In the wild, snakes will typically breed after winter has ended and the warmer airs of spring have begun heat the land. Garter snakes come in various colors often black or brown, though red, green, and other colors are possible as well. Level up your tech skills and stay ahead of the curve. 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? The following are suitable bedding: In the wild, garter snakes burrow to hide from predators and cool off. 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. Garter snakes can go 2-3 months without eating, but this would be a red flag in captivity. Forms in which the stripes are obscure or lacking are often called grass snakes. Dont use your fingers. You can achieve this most easily by using a humidifier. How Long Should I Leave My New Snake Alone Before I Handle Them. Most garter snakes are diurnal (awake during the day), so having access to light during the day will help the snake to thrive. Unlike other snakes that are ambush hunters, the garter snake is an active hunter. At the end of brumation, the female garter snake releases a pheromone which specifically sends out the message that she is fertile and wants to mate. Your email address will not be published. In the most simple sense, garter snake will eat anything that they can, but they are limited by their small size. Because humans also have round pupils, this may not seem like an identifying feature, but some snakes have pupils shaped like slits. Use the search! Given that mating happens right around the brumation period, this is an amazingly effective tool for the males that use it, and may be the reason why females try to mate during this time period as ultimately they are warmed up by the process too. Make sure it has a lid. 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. To improve his chances of siring offspring, a male red-sided garter snake will clog his bedfellow's nether regions by secreting a thick, gelatinous " plug ." A temporary barrier, the plug keeps his sperm from spilling out, and it blocks rival males from leaving their sperm behind. Ribbon snakes have a bold line separating the yellow side stripe from the belly. 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. A snake which is shedding its skin Is indicating transformation and change. How Long Can Garter Snake Go Without Eating? Read this article we recently wrote to learn more about what garter snakes like to eat, as well as learn how to properly and successfully feed a garter snake. The diet of the garter snake is diverse. Check periodically for health problems, such as worms, mites, blister disease, and gastrointestinal parasites. She has owned and cared for many breeds of dogs including her German Shepherd named Jet. Thanks to all authors for creating a page that has been read 22,295 times. [1] Cold Blooded With Not A Trace of Affection, The Female Snake Has Control Of A Pregnancy. Even the snakes with the most docile natures may become instinctivelydefensive as she develops her young and guards her eggs. 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. It may even gravitate towards your hand when you go to pick it up. But the need for brumation changes this temporarily. As you might expect, the snake has a checkerboard pattern on its body, but those characteristic lines and stripes are still visible, too. If youre mating 2 snakes, install a reptile basking light. In captivity, you will need to create periods similar to winter and spring to promote successfulbreeding. With the exception of Alaska and Hawaii, they have been seen all over the US. Snakes born in captivity are free of parasites and can tolerate being handled better because theyre introduced to humans from birth. This could be achieved with an incandescent bulb or a reptile basking light. Though, since these snakes are a semi-aquatic species, they do prefer to be around a body of water like a river, pond, lake, stream, or other wetland. 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. Whether it came gradually or spawned out of myth, here is the deal with the garter snakes name. After they are rinsed off, place them on a paper towel in a safe container. She may even uncharacteristically strike out at you but she will go back to behaving normally once she has had her clutch. The average length of an adult garter snake is 46 66cm, though they can grow quite a lot bigger. So youll want to have a water dish inside their terrarium for them. Their stripes are in a different location on their bodies. Baby garters are prone to dry skin and dehydration. Search our database of over 12264 posts with up-to-date information from our experts and veterinarians. Mating for garter snakes takes place right after they have gone through their form of hibernation or brumation. Often, checkered garter snakes have an olive-green back with light-colored stripes and a black checkerboard pattern. This site does not constitute pet medical advice, please consult a licensed veterinarian in your area for pet medical advice. When possible, Embora Pets uses affiliate links (at no additional cost to you). 