Help Itdentify morph and species

[ebcjoel]

I caught this guy in my backyard. I have a small colony of garters that live there. I think it's a common garter and I think some type of albino. Let me know what y'all think. In eastern Washington. So there's a few overlapping species

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[guidofatherof5]

It looks like your state has 3 Thamnophis species.
T. elegans - Western Terrestrial Garter Snake
T. ordinoides - Northwestern Garter Snake
T. sirtalis - Common Garter Snake.

[ebcjoel]

Yep those are the ones just not sure which this is. I think it's T. sirtalis

[guidofatherof5]

Whichever it is you have a treasure there. Have you done a scale count? Do you have this book?
Seem a bit large to be a Northwestern.
http://www.thamnophis.com/thamphotos/data//821/medium/the_garter_snake.jpg (http://www.thamnophis.com/thamphotos/showphoto.php?photo=12863&title=the-garter-snake&cat=821)

[MNGuy]

I caught this guy in my backyard. I have a small colony of garters that live there. I think it's a common garter and I think some type of albino. Let me know what y'all think. In eastern Washington. So there's a few overlapping species

153241532515326

Wow! These live in your yard?! Those are some amazing colors on so many wild garters in one spot.

[ebcjoel]

This is the only one with this mutation that I have found.

[ebcjoel]

Also I just noticed who wrote this book. Neil Ford was an acquaintance of mine a long time ago and he gave we two wandering garter snakes. Gosh that was 30 years ago

[Manitou]

Well since you want to know what we all think:
1) I think it's a male
2) I think you need to breed it to as many local females as possible in hopes of producing similar offspring.

I would gather up ~20 females from as close as possible to where you obtained that male and brumate them all together with that male this upcoming winter. If that subspecies drops litters in late summer then before brumation time you may find some neonates of similar mutation, because the trait is in the gene pool in that area. The 100+ neonates that will be of normal color/pattern can just be released back into the wild.
Good luck!

[guidofatherof5]

20 females! Let's not wear him out.

[guidofatherof5]

My friend Steve S. sent me this email with regards to this snake. I thought I would share it with you.

Hey Steve,
Noticed this on the garter snake forum. I think it's an incredibly beautiful leucistic, hypomelanistic Thamnophis e. vagrans!
Of course, a potentially cannibalistic species, so prospective mates should be same size and, ideally, monitored as much as possible. Don't want "Mama" eating "Papa" (or even trying) in case they become too excited!
Also, I'm pretty sure that all native snakes are technically protected in Washington state, so a word to the wise...
Hope all is well with you and your family in these trying times.
Stay healthy,
Steve

[Manitou]

Guido,
Two questions:
1) What's the most number of females you've put with a male? I don't think the male would wear out. The breeding season, the natural breeding season that is, lasts but a few days. Then he's got the other 360 days to recuperate. A male would never lock with 20 females, but providing an ample supply affords him the opportunity to seek out the most receptive (via pheromones).
2) In regards to the email: "mates should be same size" how is this possible? I'm of the understanding that a sexually mature female is ~2x the size of a sexually mature male. Looking at the OP's photos of the male, leucistic, hypomelanistic T. e. vagrans, could a female the "same size" be fertile? I would simple use a divider in the enclosure, mesh, plexiglass with scent holes, etc, to first determine the behavior/intentions of the pair.

[guidofatherof5]

3 was the max for my male. He did his do doing and seemed fine. In most natural situations, the males probably outnumber the females so the number of males that get to breed is low in comparison. I think Steve was just suggesting the male-female size should be as close as possible. I think that after the coupling a male should probably be removed if the size difference is too large.

[NikkiSixx]

Looks like a wandering to me. My dad and I are working with some Mel's. Let me know if you ever produce, or want to part with one of these. I am sure we would be happy to take it. See what other morphs we can get to produce with the mel's!

[Eddie]

I have seen similar Wanderings caught in the past. Each one is a gem! I wish you luck reproducing it.

[Jeff B]

Awesome looking snake, reminded me of the silver eastern at first glance. Good luck hope you can reproduce that gene.

[Elisabeth83]

Wow! What an amazing incredible find! Idk what kind of garter he is, but he is so pretty! Yes breed him! There needs to be more of this beautiful snake!