Care Sheet for Garter Snakes and Ribbon SnakesAverage Rating Given To This Care Sheet Is 4.50 (1=lowest, 5=highest) Last Updated: 04/01/2006 |
Main Category: | Snakes |
Sub Category: | Garter Snakes and Ribbon Snakes |
Care Sheet Submitted By: | Anonymous |
Years Experience: | 3 to 5 Years |
Species: | Ribbon snakes |
Other Species or Phases this Care Sheet May Cover: | All types of garters |
Sexing and Characteristics: | Males usually have longer tales that taper less rapidly than females.The only 100% correct way to sex them is to take them to the vet to get probed. |
Mostly Active During: | None |
Substrate and Water Needs: | Ribbon Snakes are highly aquatic in the wild , so a large water bowl will make your snake happy . Good substrates are news paper, reptile carpet, normal unprinted paper or even bed a beast. If you choose bed a beast or any other loose substrate make sure the snake doesn’t ingest it during feeding time or don’t use loose substrate at all. |
Lighting and UVB: | A normal day night cycle should be provided.12 hours day 12 hours night should be perfect.No special lighting is needed. |
Temperatures and Humidity: | Ribbons like temps a little on the cool side for snakes. They are comfortable at 77 to 85 during the day and 72 to 75 at night. A 40 or 50 what heat bulb with an under tank heater should give you this temperature range.
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Heating and Equipment: | An under tank heater and a basking or heat bulb is all you should need.Make sure you buy the correct size watts so you have the right temp range in the cage. |
Caging Provided: | A neonate Ribbon Snake will fit comfortably in a standard 10 gallon glass aquarium . An adult will need to be housed in a 20 gallon long . Make sure no matter what you house your snake in , that you have a tight fitting lid over the cage so your snake doesn’t escape .You could use heavy bricks or books or clips you can buy at your local pet store. You will also have to provide your snake with at least 1 hide box or half log (preferably two) . To determine if you have the right size hide, is that when your snake goes in, it is touching all sides of the box . If the hide box or log is too big your snake might refuse to go in it . Make sure you have , at least 1 hide box in your cage . |
Diet: | Carnivorous |
Description of Diet: | Most Ribbon snakes are not picky eaters , some will not take anything but minnows , but others will take a variety of prey items .You can feed Ribbon Snakes appropriately sized fish , earthworms , frogs and tadpoles once to twice a week. Do not feed goldfish! They could kill your snake if fed too often. It is best to try to feed all ribbons on frozen/thawed pinkie mice as soon as they’re big enough(25 inches or over).
If your Ribbon doesn’t take the pinky right away rub a goldfish or minnow on it. If your snake still doesn’t except it then try freezing the pinky in water with the minnows or goldfish and thaw it out with them too. You could also buy long 10 inch tongs at your local pet store and wiggle the thawed pinky in front of the hide box the snake’s in at the time.
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Supplements, Nutrition and Usage: | If you want you can sprinkle your snakes food about once a month with herptivite |
Maintenance: | Just clean the cage out once a week and your good to go! |
Some Words on this Species: | I hope I helped you out with caring for you snake or snake to be.Ribbons are great first time pets and are fun to watch ate or even just slither around. Remember this care sheet only went over the basics of ribbon snake care so always read more than one. Good luck with your snake and happy herping
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