Hit by mower

[Patrika]

My husband just brought me a gorgeous western garter that he found while mowing. He accidently clipped the end of its tail with the mower. It looks like the last 2 inches or so of the tail is missing, other than that it appears to be alright. I would like to keep it, but Im pretty clueless about garters. I have a couple of boas now, so snakes arent new to me. I would like to know what to do with this new guy, what should I try to feed it, how soon should I try to feed it, do I need to provide heat, what should I do about its tail? Any info you could give me would be a great help. Thanks

[adamanteus]

Hi Patty, and welcome to the forum.:)
The tail injury doesn't sound too worrying. I would just treat the wound with Neosporin or similar, and keep it very clean.

As to general care of Garters, here's a good starting point....
http://www.thamnophis.com/caresheets/index.php?title=Garter_Snake_Care_Sheet

[Sid]

Welcome to the forum, Patty. Follow the advise from James and read up on the link he posted and you can't go wrong.

[Stefan-A]

Welcome aboard, Patty. :)

James is giving good advice. Keep the wound and the cage clean.

[count dewclaw]

Hi and welcome, Patty.

[anji1971]

Hello, and welcome! Sounds like you're getting good advice already. Cleanliness is very important right now.

[drache]

welcome to the forum, Patty
nice to meet you

[enigma200316]

welcome to the forum.....................:)

[Odie]

Hi, from Oregon, Patty :)

[Patrika]

Just a few more questions....

What would be the best food to offer at first? I have one small mouse now (live), do you think he'd eat it? Should I kill it first or offer it live? Or would some of the other items from the caresheet be a better option since he is freshly caught?

Also, this is by far the largest garter snake that I have ever found. He's probably around 3' now. Is this full grown for a western garter? Is there any way (other than probing) to sex it?

Thanks again for all your help and advice.

[adamanteus]

If you can post a photo, showing the vent and upper tail area, we can sex it for you.
A good first food would be nightcrawlers or fish, trout or salmon are good. I wouldn't offer a live mouse.

[EdgyExoticReptiles]

also do you mean eastern garter snake? theres no such thing as a western to my knowledge

[Snake lover 3-25]

if it's 3 feet it sounds like a female... (can males get that big?)

[Patrika]

also do you mean eastern garter snake? theres no such thing as a western to my knowledge


I am unfamiliar with the garter snake species. I found a website before I found this one with a photo that matches my snake listed as western garter snake. Here is a photo of mine (sorry, its not great...taken with my phone), maybe you guys can tell what it really is.

[Patrika]

Heres one more...again not great.

[EdgyExoticReptiles]

ohhh maybe you mean western terrestrial?, where do you live?? thats a beatiful snake! but i think you have an coast garter snake Thamnophis elegans terrestris - Coast Gartersnake (http://www.californiaherps.com/snakes/pages/t.e.terrestris.html)
im not sure kinda looks like a red phase radix with that stripe and head, could you get better pictures?

[anji1971]

Wow, what a beautiful snake.:cool:
I can't help you with the ID, since I'm completely unfamiliar with the western species, but whatever it turns out to be, it's a keeper!

[Patrika]

I live in South-Central Kansas. This snake was found in the yard, I havent seen one like this around here before, most of them are just green. I will have some better pictures to post probably tomorrow. I took some better head and body shots.

[adamanteus]

Wow! If that'a radix, and it would seem it most likely is.... I want a dozen just like it!
It does look like terrestris, but Kansas is well outside of their range, isn't it?

[EdgyExoticReptiles]

yea... it looks exactly like a radix but with tons of red

Wow! If that'a radix, and it would seem it most likely is.... I want a dozen just like it!
It does look like terrestris, but Kansas is well outside of their range, isn't it?

[EdgyExoticReptiles]

http://www.gpnc.org/images/jpegs/animals/plgartermap.jpg


are you in the grey area? thats radix range btw please respond to my pm

[Patrika]

http://www.gpnc.org/images/jpegs/animals/plgartermap.jpg




are you in the grey area? thats radix range btw please respond to my pm



We are well within the shaded areas.

[Lori P]

OMG-- that is a GORGEOUS garter. I'm in love!! Lucky you! Could you please post directions to your house?? Ummm-- I just want to come by and say hi-- yeah-- that's it, just say hi.... :rolleyes::D:D

[EdgyExoticReptiles]

i did not know there were red radix, would that be an erythristic radix?

[count dewclaw]

Beautiful snake! Love the red coloring and bold stripe!

[drache]

that is quite a snake you got there
to me it looks like a cross between a radix and a parietalis, but I know very little about species ID and genetics

[ssssnakeluvr]

definitely a radix!!!! very sweet one!! there was a photo on the old thamnophis.com of a radix redder than that..I was unable to copy the photo. It was captured and released in Kansas.

[jeanette]

Thats a really pretty snake.

[Patrika]

Here are a couple more pictures

[anji1971]

Is it just me, or does that snake look gi-normous???:eek:

[adamanteus]

Haha! Or a very tiny little girl!:D

[Sid]

That's a great looking Garter. Welcome to the forum, Patty.

[Lori P]

Looks huge to me too!! And so so beautiful!!!!

[Snake lover 3-25]

Me three maybe just a small kid though....:D