Big Floridas

[GarterGuy]

Was just curious, I've heard how the Florida variety of T.s.sirtalis is supposed to be a fairly large, robust garter and was wondering, for those of you who keep them, how big are you're Floridas? I've read they can get to 4ft. and was thinking that'd be really cool to have a 4ft. garter snake. Oh and as always, if you have pics....that'd be cool too.:cool:

[Stefan-A]

I've heard that, too. But I believe the current record is held by a parietalis. :)

I am of course speaking about T. sirtalis. T. gigas should be even bigger, as you know.

[enigma200316]

well I have similis, and there what about 6 to 8 months old give or take...
and there still only around 10inches, except that one I just posted, she's around 12 to 13in......:)

[enigma200316]

here she is
http://www.thamnophis.com/thamphotos/data//500/medium/F_Similis.jpg

[Stefan-A]

Wrong subspecies, Justin. :)

[adamanteus]

I have sirtalis Florida Blues, they're still only babies but they are comparatively massive. I've kept them before and had some pretty big ones, couldn't say if they were 4ft or not, but they're the biggest Garter I've ever kept.

[ssssnakeluvr]

I have a 34" florida blue. Scott Felzer had one that was 48" long. they do get big and robust!!! He has an albino florida blue....she is good size too!!! Here's a pic of here....

http://www.thamnophis.com/thamphotos/data//504/medium/female_florida_blue.jpg

[reptileparadise]

haven't got any floridas, but I do have an parietalis that is about 115cm (dont know what that is in feet or inches).
Not the longest snake around, but defenitly massive! Very much like Dons picture...Easily able to eat full grown mice :)

[adamanteus]

That's about 46 inches, Sjoerd.... big snake!

[ssssnakeluvr]

my current largest is my melanistic eastern.....42"

http://www.thamnophis.com/thamphotos/data//504/medium/mel_7.jpg

[Stefan-A]

My biggest is about 35-36 inches right now. I'll have to measure her after the next shed, which will be sometime next week.

http://koti.mbnet.fi/thamnoph/extra/upnover1.jpg

[enigma200316]

Wrong subspecies, Justin. :)

yes, but it is one of the Florida veriety, and can be just as big if not bigger...........:D

[Stefan-A]

Well, it's from Florida, but it's not the same thing. "Florida Blue" is a variety of the subspecies T. sirtalis sirtalis, T. sirtalis similis is a different subspecies that lives in the Florida region. Sorry if I'm stating the obvious here. :)

Of course I'm probably wrong, but I got the impression that similis is one of the smaller subspecies. :)

[enigma200316]

yes I know, however they are commonly mistaken for each other........
and as for the size, sirtalis average:20-28in. with the record of 48.75in.
and the similis average:20-26in. with the record of 39.25in....I do understand what your saying Stefan I'm just stating that there both in Florida and the related size between them.............;)

[GarterGuy]

Yeh, I'm thinking I might have to rethink my garters I'm getting to include something with some size to it. Maybe a pair each of the florida sirtalis and melanistic sirtalis.....I do love black snakes too.:D

[ssssnakeluvr]

well....hopefully the male eastern I have is het for melanistic....and breeds with the melanistic girl.... he is from the same area that the melanistics are found. he's possibly het for it according to the guy I got him from....has had several het melanistics from there. :D

[CrazyHedgehog]

My big Florida Blue, this is spice
http://www.thamnophis.com/thamphotos/data//500/medium/bigmamma.JPG

and this is Big Mamma

http://www.thamnophis.com/thamphotos/data//500/medium/spice.JPG

[Stefan-A]

They sure look massive. :) Weight and length?

[drache]

wow
they look big
more big than blue actually - is that just the photo?
I mean - are they bluer than they look on the photo?

[enigma200316]

either you have tiny hands or those snakes are huge.........;):D

[tikichick]

:eek: Wow, those are big! Very nice!

[anji1971]

Holy smokes!!:eek:
They DO get big! What's their growth rate like?
Do they just grow faster in general to other garters, or are those two older snakes?

