identify this garter !

[rapturereptiles]

so im new here i am a mod an a large constrictor forum and know jack squat about garters.

i need to identify this for work could you guys help me out?


http://i312.photobucket.com/albums/ll352/rapturereptiles/IMG00561.jpg

http://i312.photobucket.com/albums/ll352/rapturereptiles/IMG00562.jpg

[Stefan-A]

Xenochrophis vittatus, also known as Striped Keelback. Often sold as "Indonesian garter" or more ridiculously, "Canadian garter", but it's not a genuine garter (Thamnophis spp.). Rear-fanged, mildly venomous oviparous fish/amphibian eater from Southeast Asia. Very likely to be wildcaught and loaded with parasites.

[infernalis]

I concur with Stefan.

Welcome to the forum.

[adamanteus]

Yeah, what they said!

[drache]

yep - not even a garter

[guidofatherof5]

Keelback for sure.

[GarterNovice]

Definitely a keelback. And from the background of the pics dare I suggest you got it at PetCo?

[prattypus]

With the yellow tags, it's gotta be Petco or Best Buy!

[infernalis]

With the yellow tags, it's gotta be Petco or Best Buy!


Best buy? now thats funny.

[Charlet_2007]

looks like petsmart to me.. :confused::confused:

ROTFLAO at best buy lmao :D:D:D:D

[jitami]

Bless you for actually getting correct ID on this snake!!! Many people come here with them thinking they've bought a Thamnophis(true garter snake) and are surprised to learn that although care is similar, they're really not a good "beginner" snake. Again, kudos to you for asking!

[GarterNovice]

What is with Pet co selling snakes that they say are Garters but aren't? Had it happen to us twice. It's annoying.

[infernalis]

Annoying is an understatement, it's a crime!

[guidofatherof5]

They label them(in my opinion) so that people will buy them thinking they are just getting a Garter Snake. "How hard can it be to take care of a Garter snake"
Label it from Indonesia and people get scared away. Too exotic, too hard to take care of. They have to know what they are selling but choose not to be up-front with the customer.

[rapturereptiles]

looks like petsmart to me.. :confused::confused:

ROTFLAO at best buy lmao :D:D:D:D

lol its petco, in arizona i work there and we had gotten 2 of these things in , thanks for everything , they came in a gartersnake order supersweet and tame as can be . but one has a mild r.i. so i took him to the vet , but the other seems all good no external mites or anything ,and 20 bucks not a bad price but im not really into anything that isnt 20+ feet long , im more of a retic guy, ,

again thanks for all of the info
brandon

[GarterNovice]

I do not see how it is legal for them to sell them as Garters

[olive oil]

Patrick, did yours pass away or did they take it back?
Just curious.

[adamanteus]

I do not see how it is legal for them to sell them as Garters

That's just one of the problems with using 'common' names.. they don't mean a thing, and you certainly can't enforce 'naming rules'. Keelbacks (Xenochrophis) are commonly known as Indonesian Garter Snakes, there is an entire genus of dangerously venomous Elapids in South Africa (Elapsoidea), which are commonly known as Garter Snakes. Then there is the North American natricine genus (Thamnophis), commonly known as Garter Snakes.
Which is right, which is wrong?
Best to buy from reputable dealers and use scientific names, that way everyone knows what snake they're talking about.

[GarterNovice]

I'm definitely a beginner snake owner, so I decided to take him back:( I didn't want to but he just refused to eat and I didn't want to be responsible for his death. I figured that was the responsible thing to do.

[infernalis]

Call me crazy, but at some point, I wouldn't mind giving a keelback a try.

[GarterNovice]

They are very handsome looking. I really liked him. Even if he did skunk me pretty bad:) But I think I'd need an awful lot more experience with snakes before I attempt getting another.

[reptile3]

With the yellow tags, it's gotta be Petco or Best Buy!


We have to have a clown in our group!:p now that is funny Jason!

I knew it was Petco, i shopped at one today!!

[Stefan-A]

We don't even have any Petcos over here and I would still have guessed it. :rolleyes:

[anji1971]

Call me crazy, but at some point, I wouldn't mind giving a keelback a try.

If anyone can get one to thrive, it's most likely you, Wayne.:)
Someday, waaaayyy down the road when I have more resources available, I wouldn't mind one myself. They really are gorgeous snakes.

[prattypus]

We have to have a clown in our group!:p now that is funny Jason!

I knew it was Petco, i shopped at one today!!
If you saw what I did everyday in the mirror, you'd be cracking the jokes too! j/k- see, I did it again.:D

[infernalis]

If anyone can get one to thrive, it's most likely you, Wayne.:).

That was a very nice thing to say Anji

[jitami]

I'm definitely a beginner snake owner, so I decided to take him back:( I didn't want to but he just refused to eat and I didn't want to be responsible for his death. I figured that was the responsible thing to do.

Good call Patrick. I agree, it was the responsible thing to do, even if it wasn't the easiest.

[aSnakeLovinBabe]

Call me crazy, but at some point, I wouldn't mind giving a keelback a try.

you are not crazy. They are WONDERFUL snakes. Awesome. Every bit as personable, loveable, curious as garters. Just, very, very hard to find a healthy specimen. My remaining red-necked keelback is (I think and hope) healthy. And she's a doll.... even if I never find her a mate... I still love having her as a pet!:p

[infernalis]

If I do take that plunge, I'll treat with a wormer and check for mites straight away.

I'd still keep it out of the reptile room for a few weeks.

[aSnakeLovinBabe]

If I do take that plunge, I'll treat with a wormer and check for mites straight away.

I'd still keep it out of the reptile room for a few weeks.

Well, I've actually never gotten one yet that had mites... just lots of worms though! You'll need to know what types of worms are in there so you can be sure to kill the blasted things. Cause you know how that is... this wormer kills these worms... this one kills those worms... but not these ones!

[infernalis]

Fecal samples to the vet probably the smartest move;)