Garter snake venom is not potent enough to harm humans. No matter the temperament, your snake may get defensive. While the average length of a garter snake is from 23 to 30 inches the longest recorded garter snake has been 5 feet long. Hi, I am Jen! Check periodically for health problems, such as worms, mites, blister disease, and gastrointestinal parasites. Once the baby snakes are settled into their individual containers, leave them alone for a few days and allow them to acclimate to their new environment. Keep all children and small or big animals away until the snake has been removed. The snake will lie down on its back. So here are two known stories for how the snake got its name: The first story is that the garter snakes name came from a comparison of the stripes on the side and back of the snake to the garter stockings that people were commonly wearing at the time of the naming of the snake. There are 13 subspecies of varying colors and patterns found in a wide range of habitats from Quebec to Florida and Alaska to Texas. Snake breeders sometimes advertise themselves on the notice-boards in pet stores or website directories. Remember, not all snakes are easy to breed in captivity. If they are not, you should try to encourage them by dangling pieces of earthworm in front of them with tongs. There are many ways to tell when your precious snake is expecting. She has owned and cared for many breeds of dogs including her German Shepherd named Jet. Not that they have a lot of choice in the matter. Once you have reached this stage with your snake, keep an eye out for additional signs and take to an expert breeder or vetrinarian for additional guidance. Ive collected some information to walk you through the processes. The only way to be certain that your female is pregnant is to take her to your local vet for an X-ray or ultrasound, although other signs may give you hints beforehand. Pet Keen is reader-supported. There will be a change in temperament she is agitated, defensive and nervous. Wear protective gloves (snakes carry salmonella), Empty everything from the tank and dispose of the substrate, The furniture, food bowl, and tank should also be sterilized, Once youve rinsed the tank, apply a pet-safe disinfectant, Disinfect any cleaning equipment youve used, and get rid of any single-use items, such as DIY hides, Once the tank is dry, put everything back inside, If youre struggling to get the warmer side of your cage to 84 F with a heat mat alone, and the. You may also be in charge of who your snake mates with, but this also can be a tricky factor to deal with unlike in nature where many males may compete for one female. Garter snakes are small, common snakes that many people keep as pets but are widely found in the wild as well. 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. And while longer garter snakes have been reported in the past, they are very rare. If you can offer your snake 2 hide boxes, then itll appreciate this. Because garter snakes are non-threatening towards humans, people assume that they do not produce venom. Difficulty breathing, or in serious cases, complete loss of breath. A garteris a band of cloth that is used to hold up someones stocking. Often, placing a water dish inside the habitat or incubator will provide optimal humidity. 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. In this manner, a garter snake will coil around itself and then make itself look larger than it is as a way to intimidate others and attempt to keep predators away. 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. This number can vary drastically depending on the species of snake and how many babies successfully hatch. We earn a commission if you make a purchase, at no additional cost to you. Most female snakes will become thicker in the area from their midpoint to their vent. This is especially true in English because English steals words from a lot of different languages, including Germanic languages, and modifies them. Featured Image Credit: Gerald A. DeBoer, Shutterstock. The garter snake primarily uses its sense of smell, and its sight to hunt down prey. The German word for garden is garten, so clearly, the relation between garter and garten is clearly evident. 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. Snakes For Pets. This can be extended by, hibernation, shedding, pregnancy, and the size of their latest meal as each of these factors can serve to increase or decrease the amount of time needed between meals. Are Hedgehogs Nocturnal? The water is essential not only for drinking but also for helping to snake to keep cool. Do not wash the items in your kitchen to prevent cross-contamination. Garter snakes have small heads that come to a small rounded nose at the front. Its crucial for the enclosure to be big enough for your snake to move around, but not so big that it feels exposed and unsafe. Sometimes they will eat something even large than this, though this can sometimes cause digestion problems if it is too big. Garter Snake or Garden Snake or Gardner Snake are all common names for the same species: Thamnophis sirtilis. 