Blackneck GARTER SNAKE Setup and Care: Texas' Hidden Gem!

[@petercarmeci8317]

Gartersnakes rock!!! My kids love seeing them around my property. My daughter adores them. Thanks for sharing.

[@lilbunny28]

Afroherbkeeper your new intro is lit🔥🔥🔥🔥

[@mrkrabs5729]

Herb keeper

[@jordanoliver8314]

Awesome! Could you do a video on bearded dragons and a DIY setup for them?! Love your videos so cool!

[@antonidee6562]

I LOVE YOUR SNAKE MAN🔥

[@ryandtheguys1781]

I work at a petco lol, love your set ups and enjoy the knowledge you have on reptiles. Keep em comin my dude

[@10footlongschlong21]

Hair Guy is your petco good?

[@AfroHerpkeeper]

I've seen some surprisingly good ones - usually the ones in financially better-off parts of town. The employees and manager are what make or break a chain pet store!

[@ryandtheguys1781]

LeoTheLion 234 yeah, employees do really make or break a store. They determine whether it looks good and operates well with well taken care of animals, or is a complete disaster. My store is very stable, its nice and we do our best to upkeep whatever we have in there and that's not just me boasting.

[@carlavaneeden8383]

Thanks for featuring these beauties!

[@jemurillo9857]

Im 17 about to be 18 i would enjoy having a friend like you around , great job buddy the tank looks awesome

[@AfroHerpkeeper]

Always happy to talk on my Discord server or on Instagram - links to both of those are in the description

[@lenrely2033]

I'm getting one of these soon, planning to keep it in a desert setup.

[@flicksfn965]

Len Rely I wouldn’t recommend that

[@taoutdoors8110]

They live near water

[@noelinelee8817]

road to 50k. almost there. :)

[@bluie.]

Nowmits road to 100k!

[@Sovek86]

seems like I wont need much to start my own enclosure, cool. Got a 55 gallon I could start with, till I build a better one thats wider.

[@6strings735]

Beautiful garter snake! CB garters IMO are in the top group of best snake pets. Nice video, keep it going.

[@MichaelAllmanArcher]

Garter snakes are my favorite I have a 5 year old northern garter named lyla and I'm planing on getting two albino checkered garters for breeding purposes!

[@MichaelAllmanArcher]

Personally I use aspen cause I've found that dirt or eco earth sometimes gets in their nose while their burrowing

[@AfroHerpkeeper]

I’ve used all sorts of substrates in the six years I’ve had this girl, aspen and carefresh are definitely best for burrowing.

[@mrlynx68]

Five years?? I thought they lived 3-4

[@jacksall3080]

Awesome!

[@kennikitty]

I think she likes her new home. :)

[@Grandassets]

I have a Garter and a few other Ball and Blood Pythons, the Garter is a really good starter snake, a good snake for kids, and a good public relations snake because they are not very aggressive and they are nice and active LOL My Garter is a wild caught in Upstate New York, I have had a few over the years, I found it in a breeding ball under some junk roofing, it was a little darker and had a nice pattern different from the rest and it didnt scatter with the rest so I reached down and just picked it up, so every time it came to me I picked it up, now its become a joke, if I wasnt on a 200 Acre farm 15 miles from a city I would think this was someones pet and he misses them, understand I had to keep it LOL, it was friendly from day 1 they are known for being pretty Chill and laid back LOL it has never musked on me not even once, it likes to be picked up, will sit in your lap, and even gets along with my 100 lbs Dog, I am guessing its maybe 3-ish years old around 3 feet long, in my part of upstate N.Y almost everything you flip over has a Garter under it plus Slugs & worms I also feed mine F/T Pinkies, he has been a good eater, wiggle something and its gone in 10 seconds

[@mrlynx68]

This is an amazing comment. I hear people all the time say that garter snakes are for pro snake owners and it makes me sad because I want one. This comment made me very happy. Thanks for the confidence. I will definitely get a garter now. Thanks a lot and don’t worry I’ll take great care of them

[@highspence]

I love your channel. Please make a reptile room tour.

[@Thedonand20kproductions]

Ur Intro is sicklkkkk

[@WildLife_Perspective]

Wow I hope the snake loves its new home.

[@jackleo4435]

Do a feeding video of all your pets!!!!!

