Garters as Pets...

So you're thinking about getting a garter snake as a pet? You've got a lot to think about! Just as when you start thinking about any type of pet, there are a lot of things you need to consider. Are you getting this pet for your child? How much time and money can you commit to this animal? Do you have access to all of the resources you need to care for your pet?

In this day and age, many pets are bought on impulse, and exotic animals such as snakes are a perfect example of animals that are bought without the owners knowing what they're getting into. With any pet, you need to be prepared to care for it as you would a child. The animal is your responsibility, it cannot survive on its own, and you cannot wake up one day and decide to get rid of your pet because you cannot afford to keep it anymore. If you do, you are responsible for finding it a new owner who will properly care for it. I don't mean to lecture or preach, but too many cases of animal abuse occur every day because people consider their pets as secondary beings, unimportant and expendable in the end. Anyone who truly loves and appreciates animals will have the good concscience to make a great pet owner.

The above paragraph applies especially to snakes. Many people think that native animals such as garter snakes can successfully be released from captivity into the wild. Indeed, many garter snakes that you see in pet stores have been caught from the wild. However, both wild-caught and especially captive-bred garter snakes are domesticated animals, which means that are either born or can become dependent on their owner's care. 99% of garter snakes will not rehabilitate to the wild if released from long-term captivity. If you know of an animal that is facing such a fate, please see my Adoption page.

With all of that over with, welcome to the world of garter snakes! There are a few really important factors to consider when thinking about garter snakes, or about snakes in general. Before you even go to purchase your animal, you will need to have its housing set up, a good food supply established, and caretakers who are fully knowledged in the ways and habits of the animal. Here are some important short facts:

Garter snake lifespans can exceed ten years

Some species are protected by law and cannot be kept domestically. Other species may require a permit in some states

Garters are hardy snakes that often do not need special temperature and humidity regulations that are strictly imposed on other reptiles, such as lizards

Garters have personalities like cats and dogs, some are simply not suited for stressful environments or ownership by children

Captive-bred animals should always be preferred to wild caught

Snakes housed together can breed/get into feeding disputes unexpectedly

Why Garters?
Many people ask me why I've exclusively kept garter snakes, and what is so fascinating about such a relatively common animal. First of all, just because an animal doesn't come from the deep jungle of some country you've never heard of, doesn't mean it's not interesting. When I started contimplating getting a snake, I looked at the standard choices. I wanted something small, so I looked at corn snakes, kingsnakes, and small boas in addition to garters. In the end, it all boiled down to what fit myself best. Garter snakes were relatively inexpensive and easy to acquire, they need few environmental provisions, they are generally not picky eaters, and most importantly were regarded as gentle animals that were simply fun to care for. I have found all of these qualities to be true, and I wouldn't choose any species of snake over them for ease of keeping.

If you decide to become a fellow snake owner, I hope that you'll find the same!

Further Thinking...
If you're seriously thinking about getting a snake, I encourage you to thorougly read through all of the information on this and other websites. There is some essential knowledge here, and being prepared is key to having a happy and healthy animal. Good luck and enjoy!