Indonesian "Garters"!!!!!!

[aSnakeLovinBabe]

Okay, so they are not garters at all! But let me tell you what, I recently acquired 0.2 of them... and these girls are not only extremely pretty... they have that same garter personality! They have made me an absolute fan!!! They are so inquisitive! Hm, lets see what you are doing over here, oh what is that over there! What they lack is the flightiness most garters have... I cannot, for the life of me... intimidate these two. I can poke them on the nose, pick them up and turn them upside down.. but no it's cool with them!!! They seem to 100% lack.. fear... which is odd, no?

The only thing weird I noticed... is that i cannot get them to flick their tongues! they rarely, if ever, do it! I found this to be an extreme oddity, especially since I offered some trout today... and they wouldnt flick their tongues. So I said okay I will try tomorrow. Well the brighter female started scooting across the cage, and ALL the sudden she dropped her head stared intently at the ground, and then immediately, and visciously, attacked the fish juice on the ground. Keep in mind that she was 8 inches from my face at this time, I am absolutely positive she did NOT flick her tongue... not even a little!! So, my question is... do snakes have any, even a tiny, remote sense of smell through their nostrils, or possibly through that little opening that their tongue comes through? They have to! I fed them each a pinky and only one of them actually smelled the thing first!

But anyways, enough blabbing, I know what you all really want! and here they are! pictures! Without further ado I bring you my favorite garter imposters ever!!

http://i286.photobucket.com/albums/ll86/aSnakeLovinBabe/Snakes/Garters/042.jpg

http://i286.photobucket.com/albums/ll86/aSnakeLovinBabe/Snakes/Garters/044.jpg

http://i286.photobucket.com/albums/ll86/aSnakeLovinBabe/Snakes/Garters/051.jpg

http://i286.photobucket.com/albums/ll86/aSnakeLovinBabe/Snakes/Garters/058.jpg


you've gotta LOVE that bizzarre belly!!!
http://i286.photobucket.com/albums/ll86/aSnakeLovinBabe/Snakes/Garters/061.jpg

http://i286.photobucket.com/albums/ll86/aSnakeLovinBabe/Snakes/Garters/064.jpg

[Zephyr]

How exactly are they related to North American garters? o.o

[count dewclaw]

Wow, they are pretty! What's their scientific name?

[aSnakeLovinBabe]

They arent!! at all!!! thats why i put "garter" in parenthesis... they are oviparous (egg layers) and also rear fanged venomous. Their common name is Indonesian garter. They arent garters at all though. thats why I opened my post with "they are not garters at all" lol!!!

[EdgyExoticReptiles]

Wow those are pretty, they sell those along with ribbons at the local pet store for $15, i really should get some it would b a good deal, do they lay eggs, oh and im gunna go put my unbrumated hybrids together and just hope

[aSnakeLovinBabe]

Yes, they lay eggs.

[EdgyExoticReptiles]

most likely they just looked like them

How exactly are they related to North American garters? o.o

[drache]

Xenochrophis vittatus
another common name is striped keelback
they are in the same family and probably share common ancestry with garters
it is said that garters developed into live bearers when they entered the Americas via the land connection at the Bering Strait
where did you get yours, Shannon?

[aSnakeLovinBabe]

from someon who didnt want them anymore

[Loren]

They are pretty. I remember seeing pics of the species before somewhere.

[Stefan-A]

Xenochrophis vittatus
another common name is striped keelback
they are in the same family and probably share common ancestry with garters
it is said that garters developed into live bearers when they entered the Americas via the land connection at the Bering Strait
where did you get yours, Shannon?
Everyone's related if you go back far enough. I don't think Xenochrophis and Thamnophis are closely related, this may be more about convergent evolution than actual "kinship". Naturally, I could be wrong, but I think Thamnophis was actually much more closely related to Rhabdophis.

[Stefan-A]

Very nice photos, Shannon. :)

[adamanteus]

A snakes sense of smell through it's nostrils is about as well developed as a humans'. The partical testing with the tongue is an extra sense.

[drache]

Everyone's related if you go back far enough. I don't think Xenochrophis and Thamnophis are closely related, this may be more about convergent evolution than actual "kinship". Naturally, I could be wrong, but I think Thamnophis was actually much more closely related to Rhabdophis.
you're probably closer to right than I am
I was linking two unrelated facts in my often rather undisciplined mind

[Snaky]

Those are some nice looking "garters" :)
Can't help you with the tongue flicking though. I've never had them...

[Thamnophis]

Nice snakes, Shannon.
I kept them in the past. They are roughly the same as Thamnophis and Nerodia in care-taking.
But... they are much more sensitive for cold. It is a kind of tropical snake.
They are sensitive for pneumonia.
And most of the time they are wildcaught and carry all kinds of parasites (intern).

My advice... keep them away from your other snakes and let a vet do a stool research.
And keep the nighttemperature around 20-22 degrees C (68 - 72 degrees F) . Better not lower. And they need more humidity than Thamnophis and Nerodia.

[Stefan-A]

you're probably closer to right than I am
I was linking two unrelated facts in my often rather undisciplined mind
I just want to point out that I'm probably wrong.

[anji1971]

They are very pretty snakes! I can see why they've been dubbed "garters"..............quite similar in a lot of ways.
I love the white bellies!
Nice additions to your collection, Shannon!:)

[enigma200316]

Very nice additions Shannon, good pics to thanks for sharing........:)

[ssssnakeluvr]

Naturally, I could be wrong, but I think Thamnophis was actually much more closely related to Rhabdophis.

I had a rhabdophis tigrinus years ago....very much like garters, ate fish, same activity levels, curiosity. very nice snakes. unfortunately they are rear fanged so Utah doesn't allow them..... :(

[Snake lover 3-25]

AWWWWWWW CUTE!!!!!:D:D:D


A snakes sense of smell through it's nostrils is about as well developed as a humans'. The partical testing with the tongue is an extra sense.

REALLY??????????????? i NEVER knew that!!!!

[Sid]

Nice additions, Shannon. Congratulations:)

[big J]

Those are the neatest little things. I have had one for about a year now. He definitly lacks fear on all levels. I would love to find more if anybody knows someone who wil ship them. He is definitly my favorite other than the garters. Neat little snakes for sure

[Lori P]

Oh, wow, Shannon, they are very striking!! I really like them! Congrats on getting them. Definitley keep the pics of those two coming!!!!

[thinkmore]

They sure sound like a lot of fun. Have to wonder why they're not more popular.

[drache]

They sure sound like a lot of fun. Have to wonder why they're not more popular.
as far as I know there are no breeders of these in the US yet, so they're imported from Indonesia and generally not in good shape
I got three last year with one lone survivor
he's very sweet though

[lestat]

Yes they are very lovley. The pictures are good.

[aSnakeLovinBabe]

I woke up this morning and one, the prettier one, was just dead.... :confused:

I'm a bit upset.

[jeanette]

I woke up this morning and one, the prettier one, was just dead.... :confused:

I'm a bit upset.
im sorry to hear that :(

[adamanteus]

Shannon, I'm sorry. I'll bet you are upset, and with good reason. Obviously nothing you did, in such a short time. Did you say these were long-term captives?

[Snake lover 3-25]

ooooo that's really sad to hear...... that stinks........ maybe parisites????:(:(:(

[drache]

oh Shannon, I'm so sorry to hear that
what a bummer

[Lori P]

Oh no!!! I'm so so sorry. Like James asked, I wonder how long they have been in captivity. What a shame...