types of garter

[punky_jen]

Ok well im quite new to garters.

Another forum i go on alot has a thread about garters, saying some are venomous etcc, what ones are the venomous ones? And which ones are not? Also could you post piccys of them please?

thanks :)

[adamanteus]

There is a school of thought that says all Garters are venomous, because they have modified salivary glands and slightly enlarged rear teeth. To me, this does not constitute truly venomous. All species are certainly harmless.

[punky_jen]

I had been told that some garters can hurt you more than others though, was wondering which ones they were, and what they looked like.

[Stefan-A]

They're all venomous as far as I know, but they're harmless.

[adamanteus]

Non of them can harm you at all. To view pictures of some of the different types, have a look through our photographic library.
http://www.thamnophis.com/caresheets/index.php?title=Photographic_Library

[Gijs & Sabine]

I agree with James. I've got bitten a lot by garters, but it never went into problems. I quess if you react allergic to a bite it is possible it'll swell up. But I've never seen anything like it in real, only from pics ;)
So basicly there is nothing to worry about.

[Garter_Gertie]

They're all venomous as far as I know, but they're harmless.

Stefan, could you go into more detail, please? I don't understand. Thanks!

[punky_jen]

I was told asian and african ones can harm you, and Rhabdophis too.

[adamanteus]

Right. Here's where the confusion from using 'common names' starts. To me Garters are Thamnophis which is purely American and harmless.
Certain of the South African 'Garters' are actually quite dangerous.

[Stefan-A]

Stefan, could you go into more detail, please? I don't understand. Thanks!
They have a gland that produces a very mild venom.

The gland is sometimes called Duvernoy's gland, and in certain other colubrid species (the boomslang, for example) it produces some very potent venom. According to what little I've read about the gland, it's a real venom gland, like the ones vipers and elapids (cobras, mambas, taipans etc.) have. I remember reading somewhere, don't remember where, that the venom the garters produce have little or no effect on species other than amphibians. Haven't verified the claim.

People who get bit by garters generally don't get any symptoms at all, but some people can experience itching or swelling. In at least one case I've heard about, there were more serious symptoms, but apparently the bite victim was a small child and the snake was allowed to chew for quite a while.

EDIT: I'm now specifically talking about the true, North and Central American garters, not African or Asian. That's why I prefer scientific names, they tell you instantly if you're talking about the same thing.

[punky_jen]

ahh i see, so all american garters are ok? cool :)

This might seem a silly question to some, but im new so here goes, how many morphs/types/colours are there?

I have 2 normal chequres, but id like a few different types.

[adamanteus]

how many morphs/types/colours are there?



