Reptile & Amphibian Forums

Heys!!
This is my first time on this forum...

When i was younger i use to catch garter snakes outside all the time...and i was wondering if i could catch and keep one now? Is it possable to catch baby (young) garter snakes and keep them in captivity?? Also, i was wondering if i could just buy them somewhere?? thanks for any advice!!

Go to the Kingsnake home page where you clicked to get the forums, and click EVENTS. Go through the herp shows listed there and find one close to you. I recomend captive bred over wild caught any day. For one they are already eating mice so you dont have to mess with all the headaches of starting one up. But best of all, captive bred are healthyer critters. There are alot of things to look for in determining a healthy herp, but the best start is to find out what breeders will be at the show, and ask around about them. Most people on here are familiar with the good ones. Take your time and do your homework and youll have a good experience and a healthy herp. Luck Skinner

Good advice in general. One thing...don't assume that a captive bred garter is already eating mice...ASK! If it's really small, it may not have been switched over yet, and it's always best to ask what (and IF) the snake has been eating. Any snake.
Yes, you CAN keep a wild garter as a pet. And it may work out just fine. But a captive born snake from a reputable dealer is usually a good investment.
My yearling garters were born from a wild-caught female that a friend was keeping. She unexpectedly had babies after settling into life in captivity. That was almost a year ago, and they're growing good this year. Good luck. Duffy