Garter snakes are common but very interesting snakes, that live in nearly every state. They vary widely in color, but all are basically a water snake, with similar habits. Raising them can be rewarding and entertaining. They also become tame fairly quickly and can often be trained to be handled or to take food from your hand.

Garter snakes live almost anywhere that there is water, and where the summertime temperatures become warm.

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The snakes can be reddish, striped, blotched, grayish or greenish, or they may have bright colors. Males tend to be more brightly colored than females, and many species give birth to live young rather than laying eggs. When eggs are laid, they tend to be leathery, like those of most reptiles.

Garter snakes have a varied diet that includes small fish, tadpoles, frogs, worms, and occasionally very small birds or reptiles. They are mostly diurnal (being awake during the day) and will often drape themselves over branches that are above water, which serves a purpose of giving them access to food and a means of escape. The snakes are surprisingly quick when they want to be.

For an indoor pet, here is a great method: Using a 20 gallon fish tank that has a tight lid (like those commonly sold for this purpose), place a 1 to 3 gallon reptile tank inside. This will hold water and allow the snake to swim when it chooses to. Around the inner tank, place soil and rocks, up the the level of the inner tank but not over it. Placing dead tree branches in the main tank so they reach over the water will provide the snake with a place to drape itself.

Keep the soil moist, and the inner tank full of water, and your garter snake will flourish. Garter snakes are escape artists, so don't allow for a way out of their cage, and remember that if the head will fit through, the rest of them will probably fit through as well.

Food is easy to supply. garter snakes will take night crawlers (worms) that are commonly sold in bait and fish shops, and will quickly learn to take these right out of your hand. Putting a few feeder goldfish into their "pool", or a few crickets into their tank, are special treats. Water snakes can suffer a deficiency of vitamin B, especially if fed almost exclusively oily fish, but there are supplements that can be purchased that can be used to coat worms and other prey.

When holding a garter snake, hold it gently but firmly behind the head, with your other hand supporting the weight of the body. When they realize that you mean no harm, they will take to being held and handled. Do not squeeze a garter snake. Despite how they look, they are fragile and have but a single lung. It doesn't take a great deal to kill them.

Enjoy your garter snake, and learn from them. They are interesting and easy to keep.

Learn more about this author, Rex Trulove.
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