Brand new to snakes

[rottn]

Hi there. I am brand brand brand new to snakes. I mean, we have lots of snakes in our backyard. Garters, milk, and Massassauga rattlers. And I am charmed every time I am fortunate enough to see one. But a month or so back, we found a garter in our house. Guess he found a way in for the winter. I live in Ontario, and the winter has been a harsh one this year! We caught him and my husband put him in a pail. I did some quick Google research, that recommended trying to get him to brumate (not sure if that's a word! LOL I only see reference to brumation.) Anyways, put the pail down in our cold room, thinking he'd go to sleep and we'll release in the spring. HAHA that's how much I knew/know about snakes! When I came downstairs next day, of COURSE the pail was empty.

Well, about a week later, he showed up again upstairs. So now I have him in a very big and deep box that he can't get out of. He won't be "bromating" because he's upstairs. I have put in the box some simple "homegrown" hides, put some branches in there, and a bowl of water. He's been checking everything out. I even bought 3 feeder minnows for him at a local pet store, with a cheap plastic fish bowl, because apparently that's what garters eat (among other things that I don't have access to). The fish haven't been touched, although he did dip into the fish bowl, so I know that he knows they are there! I can't wait for it to be warm enough so I can release him back to his natural habitat.

In the meantime, I have talked my husband into getting a pet snake. I had a real struggle deciding between corn & BP, but BP finally won. I just like the thicker body they have. My son-in-law's best friend used to breed both corns and BP's, so I've had the opportunity to handle both. I am getting a BP from him probably in the next week or 2. He's also giving me a terrarium (32" x 18" x 18") for the snake. I know it's a female, and I've already named her Alice. I am just waiting for a table to be delivered, where the terrarium will sit. I am expecting it to be delivered by tomorrow (hopefully). Once I have that, I will go and get the terrarium and get it set up before I go back for Alice.

This is all so new, and exciting to me. I am happy to be part of this group, to learn things that I will need to know, and to ask questions, should any come up.

Thank you so much for being here for us newbies!

Mary