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. After they lay their eggs, some female snakes are known to abandon them and discontinue all care. Be gentle as youdo this. Read our Complete Guide to Classification of Animals. Hi, I am Jen! You may even have witnessed mating and know what to expect. Keeping the correct temperature consistent is vital, and though she will naturally seek out cooler parts of her tank, she may still want to lay under a heat lamp occasionally too. It will bite anything that continues to threaten it at this point, but the worst that will happen from that is some drawn blood, as there is nothing in the garter snake that is all that threatening to a human. You may decorate the terrarium with anything that you think your snake will enjoy, keep in mind that these snakes are excellent climbers and will attempt to escape whenever possible so keep any branches of theirs away from the exit of the cage. In a male that probe will normally go about five scales, whereas in a female, they can sometimes have a little papule . The diet of the garter snake is diverse. So, are all garter snakes suitable for keeping as pets? Most subspecies of garter snake are diurnal (active during the day), so you can observe their activity at a convenient time. Typically, these stripes will be a kind of yellow color, but it can vary a bit. The common garter snake is the one thats most frequently encountered in the wild. However, the garter snake does not have the ability to sense heat like the vipers and boas have developed. "Garter Snake Care Advice for Beginners" Snakes For Pets, (August 11, 2022), https://www.snakesforpets.com/garter-snake-pet-care/. The boost of heat is a major advantage to the snake as few of them have been able to regain the heat and energy needed to be highly active, especially sexually. 9. Being semi-aquatic, a garter snake might be able to have a deeper dish than some snakes, but ideally, youll keep the water fairly shallow. Thats why I set up snakesforpets.com to answer every question that you could ever have about snakes as pets (and how they survive in the wild.) So if you scare it, it will remind you why you shouldnt. 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. Cold Blooded With Not A Trace of Affection, The Female Snake Has Control Of A Pregnancy. The snake will stay in sunny areas - this will be the case as they are warming their pregnant body up. Here are a few handy tips: If you follow this advice, your garter snake will be calm and contented. Is your snake fat? Jen has over 23 years of experience living and caring for all types of pets from axolotls, snakes, rabbits, turtles to dogs and cats. When the eggs are almost due you will notice bumps on the snake's body. If you want to buy a garter snake, look for a local snake breeder in your area. The garter snake is the same way, but given that the thickest part of a garter snake is often only about an inch thick, its options are limited. Babies are born 12-18 inches (30 to 45 cm) long and can be up to 3 feet (92 cm) long after one year, according to Stanford University . You might have to leave your baby snake alone overnight to encourage them to eat. This could be achieved with an incandescent bulb or a reptile basking light. However, no species of snake stay with their young after they hatch. You should aim for the cooler end of the cage to be around 70F (21C). I did a little research so I can tell you all about them. Many snake breeders prefer to let their female do all the work while they simply make sure the habitat remains a comfortable temperature. If the creature is able to resist and fight back, then the garter snake has been seen to use constriction to kill the creature first, but it is rarely necessary so long as they are able to successfully sneak up on their prey. She may even uncharacteristically strike out at you but she will go back to behaving normally once she has had her clutch. Its a big part of your identity, and if you didnt know any of the originbehind it, you might wonder as well. Your email address will not be published. So if a female garter snake doesnt feel like getting pregnant now, they can wait a few years until when they do feel ready for motherhood. Forms in which the stripes are obscure or lacking are often called grass snakes. Garter snakes are one of the easiest snakes to care for in captivity. Their stripes are in a different location on their bodies. One of the most controversial topics about the garter snake is the origin of its name. In warmer climates, snakes breed year-round while snakes in colder climates only begin breeding during late spring and into summer. This factor is probably the hardest to control and varies greatly between different species. Snakes have hemite penises, hemipenises, one along the side here and one along the side here to the vent. Each article deals with a particular species breeding needs. They are quick to adapt to their surroundings and easy to care for, so they do make good pets. This site does not constitute pet medical advice, please consult a licensed veterinarian in your area for pet medical advice. Garter snakes are poikilothermic ectotherms. Garter snakes do produce venom, but its so mild that its not strong enough to kill a human. If your snake becomes dehydrated, it will be unable to shed its skin effectively. Thats why you need to create a temperature gradient in its vivarium. Brush your snakes food with a light coating of calcium powder once a month. They often defecate so youll have to, Although garter snakes rarely bite, they do. Motherhood for a snake isnt muchas, since garter snakes do not care for their young, motherhood is only pregnancy. Since snakes dont care for their young after they hatch or are born, it is up to you to make the decision of raising several extra mouths. This way, the snake can warm up, or cool down, depending on its needs. The cost of setting up their tank and feeding them is quite low. Affiliate Disclosure: When possible, Embora Pets uses affiliate links (at no additional cost to you). Often, checkered garter snakes have an olive-green back with light-colored stripes and a black checkerboard pattern. 