When I was just a young boy I was into reptiles. I wanted a snake as a pet more than anything. I woke up the morning of my seventh birthday and there sitting on the kitchen table, was a terrarium with a garter snake!
I’ve had a few garter snakes as pets and they are awesome. Garter snakes make great pet snakes, especially for children. They are active yet easy to handle, generally docile and usually won’t bite. They are also easy to take care of and don’t get too big.
Lately, I’ve thought more and more about garter snakes and have been considering getting another one. I learned a lot keeping them in the past but I wanted to do a little more research.
If you are thinking about getting a garter snake for your son or daughter or even for yourself, I hope you find this article helpful.
So, let’s learn more about garter snakes!
What is the Correct Name?
Is it “garter” snake or “garden” snake? Many people hear the name “garter” snake and think they are hearing “garden” snake and assume that is the correct term because…well it seems to make more sense.
Garter snake is the correct term used for this small, active harmless snake. The name came about because these snakes have stripes running a long their bodies that resembled that of an old-fashioned garter that used to be a very popular article of clothing for women.
Where Do They Come From?
There are about 75 species and sub species of garter snakes. They have a very wide distribution and can be found across north America including Canada. They can be found from the southern most tip of Florida to the southern most part of Alaska.
How Big Do They Get?
Garter snakes are small slender snakes. Babies are quite small about 6-8 inches. Adults usually grow to around 2 to 3 feet in length but some have reached lengths of as much as 5 feet (though that is rare and depends on the specific species).
What Do They Eat?
In the wild Garter snakes eat a wide range of prey items including, earth worms, night crawlers, frogs, toads, salamanders, slugs, lizards, fish and small rodents. In captivity many have been kept on small mice but it’s a good idea to vary their diet at least a little.
Are Garter Snakes Dangerous?
Garter snakes are harmless. They are nonvenomous and rarely ever bite. When they do, if they do, it is not harmful in the least. So, if your son or daughter brings one home do not worry. They won’t hurt them. No one should ever fear a garter snake.
How Long Do They Live?
In captivity a garter snakes’ average lifespan is about 10 years but some have been known to live longer.
Are They a Good Choice For Beginners?
YES! Garter snakes are a great choice for beginners.
Where Can I Get One?
Depending on where you live, garter snakes are so common you might just go out and catch one. Check local laws for collecting wild life. This can be a fun, exciting and rewarding adventure.
You can sometimes find them in pet shops though they aren’t as available as they used to be. You can also find them online or purchase one from a breeder.
It is always better to buy captive bred animals. They are usually more accustomed to life in a terrarium and easier to feed.
What Makes Garter Snakes Good Pet Snakes?
Now that we’ve learned a little more about garter snakes let’s talk about all the reasons why they are a good choice for a pet snake.
Garter Snakes Are:
- Affordable
- Come in various color morphs
- Easy to care for
- Don’t get too big
- Easy to handle
- Harmless
- Fun to watch
Considerations
- Sometimes they musk
- Eat more often than other snakes
- They are incredible escape artists
Affordable
Garter Snakes are really quite affordable. The average price for a common natural looking garter snake can range from less than $10 U.S. dollars to $45 dollars depending on the species.
If you are more interested in a rare species or in one of the many available morphs you could pay as much as $300. This is still very affordable when compared to other popular snakes such as a ball python.
Come in Various Color and Pattern Variations.
Garter snakes are being bred to highlight and emphasize various colors and patterns. Breeders select specific animals and breed them together so the offspring will visually express uniquely desired genetic traits. This can be fun and exciting to own something very unique!
Special breeding projects aside, there is a great degree of variation just within the many different naturally occurring species of garter snakes. You can find some that are jet black with vibrant yellow stripes to some that have blue stripes and others still with checkered red sides and red stripes.
This is another thing that makes garter snakes so interesting and cool!
Easy to Care For
Garter snakes are easy to care for. Because of their size they don’t require a large enclosure and due to their large distribution, they tend to very hardy animals. This is great because you can make some minor husbandry mistakes and not kill them.
This article is not intending to be a comprehensive guide on how to care for your garter snake but we hope it will give you some idea of what to expect.
Babies can be kept in a small 10-gallon terrarium or even smaller. As they grow you will need about a 30-40-gallon sized enclosure for adults. Be sure to find one that has a very secure top. Look for one that is specifically made to house snakes.
Garter snakes are very active and if there is a way to get out (even if you don’t think there is) they will find it and escape. Then you will likely never see them again.