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. You can achieve this through a large rock to provide a nice cool area for the snake and a heat lamp to provide the necessary warmth that is so important for snakes. Garter snakes are a great option as a pet they are really low maintenance and are not aggressive or deadly to their owners. You can tell a female has become gravid when her skin stretches, spreading out her scales. Garter snakes should never be housed in aquatic or semi-aquatic tanks because theyll quickly develop blisters on their scales. Embora Pets is everywhere! While some species of snake have poor eyesight, the garter snake actually has a really strong sense of sight. Whether a female snake is pregnant or just digesting her most recent meal is definitely something I would want to know. 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. Ive collected some information to walk you through the processes. This diversity has led them to spread out and adapt over a fair stretch of land. But the water is also for drinking, not just swimming. Many snake owners also take pride in breeding their snake and raising the young. However, if your garter snake has gone 2 weeks without eating, this is a red flag and should be investigated. Snakes will typically only reproduce anywhere from once or twice a year to every three years. Ribbon snakes are thinner than garter snakes and have narrower heads. Brush your snakes food with a light coating of calcium powder once a month. Some snakes need to see their food moving to kickstart their appetite. "Hiss" and Hers The sooner its cleaned, the better. Controlling temperature is the largest factor in ensuring that your eggs survive till hatching time. Unfortunately, we arent able to pin down the exact origin of the name. The information might match up, or it might not. Its more likely that the female mated before you adopted her, as some female snakes have the unique ability to store viable sperm for up to 6 years! 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. While they mainly encompass North America,they have no specific natural environment in that region that they tend to live in. Garter Snakes / By reptilelink. Hide boxes can be purchased cheaply. The nest box can be a simple container where the female can enter andlay her eggs. The easiest way to accommodate your snake is to purchase an aquarium tank or reptile cage (vivarium) with a lockable lid. However, this can vary depending on the species of snake. Because snakes like to sit in their water dishes sometimes, the water can get dirty real quick. Remove any sources of food for the snakes. It goes on, but you generally get the point. When the eggs begin hatching, do not remove the baby snake from the egg yourself. 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? They can store sperm for up to five years! More often than not, names came from other words that were around first. While your snake is learning to trust you, consider wearing gloves to protect your hands from bites. They will leave as soon as they are warmed up and often head off to the nearest female that is releasing pheromones, but now they are warm and able to continue mating for a long while. 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! If your snake does feel threatened when you go to pick it up, it may respond in one of the following ways: Garter snakes tend to musk or thrash their tail when theyre stressed. Today we cover everything you need to know to take care of them. This process of live birthing occurs in about 30% of the snake community and results in the female snake being longer and bigger than the male snake most of the time. Try dangling some food in front of your snake using tongs to see if this encourages your snake to eat. When holding a garter snake in your hands, youll need to provide support to the snakes to prevent it from slipping through your fingers. Here are some critical questions to ask your breeder: Perform a visual check for any garter snake health issues: Garter snakes are notorious escape artists, so their enclosure needs to be very secure. Once youve made that choice though, you probably will want some tips on how to breed your snake. Breeding & Reproduction Guide. Be sure to research this beforehand so that you are prepared to provide theproper levels of humidity. Each snake is very different, and you will need to be aware of those differences as you begin the breeding process. 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 . Providing the right environment ahead of time can ensure that your clutch has a high survival rate. Like all animals, if the garter snake is threatened than it will attack whatever is threatening it. Youll need to prepare an adequate nest box to ensure that the eggs stay protected and at a consistent temperature and humidity. Must-Haves For Your Garter Snake Enclosure, Checkered Garter Snake Appearance And Diet, Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window), Click to share on Pinterest (Opens in new window), Click to share on Reddit (Opens in new window), Click to share on Twitter (Opens in new window). Also, because of the many places they can live, dont be surprised to find one hiding in your garden or yard. While considered harmless creatures, their bites are venomous, though not to humans. Embora PetsC/O RockTide Media LLC4441 Six Forks Road, Suite 106-205Raleigh, NC 27609. There will be a change in temperament she is agitated, defensive and nervous. Female snakes tend to avoid eating while they are pregnant. So while not likely these snakes can get above 4 feet in length. These are the eggs inside the snake. 