[@largemonkey1848]

He should

[@reptilerob9650]

I really enjoy all your vids buddy from Rob in UK

[@frankodelgado9550]

Hi buddy, I love your video very informative I just want to know if its ok to use a termo plate instead of a heat lamp

[@htowncardetailing7225]

U should make a land and water tank for him/her ,and i love watching your videos more than ones

[@c_farther5208]

I really enjoyed that!

[@guthriefullagar8293]

Notification sqaud, cool snake they look awesome

[@jakemagyar2317]

Great video Daniel! Do you think you’ll ever make another room tour anytime soon? I love your content!

[@AfroHerpkeeper]

Probably not going to be making a new tour just yet, but I'll be posting a moving-in video over the summer when I move into an apartment!

[@ashvanbro9329]

Great into my friend

[@joshf2001]

Great video

[@cadenryan7672]

gorgeous snake ,, great video!!

[@fatmanvidz]

are there any benefits of the red lighting compared to the white lighting?

[@nordicnugz]

Can you mix wild caught and captive bred garter snakes together in the same enclosure, and can you mix different species of garter snake?

[@masonwhitson8538]

I love garters snakes I've got 8 of them lol

[@rheasparrow1]

where do you get them?

[@Meowmeowmeowhehe]

David Still And they’re so cheap usually!

[@LisaSmith-ke4ko]

Love your intro.

[@christopherstamm3630]

Should I use a heat pad or a heat light system for a native toad?

[@AfroHerpkeeper]

Just a small heat pad should be enough for most North American toads, so long as they have a warmer and cooler end.

[@christopherstamm3630]

Thanks

[@jakejohnson1008]

Christopher Stamm heat pad

[@jakejohnson1008]

Christopher Stamm heat lamps can dry out there skin because the skin is supposed to be MOIST 💦💦💦

[@oren8699]

Nice garter *snek*

[@CHloE748]

Love the intro dude

[@bassmaniacsnake8016]

Love the video! 😄

[@matthewotremba9230]

Nice set up ! I have community enclosures so they tend to play WHOEVER GETS THE FISH GETS PILED ON So, feeding is not controlled Reptibark for me and mines . dirt sticks to worms and fish like crazy

[@Bunzboy-th2jj]

I love garder snakes, there all around my area. It's great that people don't underrate this beautiful specimen

[@makaylasmith1572]

By Guppies do you mean the colorful Guppies that you see at PetSmart ,or is there a different type of guppy that I don't know about?

[@AfroHerpkeeper]

I should’ve elaborated on that point - those guppies work great, as do platys, mollies, and the like. You just don’t want goldfish or feeder minnows as they cause Vitamin B1 deficiency in garter snakes over time.

[@makaylasmith1572]

AfroHerpkeeper thank you😊

[@localbuzzkill1760]

You can buy plain old feeder guppies for quite a bit cheaper than the fancy ones, and they work just as well. Mine at primarily feeder guppies when I first got him, but has since been switched to pinkie mice

[@AfroHerpkeeper]

Agreed - I honestly just breed my own guppies. They're so prolific it's hard not to!

[@makaylasmith1572]

AfroHerpkeeper To be honest,that would be a good video idea

[@terrajeff6892]

I like your films And i wating for a room tour

[@AfroHerpkeeper]

New room tour came out a few weeks ago, it's on my channel!

[@NyteFryte]

My faverite kind of reptile to own

[@raging_crocodile2081]

Do you have any care tips on northwestern garter snakes? I have a pair of them and I’m not sure if their care differs from other species, due to their differences in behavior and diet.

[@AfroHerpkeeper]

Enjoy: www.gartersnake.info/species/

[@raging_crocodile2081]

Thanks!

[@opportune_fishing7486]

Where in the hill country are you located? From Fredericksburg here

[@hectoraguilar3763]

Amazing set up as always, would you recommend a similar set up for a mexican black king snake?

[@AfroHerpkeeper]

Think that'd work just fine - maybe with a greater emphasis on hiding spots.

[@dragonsden6958]

There is a wild Eastern Black Necked Garter Snake that lives in a tree stump in my backyard, i first saw it in 2013, then again in 2016, so i hope i see it again this year.

[@oren8699]

Also were did you get that log? Did you find it on the side or did you buy it?