Black-necked Garter Snake (http://www.thamnophis.com/caresheets/index.php?title=Black-necked_Garter_Snake) - Thamnophis cyrtopsis
Blue Striped Garter Snake (http://www.thamnophis.com/caresheets/index.php?title=Blue_Striped_Garter_Snake) - Thamnophis sirtalis similis
Butler's Garter Snake (http://www.thamnophis.com/caresheets/index.php?title=Butler's_Garter_Snake) - Thamnophis butleri
California Red Sided Garter Snake (http://www.thamnophis.com/caresheets/index.php?title=California_Red_Sided_Garter_Snake) - Thamnophis sirtalis infernalis
Checkered Garter Snake (http://www.thamnophis.com/caresheets/index.php?title=Checkered_Garter_Snake) - Thamnophis marcianus
Common Garter Snake (http://www.thamnophis.com/caresheets/index.php?title=Common_Garter_Snake) - Thamnophis sirtalis
Eastern Garter Snake (http://www.thamnophis.com/caresheets/index.php?title=Eastern_Garter_Snake) - Thamnophis sirtalis sirtalis
Eastern Ribbon Snake (http://www.thamnophis.com/caresheets/index.php?title=Eastern_Ribbon_Snake) - Thamnophis sauritus
Exiled Garter Snake (http://www.thamnophis.com/caresheets/index.php?title=Exiled_Garter_Snake) - Thamnophis exsul
Giant Garter Snake (http://www.thamnophis.com/caresheets/index.php?title=Giant_Garter_Snake) - Thamnophis gigas
Godman's Garter Snake (http://www.thamnophis.com/caresheets/index.php?title=Godman's_Garter_Snake) - Thamnophis godmani
Golden-headed Garter Snake (http://www.thamnophis.com/caresheets/index.php?title=Golden-headed_Garter_Snake) - Thamnophis chrysocephalus
Short-headed Garter Snake (http://www.thamnophis.com/caresheets/index.php?title=Short-headed_Garter_Snake) - Thamnophis brachystoma
Mesa Central Blotched Garter Snake (http://www.thamnophis.com/caresheets/index.php?title=Mesa_Central_Blotched_Garter_Snake ) - Thamnophis scaliger
Mesoamerican Highlands Garter Snake (http://www.thamnophis.com/caresheets/index.php?title=Mesoamerican_Highlands_Garter_Snak e) - Thamnophis fulvus
Mexican Alpine Blotched Garter Snake (http://www.thamnophis.com/caresheets/index.php?title=Mexican_Alpine_Blotched_Garter_Sna ke) - Thamnophis scalaris
Mexican Black-bellied Garter Snake (http://www.thamnophis.com/caresheets/index.php?title=Mexican_Black-bellied_Garter_Snake) - Thamnophis melanogaster
Mexican Garter Snake (http://www.thamnophis.com/caresheets/index.php?title=Mexican_Garter_Snake) - Thamnophis eques
Mexican Pacific Lowlands Garter Snake (http://www.thamnophis.com/caresheets/index.php?title=Mexican_Pacific_Lowlands_Garter_Sn ake) - Thamnophis validus
Mexican Wandering Garter Snake (http://www.thamnophis.com/caresheets/index.php?title=Mexican_Wandering_Garter_Snake) - Thamnophis errans
Narrow-headed Garter Snake (http://www.thamnophis.com/caresheets/index.php?title=Narrow-headed_Garter_Snake) - Thamnophis rufipunctatus
Northwestern Garter Snake (http://www.thamnophis.com/caresheets/index.php?title=Northwestern_Garter_Snake) - Thamnophis ordinoides
Pacific Coast Aquatic Garter Snake (http://www.thamnophis.com/caresheets/index.php?title=Pacific_Coast_Aquatic_Garter_Snake ) - Thamnophis atratus
Plains Garter Snake (http://www.thamnophis.com/caresheets/index.php?title=Plains_Garter_Snake) - Thamnophis radix
Red Sided Garter Snake (http://www.thamnophis.com/caresheets/index.php?title=Red_Sided_Garter_Snake) - Thamnophis sirtalis parietalis
Red Spotted Garter Snake (http://www.thamnophis.com/caresheets/index.php?title=Red_Spotted_Garter_Snake) - Thamnophis sirtalis concinnus
Rossman's Garter Snake (http://www.thamnophis.com/caresheets/index.php?title=Rossman's_Garter_Snake) - Thamnophis rossmani
San Francisco Garter Snake (http://www.thamnophis.com/caresheets/index.php?title=San_Francisco_Garter_Snake) - Thamnophis sirtalis tetrataenia
Sierra Garter Snake (http://www.thamnophis.com/caresheets/index.php?title=Sierra_Garter_Snake) - Thamnophis couchii
Southern Durango Spotted Garter Snake (http://www.thamnophis.com/caresheets/index.php?title=Southern_Durango_Spotted_Garter_Sn ake) - Thamnophis nigronuchalis
Sumichrast's Garter Snake (http://www.thamnophis.com/caresheets/index.php?title=Sumichrast's_Garter_Snake) - Thamnophis sumichrasti
Tamaulipan Montane Garter Snake (http://www.thamnophis.com/caresheets/index.php?title=Tamaulipan_Montane_Garter_Snake) - Thamnophis mendax
Tepalcatepec Valley Garter Snake (http://www.thamnophis.com/caresheets/index.php?title=Tepalcatepec_Valley_Garter_Snake) - Thamnophis postremus
Two-striped Garter Snake (http://www.thamnophis.com/caresheets/index.php?title=Two-striped_Garter_Snake) - Thamnophis hammondii
Western Ribbon Snake (http://www.thamnophis.com/caresheets/index.php?title=Western_Ribbon_Snake) - Thamnophis proximus
Western Terrestrial Garter Snake (http://www.thamnophis.com/caresheets/index.php?title=Western_Terrestrial_Garter_Snake) - Thamnophis elegans
Yellow-throated Garter Snake (http://www.thamnophis.com/caresheets/index.php?title=Yellow-throated_Garter_Snake) - Thamnophis pulchrilatus

[punky_jen]

wow lol, how common are they in the uk though? all iv ever seen for sale is the check ones, and thats not all too often.

[Stefan-A]

ahh i see, so all american garters are ok? cool :)
Yes, all ~35 species. :)

[adamanteus]

Actually, that list is incomplete... the other is too big to copy and paste!

[punky_jen]

A pet shop near me has ribbons at 25 each, so pretty.

[infernalis]

I'd say 25 quid for a healthy ribbon is a deal. even here in the USA if one were to order a ribbon from the KS classifieds, it would cost that with the shipping. Go get yourself one:)

For ideas about color morphs, Alan Frances has a UK based site, and Scott Felzer here in the USA has a good site too.

I'm not certain of the URL at the moment, and the kids are giving me a hard time right now.....

[Gijs & Sabine]

I think Jen means 25 in UK pounds, so that almost 50,- in dollars :eek: I'd say that's quite expensive !!
We sell our ribbons for 15 in euro's, so that's $23 and £12. UK is very expensive about garters and I think in all reptiles.

[Sid]

Actually, that list is incomplete... the other is too big to copy and paste!
Jen, if my memory serves me correctly there are 63 different Thamnophis counting sub-species. This does not include all the different color morphs.

[punky_jen]

yeah i ment 25 pounds :) its cheap compared to some of the prices of other snakes.

[punky_jen]

there must of been around 10 adults in the one viv, if i had the money and viv id get a pair, but i dont have the room or cash at the mo, as i have to build a 6 ft viv for my female bci.