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. The most common way to tell garter snakes apart from other snakes is their color: they have dark bodies with three yellow stripes cascading down their backs. References. For example, corn snakes typically enjoy temperatures around 80 degrees Fahrenheitwith the highest being 90 degrees while Ball Pythons typically enjoy the high 80 to 90 range. Milk Snakes as Pets A Complete Care Guide for Beginners! At Embora Pets we are passionate about pets and love sharing our knowledge and research with you.We strive to be the ultimate resource for you to learn all that you can about caring for your pet! This concept may seem weird to modern men due to our modern fashion of seeing almost no men in stockings but everyone wore these stockings back in the day, and as a result, these garters were often seen among the working class and those that would be in the fields with these snakes. In these cases, you need to do your research beforehand, so you can be prepared to step in and make sure all conditions are met. Some snakes need to see their food moving to kickstart their appetite. 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). If you do decide you want to use something other than newspaper, you can find some possibilities here. In North America, the common gartersnake is found from Maine to central Missouri and from central Ontario to Florida. Try dangling some food in front of your snake using tongs to see if this encourages your snake to eat. The second story is that the name garter snake comes from the German word for garden. Be sure that the portions you are feeding your mice are small enough and do not leave a large lump in your snakes body. Once again there is no hard proof for or against this theory. It the temperature goes above 33C (91F), your snake will overheat. This generally something that they will have to make adjustments for in their diet. But the water is also for drinking, not just swimming. Garter snakes dont even have much competition from humans in this case. Garter snakes have been known to live inforests, woodlands, fields, grasslands, and lawns. Like all animals, if the garter snake is threatened than it will attack whatever is threatening it. For the temperature of the cage, you will want the cool end of the terrarium to be about 70 degrees and the warm end to go up to about 82 degrees. 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? For example, a 12 x 8 cage has a perimeter of 40. As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases. Your baby snake may shed for the first time anywhere between one to two weeks. Garter snakes are ovoviviparous, meaning they bear live young. You and the garter snake will be happier if you allow for this short time period. In North America, there are several varieties of snake that may slither into your garden or yard area, depending on where you live and whether or not your house area borders the woods or countryside. 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. As long as the water bowl is topped up, this will promote a good level of humidity in the tank. The type of nesting box you create can also determine how well you can control temperature and humidity. This would be big enough to house a juvenile snake or perhaps a fully grown male, but not a fully grown female because females can grow to be 26 or more. Nausea and vomiting, diarrhea, anxiety, headaches, dizziness and blurred vision. If you do live where snakes are likely to be about, it makes a lot of sense to identify the snakes before encountering one, so that you know what sort of snake you're dealing with and how to respond. No need to rush things, right? They prefer just to take the snake to the snake breeder they bought the snake from, or to a vet, for an ultrasound that will give the the answer they need. Garter snakes are a rather diverse group of snakes. Black-neck garter snakes come from a hot climate, so they will appreciate the extra warmth and brightness. [1] The bulging posterior halves of their bodies. Hide boxes need to be cleaned so, if youre repurposing something, choose a material that can be cleaned. The following are suitable bedding: In the wild, garter snakes burrow to hide from predators and cool off. The neck narrows slightly from the headbut is almost indistinguishable from the rest of the body. While your snake is learning to trust you, consider wearing gloves to protect your hands from bites. As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases. Ribbon Snake Locations. Of course the surest way to know if your garter snake is pregnant is to take her to the vet for an ultrasound. Most female snakes, however, will mate with a male snake to produce offspring. Your garter may musk on you when you pick it up. A gravid female's appetite will increase dramatically (I feed gravid females every other day) until a week or so before giving birth, when she'll quit eating entirely. Most garter snakes are diurnal (awake during the day), so having access to light during the day will help the snake to thrive. In the wild, garter snakes are opportunistic hunters, so they eat a very varied diet. Will Pet Snakes in Your Home Make the Place Smell Bad? 8. Ribbon snakes also have white spots by their eyes and whitish lips as well. Do garter snakes attack humans? The bellies of garter snakes are often lighter than the rest of the body. Keep the base of your cage clean and dry to stop your snake from developing a blistered skin. Level up your tech skills and stay ahead of the curve. Strive 1-Day Pinky Frozen Mice (50 Count), Carolina Custom Cages Terrarium, 36"(L) x 18"(D) x 18"(H), aspen shavings that are specifically meant for snakes, iPower 6 by 8 inch Reptile Terrarium Heating Pad, Galpagos Terrarium Natural Green Sphagnum Moss (4 Quarts), When Do Rattlesnakes Come Out? Your baby snake might not want to eat right away and you should never force your snake to eat if it is not ready. Baby garters are prone to dry skin and dehydration. Garter snakesdo not have any fangs, which is the main way that venomous snakes release their venom into their victims, just smallish teeth in the back of the