[@juanbarrera8542]

Can you feed frozen fish? And how many a week?

[@meh4319]

Nice vids dude keep it up :)

[@rachealpotts4483]

Do you feed garter snakes just fish fish and pinkies fish pinkies and worms or just pinkies?

[@wicked5by5]

I found a garter snake not sure species but tan with black spots and stripes down body. we are in snow weather I kept it not wanting it to freeze. could i keep it as pet? right now it's in small box with holes in lid for air.

[@bluie.]

Im broke ( :'( ) and since garter snakes are slightly overpopulated in my area, and it is legal, I think I will catch a garter snake

[@Zaku186]

She is beautiful. ive been planning out a gartersnake tank with a medium sized water feature plumbed to a sump filter wtih a refugium. that way i can create spots in the tank the prey fish can go the snake will have a hard time getting making it more of a challenge for them (im a "snakes need enrichment" kinda guy) and i can breed guppies in the sump and it will keep their water fresh. and i can grow out plants for my 55 gallon aquarium in it.

[@lakeforkmafia]

What's the best setup for a Pacman frog for an 11 year old getting started

[@AfroHerpkeeper]

Ten gallon tank with a good sized water dish, a small heat pad, coconut coir, sphagnum moss, or organic soil as substrate, some fake plants or a couple hides... That's about all you need. Here's a good care sheet: www.reptilesmagazine.com/Care-Sheets/Pac-Man-Frog/

[@enchanteddragon563]

for a full grown garder snake, do you feed 3 to four pinkies, or fuzzies? You didn't specify in the video..

[@AfroHerpkeeper]

Either works, I usually use fuzzies

[@terrajeff6892]

Good

[@arrowbutterfly3207]

How many guppies should you feed per week

[@connormarples3540]

Can u show us new snake owners about the heating

[@quinsomnia4934]

Can't wait to join your discord channel ✌

[@gideonsreptiles]

Garter snakes are social they need buddys

[@samschmitt1743]

What can I use for good bedding besides substrate

[@AfroHerpkeeper]

A nice, natural substrate is really what I'd recommend best, but I've also kept garter snakes on cypress, aspen, Carefresh (great for tunnels), and reptile carpet. Paper towels work too if you can change them out regularly.

[@gcan_t6814]

Yessss

[@firedragon311]

I'm planning on getting a couple of garters from a breeder the next couple months. I'm hoping to have a similar setup to this with the hopes of getting it bioactive and to have the cool part of the tank being a shallow water feature with feeder guppies or platies. What would be the different steps to take something like this bioactive? Would you still use a similar substrate?

[@AfroHerpkeeper]

I just uploaded a new room tour where you can see my upgraded garter setups! I go over the substrate there and go a little more in-depth into how bioactive stuff works. Good luck with yours!

[@sharonkaczorowski8690]

I believe a reptile with places to explore is happier than one in a bare tank.

[@ShotMakers]

Is it possible to have a wild garter snake as a pet?

[@AfroHerpkeeper]

Yes, Mort here was wild-caught. They're a lot less handle-able than captive bred garters though - if you look in the right places you can find breeders.

[@nutellacereal7046]

I've had a wild garter snake for two weeks she doing great and she hasn't musked on me

[@JurassicReptiles]

How did you clean the driftwood? I have some I'd like to use and i need help with it lol

[@AfroHerpkeeper]

If it’s sourced from a pesticide-free area you honestly don’t have to - beneficial bacteria and decomposers will be transferred from the wild into the setup, and it’s very unlikely that anything harmful to your animal would be transmitted that way. If I do clean a piece of wood, I usually boil or bake it.

[@JurassicReptiles]

AfroHerpkeeper ah ok, thank you!

[@CobaltAsure]

You talked about being careful with rocks with burrowing snakes, and I wanted to ask you a question. I have a Western Hognose snake, and he's still a little baby. Maybe 8 months now, as thick as my pinky finger. We had a resin hide in there (a normal reptile hide), and newspaper on the bottom. One day while we were out he somehow got under the edge of it and pinned himself flat. He's okay now, but I'm so afraid of him breaking his spine. He has no hides in his enclosure anymore, but I have switched to aspen now that he's no longer a new pet, so he does burrow in that. I recently bought a larger hide for when he gets bigger (and it's thicker and heavier), but I'm afraid he's going to do the same thing. Do you have any advice on what to do? I would be devastated if I lost him like that.

