Width

[stjohnny]

So, could anyone give a general range of thickness/width/diameter (at the thickest point) for garter snakes corresponding to their length? For example, what is a good range of thickness for garter snakes that are a foot long? What about two feet? Three feet? Also, how is this different between male and female?

Thanks so much

[adamanteus]

Hi Adam, and welcome to the forum. That's a hard question to answer....I guess the best way is to post a picture of your snake and get opinions from the members here. Generally speaking males are a little bit slimmer in build than females.
http://www.thamnophis.com/forum/site-feedback-suggestions-questions/1008-guide-posting-pictures.html

[garterchick]

it also depends on breed of snake, some are naturally more heavy-bodied than others. welcome to the forum
tina

[adamanteus]

Excellent point, Tina. What species do you have, Adam?

[stjohnny]

My garter is pretty young. I caught him/her in my yard yesterday. It is about six inches long and thinner than a pencil. It is generally gray/brown with the classic three yellow stripes. It generally looks like a very small version of this:

http://www.fws.gov/sacramento/images/young_GGS_AZerrenner_FWS.JPG

[ssssnakeluvr]

the one in the pic looks like a northwestern garter...but, it would help to know where you found the snake..what state....

[stjohnny]

I'm around Portland, Oregon. The snake looks a lot like the one in the picture, only smaller.

[ssssnakeluvr]

then it's probably a northwestern garter...thamnophis ordinoides

[adamanteus]

I agree, probably T. ordinoides.

[Sid]

Girth of a Garter or other snake in general will vary greatly. The thing I look for is the apperance of the snake in coils, if the appearence is well rounded, its not under weight. If there are drastic folds in the skin, its more than likely under weight. If the scales seem somewhat seperated then it is possibly over weight. Just my own observations. Hope this helps.

Sid

[Thamnophis]

Whe a snake is to thin you will see it.

And six inches (± 18 cm?) and thinner than a pencil is normal.