Reptile & Amphibian Forums

Hi,
Unlike many of you on this site i do not have a snake(yet). I want to get a garter or ribbon snake. What size cage would i need for a ribbon snake? I already know that you need a 10 gallon or bigger for a garter. I have a 5 gallon i think and a really small 2 gallon (i probably wont use that). I wouldn't mind getting a ten gallon tank i just don't want to get it and find out i dont need it. Also How many watts should the heating lamp be for a ribbon or garter? And Can anyone tell me whether or not they hibernate?

I found out about hibernation thanks to another link. But i am still confused on what size cage i need for a ribbon snake and i need some information on heating lamps. Please help me soon. I would love to go out and buy a snake right now but I don't want to be unprepared. Today I went to a vet clinic at Petco to get my cats' shots. While we were there i looked at the snakes they had and saw some beautiful baby corn snakes. I was so happy that i got to hold one, I never knew snakes felt so cool! (I know some of you probably think i am stupid but i have never held a snake before and that was really cool!)

Do not buy anything from Petco. It is honestly the worst (or one of the worst at least) places you can buy from. Almost all their stores are notoriously dirty in the reptile sections and the workers are extremely uneducated usually. Even if the Petco you go to is different, the money still goes to the same place, the corporation. Therefore, you are supporting the other stores as well. Buy from a breeder or a reputable specialty shop.
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Andy Maddox
AIM: thekingofproduct
MSN: Poloboy32486@hotmail.com
Yahoo:surfandskimtx04
Houston Herp Key
The Reptizone

"A yellow ribbon instead of a swastika. Nothin' proper about ya propaganda. Fools follow rules when the set commands ya. Said it was blue when ya blood was red. That's how ya got a bullet blasted through ya head"- Rage Against the Machine

I know, i have never gotten any pets from petco and i don't intend to, thanks for the advice anyways. There was a guy there who was giving advice to people (He didn't even work there!), one thing he said is that it would be a good idea to get your snakes from a professional breeder or someplace that doesn't sell snakes at such a young age. Is Petsmart any better?
P.S. The guy was saying this all in front of a lady who worked there . I just wanted to hold a snake that was about the size of a garter snake anyways, and they didn't have any.

Selling young snakes isn't a problem as long as the snakes have fed a few times by themselves and are fairly well established. Petsmart is no better, and unless it has changed recently, they don't carry snakes. Good luck.
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Andy Maddox
AIM: thekingofproduct
MSN: Poloboy32486@hotmail.com
Yahoo:surfandskimtx04
Houston Herp Key
The Reptizone

"A yellow ribbon instead of a swastika. Nothin' proper about ya propaganda. Fools follow rules when the set commands ya. Said it was blue when ya blood was red. That's how ya got a bullet blasted through ya head"- Rage Against the Machine

A 10 tank or a rubbermaid of comparable size will serve fine for an adult (or a youngun'). As for temps, I just keep mine about 5 degrees higher than room temp (low 80's or so).
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Andy Maddox
AIM: thekingofproduct
MSN: Poloboy32486@hotmail.com
Yahoo:surfandskimtx04
Houston Herp Key
The Reptizone

"A yellow ribbon instead of a swastika. Nothin' proper about ya propaganda. Fools follow rules when the set commands ya. Said it was blue when ya blood was red. That's how ya got a bullet blasted through ya head"- Rage Against the Machine

Thank You, So i should get a 10 gallon tank, but do i need a heat lamp? Its coming up on winter so i suppose i should. Or is a mat that goes under the cage better?

Either/or. I use lamps a lot since sometimes the snakes burrow and they might burrow down the on the mats. Just seems more natural to have a lamp too. Good luck.
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Andy Maddox
AIM: thekingofproduct
MSN: Poloboy32486@hotmail.com
Yahoo:surfandskimtx04
Houston Herp Key
The Reptizone

"A yellow ribbon instead of a swastika. Nothin' proper about ya propaganda. Fools follow rules when the set commands ya. Said it was blue when ya blood was red. That's how ya got a bullet blasted through ya head"- Rage Against the Machine