[@AfroHerpkeeper]

Try setting the hide in the cage before you add the substrate, so that it sits flat on the bottom of the enclosure. That way it can't fall at all. If the substrate is too deep for that, you can just dig around a bit to create an opening. Now if he manages to pin himself under it while it's sitting flat like that, it means he's strong enough to lift it, so I wouldn't be too worried about it injuring him so long as you're able to extract him later.

[@rhig4566]

Try a toilet roll centre as a hide? Your comment was a year ago so unless you have another baby this won't be relevant for you though lol.

[@mat1988ize]

i miss your channel. i hope all is well in your life.

[@joseespitia4847]

What is the best bedding for python I'm using eco earth now but I noticed the little pieces goes under the scales

[@hannahthefallenangel788]

You can use reptibark or mix it with forest floor

[@alirahimi7566]

Can gartersnake and brow snake live together?

[@toniperez5791]

Where can I get a baby garter that im sure was breed in captivity?

[@rhig4566]

Snake Discovery breeds them. Check out their channel.

[@brennencanfield4856]

Also I read if you don't use UV you should dust with calcium, is that true?

[@AfroHerpkeeper]

For many reptiles and amphibians, absolutely, but snakes get most of their calcium from the bones in their prey - here's my favorite online source for garter care if you're interested: www.gartersnake.info/care/

[@nottelling4980]

Would a blue light work to?

[@AfroHerpkeeper]

For the daytime, sure - I wouldn't use one at night

[@redrivervivariums6823]

Love the video! Hopefully I can get my channel rolling

[@liamoliver7686]

Can you do a set up for your skink

[@jacobgrimstad7423]

I am building a big tank for my corn snake and was tinkibg about putting in a water feture like the one you used on the frog should i Do it

[@AfroHerpkeeper]

Not for a corn snake, no. They're terrestrial, and a big water feature would honestly be more dangerous than anything. For a garter snake or a water snake, sure, but not for a corn!

[@DyslexicYoda]

Why not make it bioactive?

[@thedarkness97]

Had a baby one, those things can get through a hole needle size.. Escaped twice.

[@oren8699]

How much gallon of tank they do need?

[@largemonkey1848]

I live in texas too.

[@yellow4648]

Hi! Would you consider owning an animal other then a reptile like a Guinea Pig, Rabbit, or Hamster?

[@browniemonsta5960]

Depends if you want to clean them out every week and they shit slot

[@yellow4648]

Danky McBluntface Lol

[@yellow4648]

Peter Gregory Hamster Urine stinks very bad also

[@masonwaller191]

Afro is in college now

[@AfroHerpkeeper]

I’ve had lots of rats, a gerbil, and plenty of cats. I’d love some sort of mammal but I’d probably go for something like a ferret! I’m looking to get a parrot of some sort in about half a year, so that’ll be very exciting

[@evaroberts6404]

can you keep a wild snake and take it to the vet?

[@BenDovers48372Channel]

Eva Roberts Can you yes that’s where I’m going to be getting mine as I just want a normal and all the ones I see are field collections. And you don’t need to take it to the vet as long as there is no noticeable conditions on/or about it

[@karoltorres1260]

I have a 10 gallon tank and I want to know what types of animals would be okay with that space?

[@dantepusceddu8491]

karol torres a leopard gecko doesn't need a lot of space

[@AfroHerpkeeper]

Plenty of things. They've already suggested some good ones... Good beginner animals that would fit in that include things like anoles, long-tailed lizards, tree frogs, leopard geckos, banded geckos, younger corn snakes or ball pythons, a small musk or mud turtle... There are tons of species out there - you should do some looking around at care sheets to figure out what works best for you!

[@KillerSwordsman2008]

Why not gold fish? When ever I got my first garter, the breeder told me gold fish, and he lived for many many years. And I'm not quite sure which fish you said was alright, couldn't understand you very well. Awesome video though! Looking into getting another snake soon. I miss having one. Just can't decide what to get. XD

[@Creature_Null]

You should not feed gold fish or rosy reds to your garter snake due to an enzyme that they release that stops the development of Vitamin B in the garter snake. Guppies are a more appropriate fish to feed your garters.