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. APA Style: Carter, L. (August 11, 2022). "Garter Snake Care Advice for Beginners" Snakes For Pets, (August 11, 2022), https://www.snakesforpets.com/garter-snake-pet-care/. Snakes like to escape if they can. To hear more about the confusion between garden and garter snakes check out this snake owner article on garter vs. garden snakes. Here are the gestation periods for common pet snakes: Once youve confirmed that your snake is indeed pregnant, shell need special care during her gestation period. However, a common feature among them are the stripes down their backs. If your snake becomes dehydrated, it will be unable to shed its skin effectively. Garter Snake or Garden Snake or Gardner Snake are all common names for the same species: Thamnophis sirtilis. Many snake breeders prefer to let their female do all the work while they simply make sure the habitat remains a comfortable temperature. Garter snakes are ideal for new snake owners because their care needs are limited. 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. Often when moving an egg, you may accidentally rotate it and kill the baby snake inside. When you buy via links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission at no cost to you. Youll want to get some form of bedding. If youre trying to introduce a new food, but youre not having any success, try scenting the new food with the food that your snake is already accustomed to eating. 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. Thats a pretty big range. The lack of specialized senses may be another reason that garter snakes are considered more harmless than other snakes. After mating, females store sperm in their bodies until they want to fertilize their eggs. A good way to combat this is by making sure she is properly fed before breeding begins. Garter snakes, while small in size, have been quite full of discoveries. Last Updated: August 10, 2021 This is especially true in English because English steals words from a lot of different languages, including Germanic languages, and modifies them. You should make sure that your female snake has a basking place with a temperature of at least 95 degrees Fahrenheit. Garter Snake Size Garter snakes range from 6 - 8 inches when newborn. Related Read:How Many Eggs Do Pythons Lay & How Many Survive? So, if youre short on space, youd be better off opting for a male garter snake for this reason. The range can be anywhere between one and 150. 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. Remove objects and debris from your yard. Your email address will not be published. If you need to move the eggs, mark the top to help yourself know which way you picked it up so you can avoid rotating it. From enclosure setu. Garter snake venom is not potent enough to harm humans. One of the most controversial topics about the garter snake is the origin of its name. The bulging posterior halves of their bodies. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); Hi, I'm Lou. If your snake continues to refuse food, you might have to force feed your snake, but this is a drastic circumstance. The common garter snake is the one thats most frequently encountered in the wild. Pet Keen is reader-supported. The German word for garden is garten, so clearly, the relation between garter and garten is clearly evident. Some male snakes will release the same mating based pheromone to attract other males to them. Survival is more important than staying solitary after all. Ribbon snakes also have white spots by their eyes and whitish lips as well. How To Tell If A Snake Is Pregnant Your snake will not eat. Whats so cool about common garter snakes? This act of stealing heat is called kleptothermy since this act is taken right after hibernation. There are 13 subspecies of varying colors and patterns found in a wide range of habitats from Quebec to Florida and Alaska to Texas. Needs varybetween species, so be sure to look up what will make your particular species of snake happy. Sometimes they will eat something even large than this, though this can sometimes cause digestion problems if it is too big. This is because the high temperatures cause the water to evaporate and moisten the enclosure. Featured Image Credit: Gerald A. DeBoer, Shutterstock. Buy a calcium supplement that contains vitamin D because this will help metabolize the calcium. Most snakes that are commonly kept as pets are typically pregnant for anywhere from 30 to 60 days. She has owned and cared for many breeds of dogs including her German Shepherd named Jet. This number can vary drastically depending on the species of snake and how many babies successfully hatch. If you are bitten, you should wash and dress the wound. 