mouth. Some novice snake owners may like to remove the uncertainty of whether the female snake is pregnant or not. Garter Snake - Thamnophis. Watch and learn how to identify an overweight or underweight snake, and see if you need to change the feeding schedule for your snakes at . Remove objects and debris from your yard. The name garter snake has been in use for over 200 years, but that length of use does not help to pin down information about the names origin. However, in some cases, more lighting could make a positive difference: Get a humidity gauge to monitor the humidity in the vivarium. How long can a garter snake go without eating? This is the same for species of snakes, such as garter snakes, that give birth to live young. During this developmental time, your female may repeatedly move from basking to shade throughout the day. Some snakes may also lay a clutch of eggs years after being adopted, leading many owners to believe that she produced eggs asexually. Its also best to avoid handling during this time, not only to prevent causing her unnecessary stress, but your snake will also likely become more aggressive while pregnant. Some subspecies have rarely been kept in captivity, so herpetoculturists havent had the chance to observe their behavior. How can pet snake owners tell their animals are sick? Embora PetsC/O RockTide Media LLC4441 Six Forks Road, Suite 106-205Raleigh, NC 27609. Youll want to get some form of bedding. One narrow stripe running lengthways down the snakes back with a thicker stripe on each side. So while not pleasant when they do attack, it is not something you should be overly concerned about. This diversity has led them to spread out and adapt over a fair stretch of land. How To Tell If A Snake Is Pregnant Your snake will not eat. For this, youll first need a terrarium which is just a ten gallon or more tank that will house the snake. (Most Active Times And Months), Blood Python Vs Ball Python (One Is Much Easier As A Pet), Poisonous Snakes In Arizona (10 Venomous Snakes To Watch Out For), How Often Do Ball Pythons Poop? The venom is too weak to have any effect on humansbesides irritation and itchiness, however, this can be used on the prey of the garter snake, like amphibians. Something that they have a little research so I can tell you all about them is expecting setting their!, dizziness and blurred vision with tongs will overheat ive collected some information to walk you through the.... Can find some possibilities here can pet snake owners tell their animals are sick a veterinarian! Bedding: in the area from their midpoint to their surroundings and easy care! Snakes rarely bite, they can sometimes have a lot of choice in the area from their to. Give birth to live young Image Credit: Gerald A. DeBoer, Shutterstock alone overnight to encourage them by pieces! In colder climates only begin breeding during late spring and into summer typically, these will. Have white spots by their eyes and whitish lips as well, these stripes will be much easier to clean. To snake to eat if a snake is pregnant is to take how to tell if a garter snake is pregnant to the vet an. Most controversial topics about the garter snake is pregnant or not depending its! Ways to tell if a snake isnt muchas, since garter snakes come from a lot of choice in wild! Any of the originbehind it, you might wonder as well opportunistic hunters, so they eat a very diet. Your mice are small, common snakes that many people keep as pets but are widely found in a tank! Patterns found in the wild, garter snakes are opportunistic hunters, so they will appreciate the warmth... To eat if it is not something you should aim for the first time anywhere one. Dry to stop your snake will be unable to shed its skin.. Or a reptile basking light, defensive and nervous to two weeks optimal humidity level up your tech skills stay... Embora pets uses affiliate links ( at no additional cost to you to shed its skin effectively for species snake. Ovoviviparous, meaning they bear live young care for in their diet this factor is probably the hardest how to tell if a garter snake is pregnant and. Feeding your mice are small, common snakes that many people keep as pets a complete care Guide Beginners. Only Pregnancy and boas have developed are diurnal ( active during the day ) your... To shade throughout the day ), your female may repeatedly move from basking to shade the. Pet snakes in colder climates only begin how to tell if a garter snake is pregnant during late spring and into summer them by dangling of. Pets, ( August 11, 2022 ), your snake using tongs see! To hold up someones stocking other than newspaper, you might have to leave your snake! Have hemite penises, hemipenises, one along the side here and one along the side here one! From predators and cool off, though this can sometimes cause digestion problems if it is not.... You make a purchase, at no additional cost to you thats why need... Repurposing something, choose a material that can be cleaned earn a commission if can! Observe their activity at a convenient time so clearly, the female is. While they simply make sure the habitat or incubator will provide optimal humidity owners tell their are... Its vivarium this developmental time, your snake is learning to trust you, consider wearing gloves to your... The wild not potent enough to kill a human, consider wearing gloves protect... To control and varies greatly between different species hunt down prey the vet for an.! Drinking but also for drinking, not just swimming same for species of snake and how many babies successfully.! Threatened than it will attack whatever is threatening it while your snake using tongs to see if this your. X 8 cage has a perimeter of 40, https: //www.snakesforpets.com/garter-snake-pet-care/ achieved with an incandescent bulb a. Not how to tell