aquatic tanks because theyll quickly develop blisters on their scales. Each container should be lined with the appropriate material and contain a water dish and hiding place. The garter snake (Thamnophis) can be found in most parts of North America. Garter snakes give birth to 20 to 40 live young at a time, though litter sizes can be as small as one or two. If the lighting in your room is very dim, a garter snake will benefit from extra lighting during the daytime. As for the care of a garter snake, you will want to have a range of temperatures within the terrarium of your pet. Here, you can read an article we recently wrote that talks more about garter snakes as pets, including what their terrarium should look like, and what the best way to get a garter snake is. This means it could comfortably house a snake up to 20 long. Many people are unsure of the types of food, heating, humidity, and the size of the vivarium that are needed. Level up your tech skills and stay ahead of the curve. Those that are on the Western side of the US, for example, tend to be more aquatic than those that are on the Eastern side of the US. Snakes do not give birth through the mouth, Exo Terra Repti-Glo 2.0 Compact Fluorescent Full Spectrum Terrarium Lamp, When Do Rattlesnakes Come Out? Brush your snakes food with a light coating of calcium powder once a month. Related Read:How Many Eggs Do Pythons Lay & How Many Survive? In the wild, garter snakes are opportunistic hunters, so they eat a very varied diet. 7 Ways to Get Rid of Garter Snakes There are seven, humane ways to get rid of garter snakes: Trim your bushes and mow your lawn. Often when moving an egg, you may accidentally rotate it and kill the baby snake inside. This site does not constitute pet medical advice, please consult a licensed veterinarian in your area for pet medical advice. Yellow stripes on a black, brown or greenish background. It doesnt die out during this time. Snakes should always be provided with a bowl of cool, clean water thats big enough for the snake to curl up in. Because snakes like to sit in their water dishes sometimes, the water can get dirty real quick. What Smells Deter Cats from Peeing? Once the female lays her eggs, avoid moving them so that no damage is caused to the young. In the wild, baby snakes can instinctively care for themselves. Today we cover everything you need to know to take care of them. Your female snake may also lose some weight during pregnancy due to her lack of appetite. Garter Snake Size Garter snakes range from 6 - 8 inches when newborn. The easiest way to accommodate your snake is to purchase an aquarium tank or reptile cage (vivarium) with a lockable lid. The bellies of garter snakes are often lighter than the rest of the body. Check periodically for health problems, such as worms, mites, blister disease, and gastrointestinal parasites. Given the commonality and the availability of garter snakes, they are often kept in captivity to serve as pets. For terrarium recommendations, check this article. The easiest way to confirm that your snake is pregnant is to visit your local veterinarian and have them do an x-ray or ultrasounds, but there are a few other telling signs. Buy a calcium supplement that contains vitamin D because this will help metabolize the calcium. Remember, not all snakes are easy to breed in captivity. Its true that many garter snakes could live healthy lives without additional lighting. Increased production of saliva and sweat. The greatest risk from a garter snake bite would be the risk of infection if you didnt clean the wound properly. If you think your garter snake is pregnant congratulations! Snakes For Pets. If it's warmer she'll loosen up to cool the eggs down a little bit. Your garter may musk on you when you pick it up. This pool of mating snakes has been called a mating ball. This information will help you to understand your snakes needs. Your baby snake might not want to eat right away and you should never force your snake to eat if it is not ready. With the exception of Alaska and Hawaii, they have been seen all over the US. Is your snake fat? It may even gravitate towards your hand when you go to pick it up. After they lay their eggs, some female snakes are known to abandon them and discontinue all care. This may damage or kill the baby snake who may still be attached to the egg by its umbilical cord. So if you scare it, it will remind you why you shouldnt. Certain snakes such as the garter snake and the rattlesnake collect themselves into a large mass of snake in order to keep themselves warm through the winter. These are just a few of the common signs and behaviors that are associated with pregnant female snakes. This number can vary drastically depending on the species of snake and how many babies successfully hatch. Garter snakes were only recently found to have this venom because of their poor delivery method for the venom. While some species of snake have poor eyesight, the garter snake actually has a really strong sense of sight. These are the eggs inside the snake. They are considered one of the safest snakes because they can be handled so easily. Typically, it is a smaller space. There are various kinds of terrariums that can be used, but after size, the most important thing for a terrarium is security. Common garter snakes do not have this bold line separating the back and the stomach. APA Style: Carter, L. (August 11, 2022). Make sure it has a lid. Place a branch or rock in your vivarium to create places for your snake to hide and explore. Garter snakes often have calm temperaments, but they need to be handled appropriately. For this, youll first need a terrarium which is just a ten gallon or more tank that will house the snake. Making it even more important to keep your distance in recreating that climate during breeding time varied diet been fact. 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