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. Most garter snakes have stripes running lengthways down their body, mimicking the lines on a garter. Most female snakes will become thicker in the area from their midpoint to their vent. However, some have a checkered. Pit vipers are venomous and dangerous snakes to have in the garden, so instant recognition and staying safe are the way to go if they enter your garden. As such, the garter snake uses its stealthy slithering body as an advantage as it approaches its prey and then will attempt to eat the creature whole. Knowing what climate your snake originates from will be helpful in recreating that climate during breeding time. You can then just remove your snake and place it back in its enclosure and take care of the bite marks. The snake will stay in sunny areas - this will be the case as they are warming their pregnant body up. Some owners believe that lighting is unnecessary. wikiHow is where trusted research and expert knowledge come together. 2023 SnakesForPets.com. However, in captivity, they can, They are low maintenance, but not zero maintenance. 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. If it's cooler she'll wrap tighter around her eggs. Ask your breeder questions before taking your snake home. The garter snake (Thamnophis) can be found in most parts of North America. 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. We earn a commission if you make a purchase, at no additional cost to you. There are 7 references cited in this article, which can be found at the bottom of the page. Heres why garter snakes can make such great pets: Its essential to be aware of the following points: If youre prepared to clean the snakes vivarium regularly, treat it well, and provide it with a nutritious diet, your snake will be calm and easy to handle. 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). Garter snakes dont even have much competition from humans in this case. Adult males measure approximately 2 feet in length, while the females average 3 feet. Garter snakes often have calm temperaments, but they need to be handled appropriately. 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. 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. Journalists and bloggers across the web continue to use us as a trusted source and often link to our articles. Garter snakes are one of the easiest snakes to care for in captivity. To create this article, volunteer authors worked to edit and improve it over time. 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. , you may accidentally rotate it and kill the baby snake from the belly to shed its skin effectively to... To dry skin and dehydration see if this encourages your snake winter has ended the! Maintenance and are not aggressive or deadly to their vent most easily how to tell if a garter snake is pregnant using humidifier. Came from other words that were around first taking your snake with a lockable lid this act is taken after. 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Pet medical advice, please consult a licensed veterinarian in your garden or yard begun heat the land or. Food in front of your snake originates from will be helpful in recreating that climate during breeding time encompass... Article, volunteer authors worked to edit and improve it over time are! Able to pin down the exact origin of the most simple sense, garter snake is to an. As she develops her young and guards her eggs dirty real quick each is! Sense of sight unfortunately, we arent able to pin down the exact origin of the easiest snakes to for! Be surprised to find one hiding in your area for pet medical advice, please consult a licensed veterinarian your! Read: how many survive all common names for the same mating pheromone... Owned and cared for many breeds of dogs including her German Shepherd named Jet can. The easiest snakes to care for in captivity, you might have to force feed your snake, not. Apa Style: Carter, L. ( August 11, 2022 ), https: //www.snakesforpets.com/garter-snake-pet-care/,. To prepare an adequate nest box can be found at the bottom of the name to accommodate your snake..: //www.snakesforpets.com/garter-snake-pet-care/ stretches, spreading out her scales the female can enter andlay her eggs that. Better because theyre introduced to humans such as worms, mites, blister disease and! Without eating, but this would be a change in temperament she properly. Your breeder questions before taking your snake and place it back in its enclosure and take care of the snakes... Front of your snake using tongs to see if this encourages your snake continues refuse... Black or brown, though this can vary depending on the species of snake snakes that commonly! A water dish inside their terrarium for them research and expert knowledge come together aquatic or tanks... Fertilize their eggs forms in which the stripes are in a wide range of habitats from to. Brown, though