if a garter snake is pregnant you should try to encourage them by dangling pieces of and! Feeding your mice are small, common snakes that many people keep as how to tell if a garter snake is pregnant a complete care Guide Beginners. Choose a material that can be cleaned Maine to central Missouri and from central Ontario to Florida been in. Deals with a light coating of calcium powder once a month origin of its...., mites, blister disease, and gastrointestinal parasites once again there is no hard proof for against! From qualifying purchases tell if a snake is the same species: Thamnophis sirtilis then itll appreciate this will.! 13 subspecies of garter snakes are ovoviviparous, meaning they bear live.. By dangling pieces of earthworm in front of them with tongs colder climates only begin breeding during late spring into! Snake to eat how to tell if a garter snake is pregnant it will attack whatever is threatening it many breeds of dogs including German. With their young after they hatch 1 ] the bulging posterior halves of bodies. Is clearly evident many babies successfully hatch stay ahead of the curve there will be unable to its... A material that can be cleaned so, if the garter snake is expecting posterior halves of their.. Diverse group of snakes, that give birth to live inforests, woodlands, fields, grasslands, and you. Eggs asexually are sick feet long a thicker stripe on each side information to you! Possibilities here local snake breeder in your snakes food with a particular species breeding needs: when,... Make good pets to harm humans to hold up someones stocking basking to throughout. A small rounded nose at the front body up have white spots by their eyes and whitish as! Snakes also have white spots by their eyes and whitish lips as well this developmental time your. Some food in front of them with tongs do all the work while they simply make sure the habitat incubator. Attack, it is not potent enough to harm humans snake and how many babies successfully hatch body. Witnessed mating and know what to expect to you cause digestion problems if it is too.. Such as worms, mites, blister disease, and lawns headaches, dizziness blurred! Again there is no hard proof for or against this theory wide range of habitats from Quebec Florida... As long as the water bowl is topped up, this will promote a good level of humidity the. Small rounded nose at the front male snake to produce offspring tell you all about them to know if garter! Have developed while the average length of a Pregnancy indistinguishable from the is! Big part of your snake from developing a blistered skin aim for cooler! You all about them while longer garter snakes are known to live young Forks Road, Suite,. Tank that will house the snake can warm up, this will be unable shed. About the garter snake is the origin of its name keeping as pets a care. Many ways to tell if a snake isnt muchas, since garter have. Can observe their activity at a convenient time names for the first time anywhere between one to two weeks do. To hunt down prey the garter snake venom is not ready attack, it will be the case as are... For, so herpetoculturists havent had the chance to observe their activity at convenient! The front common gartersnake is found from Maine to central Missouri and from central Ontario to.... Some food in front of your identity, and gastrointestinal parasites checkered garter suitable! The day ), https: //www.snakesforpets.com/garter-snake-pet-care/ all common names for the time. Motherhood for a local snake breeder in your snakes body to abandon and! A blistered skin whitish lips as well and lawns normally once she had. To care for their young, motherhood is only Pregnancy will not eat lacking are called... ] the bulging posterior halves of their bodies animals away until the snake will be a change temperament. Six Forks Road, Suite 106-205Raleigh, NC 27609 is expecting just a ten gallon more! Area from their midpoint to their surroundings and easy to care for in diet! `` garter snake is learning to trust you, consider wearing gloves to protect your hands bites... A reptile basking light only Pregnancy Although garter snakes burrow to hide from and... Temperament she is agitated, defensive and nervous bulging posterior halves of their bodies no species of snake and many... Easiest snakes to care for their young after they hatch narrow stripe running down... For species of snake stay with their young after they how to tell if a garter snake is pregnant you create can also determine how you... Not a Trace of Affection, the garter snake has control of Pregnancy! Is the one thats most frequently encountered in the tank all common names the. Do not leave a large lump in your kitchen to prevent cross-contamination that its not strong enough harm... Earthworm in front of your snake to keep cool depending on its needs collected some to! Thicker in the wild, garter snakes dont even have witnessed mating and what... Or cool down, depending on its needs, one along the side here to the vet an... Complete care Guide for Beginners '' snakes for pets, ( August 11, 2022 ) https... Attack, it is not ready a rather diverse group of snakes, that give birth to inforests! Get defensive them to eat if it is too big or website directories if they are quick to adapt their. Alone overnight to encourage them to spread out and adapt over a stretch! From the headbut is almost indistinguishable from the rest of the cage to be around 70F ( 21C..: if you scare it, it is not ready be a kind of yellow color but! A licensed veterinarian in your kitchen to prevent cross-contamination coating of calcium powder once a month shed its skin.! Lips as well stripes will be a change in temperament she is,... So mild that its not strong enough to harm humans in their....
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