They are often stout-bodied with a ridge down the center of their back. Try dangling some food in front of your snake using tongs to see if this encourages your snake to eat. Snakes should always be provided with a bowl of cool, clean water that’s big enough for the snake to curl up in. No. Can two male garter snakes live together, or a male and a female? It’s best to have young snakes on smaller, frequent meals as they can digest these more easily. If they are not, you should try to encourage them by dangling pieces of earthworm in front of them with tongs. This means it could comfortably house a snake up to 20” long. Aim to have the opening to the hide box just slightly bigger than the width of the snake. It will also give the snake’s home a more authentic look. They can find other snakes by following their pheromone-scented trails. Last but not least: garter snakes have cool scales. ", "I think this was very helpful for me and my new baby garter snake. In addition to their markings, garter snakes have the following characteristics: These features are all found in garter snakes, though do bear in mind that there are some differences within the species. Garter snake venom is not potent enough to harm humans. Also, since snakes are cold-blooded and require warmth, make sure to set up a heating pad, light bulb, and thermometer to keep the cage between 75-85°F. The heating pad can be one specifically for reptiles or it can be a regular electric blanket that is set to the lowest temperature. wikiHow is where trusted research and expert knowledge come together. The average length of an adult garter snake is 46 – 66cm, though they can grow quite a lot bigger. The smallest snakes often eat things like earthworms and insects. Also, it was, "I was helped by the tips regarding snake bedding and feeding times for different food. The process declines in frequency as they get older to maybe a few times a year. Fresh, clean water should always be available for your snake. Practice handling the snake regularly and helping it to feel safe and secure so that it feels more comfortable being handled. The bite is no more painful than getting a shot, and it is completely harmless. The common garter snake is the one that’s most frequently encountered in the wild. How long does shedding take? So, are all garter snakes suitable for keeping as pets? ‘Keeled’ scales have a ridge running lengthways down the center. ", "This story helped me to convince my parent to let me own a garter snake. A super high level summary of what do garden snakes eat is that they will eat ANYTHING that they can easily overpower. This causes the transfer of heat to them in kleptothermy, which is an advantage immediately after hibern… Don’t use your fingers. "It gave me an understanding of what the injured garter snake I rescued in a park needs to be comfortable while he, "I really found the part about the tub for her to bathe in helpful, as I never knew snakes bathed. It has the following physical characteristics: Ribbon snakes look very similar to common garter snakes, but there are some differences: The checkered garter snake is favored for its calm temperament. Checkered garter snakes are sometimes mistaken for common garter snakes because some common garter snakes have very faint patterns of their back that resemble a checkerboard. You should aim for the cooler end of the cage to be around 70°F (21°C). Garter snakes on average tend to be around 5.3 ounces and anywhere from 18 to 30 inches long depending on gender and the type of garter snake you may have. Any size will do, but you should feed more or less depending on the worm or snake size. One narrow stripe running lengthways down the snake’s back with a thicker stripe on each side. It also lets the snake cool down in the cooler part of the enclosure. Some owners believe that lighting is unnecessary. ", "I have been planning to get a pet (maybe a snake) and now I will know how to take care of it. Many people are unsure of the types of food, heating, humidity, and the size of the vivarium that are needed. 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. Choose a 30–50 US gal (110–190 L) plastic tub or aquarium with a lid. So, you are only spending about $4 a month on food for your snake. Garter snakes do eat rodents, but they also eat other animals (such as frogs, insects, tadpoles, lizards, earthworms, snails, leeches, fish, and slugs). The garter snake (Thamnophis) can be found in most parts of North America. Set up the enclosure first using a plastic tub or aquarium and add in a substrate, cage furniture, and a heating pad. Garter snakes will be much easier to keep clean in a laboratory-style tank which has some well-chosen pieces of furniture and suitable substrate. This allows the garter snake to move to a warmer area such as the heating pad if needed. Interestingly, over time, domestic snakes even send signals to the owners, hinting that they are hungry. Female snakes approaching breeding season can be fed more frequently. Immerse the snake in cool, running water and adjust the enclosure temperature to the appropriate range. As long as the water bowl is topped up, this will promote a good level of humidity in the tank. Some garter snakes will be afraid of being handled at first. It is noticed that when the habitat or host changes the snakes can arrange long-term hunger strikes. If the lighting in your room is very dim, a garter snake will benefit from extra lighting during the daytime. It needs to be large enough for the snake to fit in, yet small enough so that the snake can feel enclosed and safe. It’s uncommon for snakes to overeat. Hide boxes can be purchased cheaply. How Often do Garter Snakes Eat? You should only feed him once a week. If you intend to capture a wild garter snake yourself, you should check federal and state laws before doing so because this may not be legal, or you may need a license to do so. Do not give up. Do baby garter snakes have a painful bite? Read on for tips on how to feed your garter snake! They can adapt to a wide variety of habitats. They have been known to reach lengths of five feet in rare cases. ", "It helps me a lot and gives me all the information I wanted about this snake. Divide food portions up, offering a small meal every other day. Thanks to all authors for creating a page that has been read 183,471 times. This could be achieved with an incandescent bulb or a reptile basking light. In the wild, garter snakes are opportunistic hunters, so they eat a very varied diet. Keep your snake happy and healthy through handling and regular health checks, and enjoy getting to know your new friend! Read on for tips on how to feed your garter snake! ", "It helped me to properly care for my amazing snake. There are many ways to convince your parents to let you have a snake. This article received 14 testimonials and 85% of readers who voted found it helpful, earning it our reader-approved status. Common meals for various types of snakes include mice, voles, squirrels, birds, and eggs. Snakes can survive without food for a long time. it will usually eat 2 or 3. An enclosure for 2 garter snakes should be approximately 55 US gal (210 L). This can be once every four or five weeks for young snake. Only use newspapers and/or paper towels for baby garter snakes. According to Science Direct, the perimeter of the base of the cage (the distance around it) should be at least double the length of your snake. If you’d like to learn more about your snake’s eating … Is your kid begging for a dog? We've been helping billions of people around the world continue to learn, adapt, grow, and thrive for over a decade. So, if you’re short on space, you’d be better off opting for a male garter snake for this reason. This way, the snake can warm up, or cool down, depending on its needs. They are commonly found in North America. But in the winter months, garter snakes will hibernate usually in a den with a large group of snakes found together. Thank you. Temperatures that are above 91 °F (33 °C) can be dangerous for garter snakes. Most subspecies of garter snake are diurnal (active during the day), so you can observe their activity at a convenient time. Garter snakes, commonly known as ‘garden snakes’, belong to the family Colubridae. 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