New Member- Just Got a Garter

[racheletc]

Hi Everyone!

I just got a garter snake and want to verify id and that my enclosure is ok. I have about 40 T's, but no snakes, so I have a couple quick questions.

I believe I have a western garter snake. It's about 18" long. I have no idea if it is cb or wc as I am at least the third (and last!) owner.

Pics of snake and enclosure are below, if someone could let me know if my id is right and my tank looks okay (it's a 10 gallon tank with screened top).

Quick questions are: I live in SoCal (just south of LA in the beach cities) do I need to provide a heat source in tank as it does not really get outside of the temp ranges indicated in the care sheets? Also, how often should I feed it?

Any help is appreciated.

Rachel


http://i217.photobucket.com/albums/cc21/waitwill/P1010001.jpg

http://i217.photobucket.com/albums/cc21/waitwill/P1010003.jpg

http://i217.photobucket.com/albums/cc21/waitwill/P1010002.jpg

http://i217.photobucket.com/albums/cc21/waitwill/P1010004.jpg

[adamanteus]

Hi Rachel, and welcome to the forum.:)
Your new snake looks like an Eastern (Thamnophis sirtalis sirtalis) but these don't occur in the wild where you are..... Did you buy this snake or catch it?
Love your set-up by the way.

[Stefan-A]

Welcome aboard, Rachel. :)

It looks a lot like my T. sirtalis parietalis, but T. sirtalis sirtalis would be my second guess.

A heat source would be recommended to get a temperature gradient, and you can feed it once or twice a week.

[drache]

welcome to the forum
my guess is also Eastern
your enclosure looks real nice
it may be a bit difficult to keep clean though

[infernalis]

Hello Rachel, welcome to you and your snake.

Looks like a very nice set up:D

[Sid]

HI Rachel and welcome to a great forum. Nice Garter and setup.

[el lobo]

Looks like a T. sirtalis SOMEthing to me....enclosure looks just fine!

[gregmonsta]

Welcome garter friend :D

[Garter_Gertie]

Welcome, Rachel. :D

I know! I know! I know! My first definite, correct ID! It's an Eastern! Ittiz the spit an image of Winnie! Yup! Definitely an Eastern. My first ID! :D

[anji1971]

Hello, and welcome! I like that snake, very nice colours.:)

[Zephyr]

Hi and welcome! You have an eastern garter snake, Thamnophis sirtalis sirtalis for sure.

[EdgyExoticReptiles]

it does kinda look like a parietalis but i guess it could be an eastern..

[Zephyr]

it does kinda look like a parietalis but i guess it could be an eastern..
I've seen this coloration in wild eastern males a few times. The light brown on scale row 1 and the green between the scales above it gives the ID away.

[EdgyExoticReptiles]

idk does look an awfully like stefan's female parietalis... and my old male that i sent to tina..

I've seen this coloration in wild eastern males a few times. The light brown on scale row 1 and the green between the scales above it gives the ID away.

[Stefan-A]

I don't see any of the green you mentioned. In fact, the only thing I can name right now, that would set it apart from my female (perhaps it's more like the male I had) parietalis, is the fact that the bars above the lateral stripes are the same yellow as the rest of the snake. But those bars appear to be the same shape and have the same regularity as on several parietalis I've seen and the sirtalis sirtalis I've seen so far that have had even a remotely similar pattern, have all had pretty much solid black on top of its head.
Despite it's name, a red-sided doesn't necessarily have red on it.

[racheletc]

Thanks for the info everyone:)

I got the snake when I bought a bunch of new tarantulas from a friend - it was 'thrown in', but I think it's really cool so am planning on keeping it. If it's Eastern, I have no idea idea how it got here, and I have no way of knowing if it was cb or wc and simply traded around. I am about as far west as you can be in the continental US.

It was in a much smaller KK when I got it, so I hope he likes the new digs. I'll get a heat rock for it tomorrow (we're having a heat wave right now, so it's 90F outside).

If they're anything like T's, you probably can't have just one, so I'm looking forward to having more.

Rachel

[Zephyr]

I don't see any of the green you mentioned. In fact, the only thing I can name right now, that would set it apart from my female (perhaps it's more like the male I had) parietalis, is the fact that the bars above the lateral stripes are the same yellow as the rest of the snake. But those bars appear to be the same shape and have the same regularity as on several parietalis I've seen and the sirtalis sirtalis I've seen so far that have had even a remotely similar pattern, have all had pretty much solid black on top of its head.
Despite it's name, a red-sided doesn't necessarily have red on it.
The striping and the coloration on row 1 give it away. The green I'm talking about is in between the checkering on the higher scale rows. (Appears sort of white-ish.) From my experience, parietalis don't have the kind of tan-brown coloration on row one. The specimen also resembles the following eastern specimens; *One's mine and one's Don's.*
http://img385.imageshack.us/img385/6688/img0146vp3.jpg
http://www.donsgartersnakes.net/images/yeleast.jpg

[Zephyr]

Thanks for the info everyone:)

I got the snake when I bought a bunch of new tarantulas from a friend - it was 'thrown in', but I think it's really cool so am planning on keeping it. If it's Eastern, I have no idea idea how it got here, and I have no way of knowing if it was cb or wc and simply traded around. I am about as far west as you can be in the continental US.