[@rhig4566]

Thiamine

[@rvb_fotografie6880]

is it expensive to have all those animals? . Because I want to do the same thing a bit later as you do

[@AfroHerpkeeper]

It's not cheap! I save money by breeding my own feeders, buying other feeders in bulk, and buying enclosures/equipment secondhand. Definitely helps save money in the long run. Most of my spare income goes to caring for my animals, and I have big plans to expand!

[@Cweatherill3]

I have a question concerning snake behaviour: I got a hatchling (he's about 2-3 months old now) corn snake about 3 weeks ago and have been handling him regularly to obviously tame him and get him used to me. Yesterday he wrapped around my hand and constricted(?) around my palm and sort of wriggled like he was scratching an itch, whilst I found this adorable I just wondered if you knew why he was doing this? I thought maybe he was preparing to shed but his eyes aren't opaque and his colour hasn't changed yet.

[@AfroHerpkeeper]

Sounds like he was probably just trying to hang on, but I couldn't quite say without seeing it! I wouldn't be too concerned, but if he does it again and you catch it on camera you can send it to me through my Instagram or I'll send you some Facebook groups you can post it to for opinions.

[@Cweatherill3]

AfroHerpkeeper okay will do. Thanks for the help! :)

[@Dex-ws7tn]

I have 4 baby garter snakes and I'm having trouble getting one to eat

[@cyanatic7472]

How many animals do you have?

[@gideonsreptiles]

You can use plastic bins

[@davidquezada4960]

Anuma te salio bien chido el terrario krnal aunque seas gringo we

[@outdoorboys2605]

How do you tell the difference between Male for female

[@AfroHerpkeeper]

With adult garter snakes size is the biggest indicator - males will stay much smaller than females. The females' patterns may also fade a bit over time. If they aren't adults, the best thing to do is have a professional probe or "pop" them to physically check.

[@garricksreptiles2667]

Where did you buy your rack ?

[@AfroHerpkeeper]

Got mine at a garage sale, but here’s a link! www.homedepot.com/p/Husky-77-in-W-x-78-in-H-x-24-in-D-Steel-Garage-Storage-Shelving-Unit-ERZ782478W-4/202251082

[@JebediahThePaladin]

Do a video on cleaning your pixie frogs tank

[@AfroHerpkeeper]

The pump really does most of it for me - I mostly just have to top off the water and catch solid waste in a net. It's not much of a video, but I'll do a feeding video for him soon!

[@JebediahThePaladin]

AfroHerpkeeper oh alright Thank you

[@chauntel8846]

I’m interested in getting a Russian tortoise but know that when they are not captive bred they spread diseases. Do I have to worry about contracting something from a captive bred one?

[@AfroHerpkeeper]

Definitely not, but there are places you can find captive bred ones! Sometimes you'll find breeders at reptile expos, or people with rescue tortoises online. That said, you definitely don't have to worry about contracting anything from a wild-caught one, you just want to provide the best care you can so it doesn't fall ill

[@greenphantom1955]

Yo the platana frog goes on land occasionally and the male has poisonous legs

[@iamjessica1656]

Where can I buy a garter snake? I’m an experienced reptile owner and I’m in Texas but I can’t really find anyone who is selling them.

[@AfroHerpkeeper]

I''d recommend Shaun's Gregarious Garters on Facebook, he's in the DFW area

[@ashvanbro9329]

Im looking to buy my 2nd snake and this being it

[@kiannahr2508]

I have the same fauna box But i dont have such a cool snake inside😂

[@luskac8867]

Best

[@eventerkeira]

You should've elaborated when you said you could feed a garter fish. You don't want to feed snakes souly on fish. There's a video about it on a YT channel called Snake Discovery. Also, you want to be careful and not go too big for the enclosure for a snake. If it's too big, they could feel insecure and refuse to eat. I'm sure you know all of this but you should elaborate more in my opinion. Maybe do a video about. I'm not trying to be rude in anyway( *cough* ,people who will reply to my comment, *cough* ) but I just wanted to put that out there and talk about what I know.

[@Yeeyee_lexi]

This info applies to ball pythons..

[@eventerkeira]

@@Yeeyee_lexi it applies to all snakes really

[@donnieharness2]

Snake discovery is just a pet tuber not a biologist or an expert in the care of reptiles you shouldn't base your care purely off what they say