Garter snakes do not have extreme temperature requirements like some snakes do. I lived in California when I owned my garter snakes.
I just kept them at room temperature with a mild bulb above their enclosure so I could watch them more easily. They did just fine.
Even though a heat source is not mandatory it will benefit your snake. This can be achieved by an under the tank heat mat or an over the tank light fixture with a heat bulb.
Temperatures should be in the low 70’s at night and in the mid 80’s during the day. (this is probably why my snakes did so well in California because that matched the average temps in our house very closely.
You will need to provide a sturdy water bowl. Garter snakes are semi aquatic and like to be around water. So, make sure it is continuously available and be sure to change it regularly. This will also help them shed.
It’s also fun to throw in a feeder fish or two and watch your snake chase them around. I have to say that was one of the most exciting things about owning a garter snake. Watching them eat!
Speaking of eating. In the wild garter snakes usually eat a wide variety food items that are available in their particular location. In captivity you can feed them fish, earth worms or small mice (when they get older). All are easy to obtain and most pet stores.
Like most snakes it’s important to provide a suitable place for them to hide. This gives the snake a place to retreat to and feel secure. This is important for their overall mental health.
It helps them to stay calm and not stressed. A stressed animal can become a sick animal and nobody wants that.
Don’t Get Too Big
As outlined earlier garter snakes are not a very large snake. This makes them easier to house and easier to handle. It also makes them a great choice for a pet snake especially for children.
Easy to Handle
Garter Snakes are easy to handle and almost never bite. They are alert and active and fun to interact with. They do tend to move around a lot so you will need to let them crawl across your hands one after another. Never grip them tightly. Children can generally be taught to handle them with out hurting them.
Harmless
Despite some fears of snakes in general, garter snakes are harmless nonvenomous snakes that make good pets. They almost never bite and even when one does, they are much too small to do any real harm.
Fun to Watch
Garter snakes are active during the day and are often “on the go”. You will be able to watch your snake explore his cage often. Also, they are energetic eaters. As mentioned above one of my favorite things to do when I was younger was watch my garter snake eat.
My dad and I used to go to a near by pond and catch small frogs and toads then bring them home to watch the snake eat.
My “snake” who actually didn’t have an official name would chase those frogs around the cage and gobble them down. It was very exciting to watch.
These are great memories I have of spending time with my dad and I look back on them fondly.
Considerations
Sometimes They Musk
Garter snakes are not prone to biting, instead they release a foul-smelling discharge called “musk” (which is often accompanied by urine and feces) as a defensive measure.
This smell can get on your hands and clothing and is fairly difficult to get out. You will need to run your clothes through the washer and wash your hands a few times to get rid of it.
Wild caught garter snakes are more prone to do this than snakes that are captive bred and raised. Even wild caught garter snakes will usually stop “musking” once they have become more accustomed to handling.
Some people find this enough of a reason not to keep a garter snake as a pet. I personally don’t mind the smell. When I was younger, I thought it was just something that snakes did.
I got used to it and actually learned to associate it with part of the joy of keeping a snake as a pet. I learned later that not all snakes do this and my garter snakes even stopped doing it all together with time.
Eat More Often Than Other Snakes
Garter snakes are active and voracious eaters and that’s one thing that makes them good pet snakes. That said, when they are young you will need to feed them about once every 3 or 4 days and about once a week as adults.
This is more often than some snakes like boas and ball pythons but still less often than nearly all lizards.
This can either be viewed as a plus because you get to watch your snake eat more often, or a minus because you need to feed your snake more often (at least until they get older).
They Are Incredible Escape Artists
I kept my favorite garter snake (the snake with no official name) for about three years until one day I came home to an empty cage. I thought I had an escape proof enclosure. I was wrong.
I looked everywhere for that snake, but never saw it again. Garter snakes are great at escaping and this should be a big point of consideration for you.
Not so you can worry but so you can take the necessary precautions to house your snake in an enclosure made specifically for snakes.
One with a snug fitting door and preferably a latch of some kind. If you do this you should have no problems keeping your snake in it’s enclosure.
Conclusion
A garter snake was my first pet snake and they will always have a special place in my heart. They make excellent pets. They are harmless, active, curious snakes that are easy to care for, fun to watch and easy to handle.
This makes them a great pet snake for children or anyone. My daughter and I created Blue Dragon Pets because we love reptiles and want to learn more about them. We hope to share our enthusiasm and what we learn with others.
If you are considering a garter snake as a pet, we sincerely hope this article is helpful.