Either cornsnakes or garter snakes are very good for beginners and they don't get very large at all. But I have never owned a snake before. Garter Snake Life Span. | Photo by Aislinn Sarnacki. These snakes are red-brown to orange, typically with dark red-black blotches, but a variety of colors can be found in many captive-bred snakes. The Corn Snake is the most popular beginner snake. Captives reaching over 10 years old have been documented when reptile health and wellness is prioritized along with proper snake supplies, reptile cleaning supplies, and snake habitat products. However, a garter snake seems like the perfect snake. Yes! Do Snakes Make Good Pets? Garter Snakes as Pets: The Good and the Bad. A good enclosure for this species will have dense vegetation and plenty of branches to climb on. For shelter, snakes look for cover from common predators, as well as areas to hibernate and lay eggs (although — fun fact — not all snakes lay eggs). A benign snake to humans, they eat all the pests that wreak havoc in your garden. Garter & Ribbon Snake Diet They eat insects and other pests, so they can control those pests that harm your plants. Are they good beginner snakes? I am afraid of accidentally stepping on it . A garter snake has keen eyesight and sense of smell. You don’t want a large number of these snakes in your garden, however. Cornsnakes can be a bit nippy though but most are totally fine it deoends on the personality of the snake which is the same with any animals. A garter snake is active during the day, which makes it fun to watch. Of course, snakes make great pets, and there are plenty of beginner snakes for new owners.. That said, there are many nuances to owning a pet snake. Baby Corns are 10-12 inches long and grow to 3-4 feet long. Native to the United States, they can be found in terrestrial habitats. Ribbon snakes have pure white lips, while garter snakes have dark marks Garter snakes are a smaller snake class, but they will still tackle anything they can win against when hunting down a meal. A few garter snakes in the garden can be a good thing. Like the ringneck snake, pet garter snakes have a relatively short lifespan. In gardens, snakes will often make shelter in rock walls and under railroad tie borders. The average life span in the wild may only be 4-5 years however they can live twice as long in captivity. However, it’s improved over snakes that live in the wild. Wild garter snakes only live four or five years, but a well-cared-for snake in captivity can live up to 10 years! I … It makes it easier for them to find their prey and capture it. And while they’ll probably slither away before you can get to know them, they make for very good pets and a great beginner’s choice. Garter snakes are a gardener’s friend! A garter snake has found shelter under stone steps between flower gardens. 8 Replies to “Garter Snakes: The Good, The Bad, and The Ugly” Debra says: July 2, 2020 at 7:42 pm I have a garter snake living outside of my patio door behind the single step that descends to the patio. Are Garter Snakes easy to care for? Garter snakes will call your yard home when it provides the right conditions. Some keepers will find that the good outweighs the bad, but others will feel the opposite way. As mentioned, garter snakes have some good traits and some not-so-awesome traits. Learn more about the shy, but helpful gardening helper who just wants to live peacefully in harmony with you—and eat your slugs! They aren't constrictors, and can live on a non-rodent diet. Are Garters a good beginner pet? And while this is true of many snake species, it is especially true for garter snakes. Aside from garter snakes, brown snakes are among the most commonly encountered snakes you’ll come across in the wild. 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