I have 1.1 checkered garter snakes, soon to be 1.2. They're an interesting, active species that remains small and does very well in captivity. They seemed to be the perfect fit for a naturalistic viv. Naturalistic tanks have been an interest of mine since I was a kid. They allow you to see a great range of behaviors, and can look simply stunning. I have some experience with them but primarily desert or near desert vivariums, not a temperate vivarium, so this is somewhat experimental. I've been kindly advised by several people that are more experienced with this than I am and I wish to say thanks ya'll!

Naturalistic tanks are certainly not easy to create. They take more time and more money than regular cages. They have to be larger than a usual tank, and a lot of work goes into putting them together. Most often they'll need special lighting even when your animal doesn't. So why do it?

Naturalistic tanks will help you observe behaviors you'd never seen in a standard cage. That same extra size and effort equates into a beautiful living work of art. It allows your animal to explore, to move, to have a more fulfilled life. It can act as a centerpiece for a living room or as a lesson for a class room in a way a normal tank could never do. This doesn't happen easily; you have to think, research and plan. What plants are compatible with your animals needs? Can you find them in your area? What sort of invertebrates are safe to have in with your animal (more on inverts later). How big do these get? Which of these plants play well together? Which ones will provide ground cover? Which ones are climbers? Are they sturdy enough to handle a snake crawling over/under them day in and out? Are they annuals or perennials? What sort of light do they need? Water? Soil type? You get to have fun researching all that. But it's worth it a month and a half later when you're looking at your nascent mini biodome--and more than worth it 6 months to a year later when the plants have grown, the animals are thriving and you're deriving more pleasure from that tank than you thought possible.

You know that thrill you get when you see a wild snake glide through the grass or emerge from it's hiding spot under a rock? You'll get nearly the same thrill observing it in a captive. You'll know you're providing excellent care. Your snake will be healthy, more active, and more alive seeming than it would in a tub. So take the plunge. You don't have to redo every cage in your collection (and some snakes aren't feasible for naturalistic setups--try doing it with a boa!). But choose one or two animals and do it. You won't regret it.

I'm going to post my step by step building of a naturalistic vivarium up here. I was going to try it in one post but it was far too long, even before putting photos in. So I'm going to try to do one a week. The tank is setting up, nearly done (I need to find some earthworms to add in), and the plants are getting established. You'll love the finished shots in a month or so!