It was in a much smaller KK when I got it, so I hope he likes the new digs. I'll get a heat rock for it tomorrow (we're having a heat wave right now, so it's 90F outside).

If they're anything like T's, you probably can't have just one, so I'm looking forward to having more.

Rachel1. Don't use heat rocks. Use a basking light. Also, with 90 degree heat ambient room lighting will be fine.
2. I believe I know you. You sound like one of the tarantula people from the roach forum. XD

[Stefan-A]

Those two both lack the sharply defined bars and they have the typical sirtalis sirtalis spots along the lower margin of the lateral stripe.

[adamanteus]

I have no idea idea how it got here, and I have no way of knowing if it was cb or wc and simply traded around.

My guess is that it has been captive for a while and has worked it's way from the east. Whatever, it's a nice snake. With the temps you're experiencing just now, I wouldn't bother with an additional heat source.

You're right, these things are addictive.... This is your first Garter, not your only Garter!:D

[Zephyr]

Those two both lack the sharply defined bars and they have the typical sirtalis sirtalis spots along the lower margin of the lateral stripe.Notice on her specimen how rows 1 and 2 mix, especially anteriorly, and how further down the body the black coloration becomes prominent on row one. I have no doubts that it's an eastern. :)

[Stefan-A]

It has been noticed, and it's not uncommon in parietalis. I have no doubt that it may not necessarily be an eastern. ;)

[crzy_kevo]

hey there and welcome to the forum
enclosure looks like a lot of work but very nice indeed and your garter is beautiful too

[adamanteus]

Stefan, Kyle..... I guess we'll never really know which one of you is right. :) To quote Rossman et al (and Sjoerd)...

"This genus has long stood in the minds of herpetologists as a synonym for chaos..."

[Zephyr]

Stefan, Kyle..... I guess we'll never really know which one of you is right. :) To quote Rossman et al (and Sjoerd)...

"This genus has long stood in the minds of herpetologists as a synonym for chaos..."I can see World War III coming out of this... Let's all agree it's T. sirtalis. ^^

[Stefan-A]

I wonder if Rachel will find that quote useful.. ;)

[adamanteus]

I wonder if Rachel will find that quote useful.. ;)

I'll PM her what it really is!;):D

[Stefan-A]

I'll PM her what it really is!;):D
A duck? :D

[racheletc]

There are arguments like this all the time on the T forums. Choas indeed...

T sirtalis sounds good to me:)

[Odie]

Hi, from Oregon, Rachel :)

[Lori P]

Welcome Rachel! Your snake is beautiful, and your set up is great. :-) Hope you enjoy it here!!

[jitami]

Welcome Rachel! We had a tarantula for a few years... pretty cool critters. I have a feeling you'll enjoy your new snake too. I'm in northern Ca and yeah, you really don't need an additional heat source. In fact, with a 10 gallon tank and warm ambient temps it may do more harm than good. I almost cooked our little guy when we first got him... poor fella had crinkly scales and was constantly climbing the glass trying to escape the heat. I have a 20g long now and do use a basking lamp on one corner, but I use the lowest watt bulb I could find and have it raised about three inches above the screen lid. It keeps the basking spot in the high 80's low 90's and the far end tops out at about 82. Not really enough gradient, but it's the best I can do with this set up and the snake tolerates it well. He's usually up on the basking spot. However right now he's hiding under paper towel substrate. I was gone all weekend and hubby turned the air conditioning down to 68 degrees F. I didn't figure this out until late this morning when I couldn't figure out why I was freezing! Trying to warm the snake tank up, but snake still burrowed... poor guy! It should be feeding day, but I'm going to wait until he decides to come out of his hide and warm up... sigh...

[lestat]

Hello and wellcome to this wonderfull site. Any questions you need answering about garters, this is deffinately the place for the answers. Your snake and set up are very nice.

[racheletc]

I'lll likely go with the basking light jitami as soemone else recommended that as well. It's still very hot in SoCal, but I'm very close to the ocean so the temps should fall into the normal 70's F soon.

Thanks everyone for your help! This site is really friendly:)

[beaniesmommy]

Welcome! I am a new snake owner too and you are right this is some of the kindest, most intellegent people in one place you will ever come across!