red, green, and gastrointestinal parasites create this article, authors. Their form of hibernation or brumation female has become gravid when her skin stretches, spreading her... Can enter andlay her eggs find one hiding in your area for pet medical,... On a paper towel in a safe container sooner its cleaned, female..., this can sometimes cause digestion problems how to tell if a garter snake is pregnant it is too big that you are to... Species of snake have poor eyesight, the better them are the stripes are obscure or are... Are venomous, though this can vary depending on the species of snake and to... Tank or reptile cage ( vivarium ) with a light coating of calcium powder a! Even uncharacteristically strike out at you but she will go back to behaving normally she... The land form of hibernation or brumation before I Handle them from birth, dont be surprised to one! Place with a light coating of calcium powder once a month seem like identifying... So youll want to know may earn an affiliate commission at no additional cost to )... Light coating of calcium powder once a month stripes down their backs months without eating, they! Not potent enough to harm humans actually has a high survival rate in various colors often or... Their terrarium for them a commission if you make a purchase, at no additional cost you. Warmer airs of spring have begun heat the land also, because of the name clutch a... Their bites are venomous, though red, green, and you will need to prepare adequate... They need to be aware of those differences as you begin the breeding process, not swimming... Have narrower heads unfortunately, we may earn an affiliate commission at no additional cost to.... Over 12264 posts with up-to-date information from our experts and veterinarians dirty real quick the belly snake will eat!: Gerald A. DeBoer, Shutterstock, here is the one thats most frequently encountered in the most controversial about. Their food moving to kickstart their appetite male snakes will typically only reproduce from... Force feed your snake and how many survive spring to promote successfulbreeding the airs! Continues to refuse food, you will need to know the how to tell if a garter snake is pregnant though they can live, dont be to. 6 - 8 inches when newborn adult garter snake is to purchase an aquarium tank or reptile (... It & # x27 ; ll wrap tighter around her eggs a fair stretch of land adequate box! And expert knowledge come together months without eating, but they need to prepare an adequate box... Gravid when her skin stretches, spreading out her scales your garden or yard stay protected and a... Has led them to spread out and adapt over a fair stretch of land consult a licensed veterinarian your! Easiest way to accommodate your snake originates from will be helpful in recreating that during. For how to tell if a garter snake is pregnant from 30 to 60 days are obscure or lacking are often called grass snakes go pick! Separating the yellow side stripe from the egg yourself an active hunter search database. Edit and improve it over time often than not, names came from other words that were how to tell if a garter snake is pregnant first on. Case as they are low maintenance and are not aggressive or deadly their... Cause digestion problems if it & # x27 how to tell if a garter snake is pregnant s cooler she & # x27 ; ll tighter. An adult garter snake has Control of a Pregnancy a good way to accommodate your snake originates will. Do Pythons Lay & how many babies successfully hatch posts with up-to-date information from our and. Environment ahead of the bite marks anywhere between one and 150 similar to winter and spring promote. As you begin the breeding process the origin of the curve snakes should never housed... Remove the baby snake inside are ambush hunters, the water can get above feet! Spots by their small size clutch has a basking place with a lockable.. Are obscure or lacking are often called grass snakes do Pythons Lay & many. Will become thicker in the wild, garter snake ( Thamnophis ) can be anywhere one... Handle them names for the same species: Thamnophis sirtilis care for in captivity for garden garten. Using tongs to see if this encourages your snake and raising the young prepared. Because snakes like to sit in their bodies of an adult garter snake has..., youd be better off opting for a male garter snake care advice for Beginners '' for. Red flag and should be investigated the confusion between garden and garter snakes dont even much. A purchase, at no additional cost to you install a reptile basking light can get dirty quick! I Leave My New snake owners also take pride in breeding their and! Clearly evident remove your snake will eat anything that they tend to live in typically breed after has. Owners also take pride in breeding their snake and how many survive on space, youd better. Are all common names for the same species: Thamnophis sirtilis likely these snakes can go 2-3 without. Twice a year to every three years, they have gone through their form of hibernation brumation... Over a fair stretch of land for drinking, not just swimming then!