Reptile & Amphibian Forums

I'm somewhat interested in getting a snake at some time and was wondering if Garters are difficult to keep. I have never owned a snake, but have turtles and an iguana right now.

Can they be housed in a 10 gallon? Can they be maintained successfully on a diet that does not include rodents? Do they require UVA/UVB lighting (I'm assuming they do)? Any info that you all can provide would be much appreciated.

Thank you!
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~Heather~
3 German Shepherd Dogs (Tasha, Austin, & Kaiya)
1 Iguana (Irwin)
4 Firebelly Toads (Kirby, Gus, Pico, & Tiki)
1 African Cichlid (Arnie)
1 Red-Eared Slider Hatchling (Otis)
1 Southern Painted Hatchling (Milo)
Check out my website with most of my pets!

They're relatively good captives that eat well in general. They can be maintained on a diet of earthworms, small fish, frogs, tadpoles, etc., but most owners recommend switching them over to young mice for two reasons: mice provide better nutrition overall, and any wild-caught food items like frogs and tadpoles raises the risk of introducing parasites. They do not require any supplemental lighting. Personally, I think a garter would be a better choice for you than the Rough Green you were considering.
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MichaelB