[Snaky]

Nice florida blues.
I believe the belly is blue, but not the rest of the body... or am I incorrect?

[GarterGuy]

My big Florida Blue, this is spice
http://www.thamnophis.com/thamphotos/data//500/medium/bigmamma.JPG

and this is Big Mamma

http://www.thamnophis.com/thamphotos/data//500/medium/spice.JPG


Wow Inge, they're huge! That's exactly what I was talking about. Oh yeh, I'm so getting a pair.:D Hopefully Tom (aka: snakeman) will be breeding his erythristic floridas again this year (missed out on them last year :(), so that I can get some big red garters.:cool:

[CrazyHedgehog]

wow
they look big
more big than blue actually - is that just the photo?
I mean - are they bluer than they look on the photo?
not that blue these, more underside blue and a little around the side of the head..

[CrazyHedgehog]

Holy smokes!!:eek:
They DO get big! What's their growth rate like?
Do they just grow faster in general to other garters, or are those two older snakes?

these were ready to breed after 1 year! (but I left it til the second) they grew really quickly! these are about 3 years old now

[CrazyHedgehog]

either you have tiny hands or those snakes are huge.........;):D

Its obviously a problem with the photo, because I am usually a size 8 with a tiny waist and definately no double chin :rolleyes: !!!!
lol

[adamanteus]

:eek: Wow, those are big! Very nice!

Yes, indeed. Her snakes are quite impressive too!:D

[Stefan-A]

Damn it, James. :D

[adamanteus]

What???:D That's nothing, look at what Roy said!:D


Wow Inge, they're huge! That's what I was talking about. Oh yeh.

[Stefan-A]

What???:D That's nothing, look at what Roy said!:D
Actually, it was: "Oh yeh, I'm so getting a pair." But he was talking about the snakes. :D

[adamanteus]

Funny though... taken out of context?:D

[Stefan-A]

:D Still; Damn it, James. :D

[adamanteus]

I believe the belly is blue, but not the rest of the body... or am I incorrect?

They can be very variable, (like most of the sirtalis). I once had a very blue male, as blue as a similis or a pickeringii, whereas the 0.3 I have now are a dirty turquoise colour between the scales. I guess it's their sheer bulk and their attitude that makes them attractive (to me).:)

[Lori P]

OMG!!! They ARE huge (the snakes, the snakes)!!!! Wow, I want one now too!!!!

Very nice Inge!!

[tikichick]

Oh, you're bad! :p


Yes, indeed. Her snakes are quite impressive too!:D

[enigma200316]

hahaha.....I thought the same at first James, but thought it would be better not to go there........;):D

[Zephyr]

Those are the BIGGEST garters I've ever seen!!
Note to self, check the brumation site for bigger. XD

[EdgyExoticReptiles]

Don had the bluest florida blue male id ever seen but i think it passed away

They can be very variable, (like most of the sirtalis). I once had a very blue male, as blue as a similis or a pickeringii, whereas the 0.3 I have now are a dirty turquoise colour between the scales. I guess it's their sheer bulk and their attitude that makes them attractive (to me).:)

[CrazyHedgehog]

Yes, indeed. Her snakes are quite impressive too!:D

you know, I am just going to take that as a compliment and leave it at that!!:rolleyes:

[GarterGuy]

It's sounding like there's two thamno-keepers here who need to get out a bit more. :p

[Stefan-A]

Just two? :rolleyes:

:D

[ssssnakeluvr]

Don had the bluest florida blue male id ever seen but i think it passed away

yea, unfortunately he passed, was quite bummed!!! here;s the pic...

http://www.thamnophis.com/thamphotos/data//504/medium/Dons_Snakes_201_096.jpg

[GarterGuy]

well....hopefully the male eastern I have is het for melanistic....and breeds with the melanistic girl.... he is from the same area that the melanistics are found. he's possibly het for it according to the guy I got him from....has had several het melanistics from there. :D


Very cool, I'll be watching for babies this summer then.:D

[tikichick]

Oooooooh, that blue is awesome! Dang, now I want one, lol.