Reptile & Amphibian Forums

I have a 30 long aquarium and I'm considering creating a naturalistic vivarium for a checkered garter snake. I've been reading about housing for garters and I'm concerned about the enviroment being too moist due to watering the plants. Should this be a concern? Do any of you have set-ups like that? Did you pick plants that need less water? I'd love to see some pics of set ups like that to get some ideas from. Any suggestions will be greatly appreciated.
Thanks,
Kirk
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1.1 Jungle Carpet Python
1.1 Ball Python
1.1 Corn Snake
0.1 Gray band Kingsnake
0.1 Desert Kingsnake
0.1 Pueblan Milksnake
1.0 Bullsnake
1.0 Rhodesian Ridgeback (Hondo)
0.1 Spouse (WC)
0.0.8 hatchling ball pythons

If you choose plants that are local to where the animal lives (avoid those tropicals you find at the plant shop), and have a well draining substrate then you won't have a problem. Try to offer a range of substrates for your snake; have a rocky/wooden area as well instead of all dirt/forested/plants. You will want to have full spectrum plant lights, and will probably do best with overhead heat as your substrate will have to be rather thick. Have your heat source away from any taller plants as it will dryout the leaves and leave ugly yellow debris.
I wish I had pic's but just don't have the techno equipment
Ian

thanks so much those are very useful tips
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1.1 Jungle Carpet Python
1.1 Ball Python
1.1 Corn Snake
0.1 Gray band Kingsnake
0.1 Desert Kingsnake
0.1 Pueblan Milksnake
1.0 Bullsnake
1.0 Rhodesian Ridgeback (Hondo)
0.1 Spouse (WC)
0.0.8 hatchling ball pythons

With the all the waste produced by the snake, keeping a natural set-up clean is going to be difficult. Do a google search on "vivarium design" and you'll come up with loads of pages. The most successful vivariums seem to be large tanks with a few small occupents. This is because the natural system can handle the waste produced by these little guys.

My recommendation would be to just add a potted plant, like a pothos, etc to the tank. This way, you can reguarly replace the substrate in the remainder of the tank when it becomes soiled, and still have some nice greenery.

-Alice