Calling all ‘Infernalis’ owners…

[CRIKEY!]

Hi,
I’m a garter newbie. I’ve caught Easterns my whole life, but I have never kept one for more than a few days. Now that I’m thinking of a pet snake, I have fallen in love with the California red-sided. So I have some questions about the beautiful ‘infernalis’. Is there any unique behavior, like temperament, jumpiness, eating habits, etc. Or are they pretty much the same as all the other Easterns? If you own one, can you please let me know what you think of them?
Cheers!

[Mike Spencer]

If you get your infernalis as a baby, handle it, and feed it good, they'll grow up with a great temperament. They should grow to be active but docile for you. I live right in the heart of their native range and I can honestly say they are one of my favorite snakes to find. The girl I have has a great temperament and she is a great feeder as well. I've never dealt with Easterns though, so I can't answer how they are in relation to them.

Good luck!

[ssssnakeluvr]

garters in general have the same disposition...but it varies from snake to snake....some can be mellow and others can be nasty!

[aSnakeLovinBabe]

My infernalis's have great appetites but are VERY pushy. Especially the big female. They hit their food really hard and they can become a little defensive for seemingly no reason. They are awesome snakes though and I wouldn't trade them for the world!

[CRIKEY!]

Hey..thanks for the info. They sound great. Would you mind sharing any photos? :D

[Mike Spencer]

I'll take some pics of my female this weekend. I'm picking up a baby neon blue on Friday so I'll get pics of her too.

[CRIKEY!]

I'll take some pics of my female this weekend. I'm picking up a baby neon blue on Friday so I'll get pics of her too.
Wow! You're getting a neon blue phase! I fell in love with Scott's neons. I would really appreciate some pics. Thanks Mike.

[Mike Spencer]

Scott has a great line of neons. I'll probably pick up a female at some point because I the one I'm getting is from a completely differently line.

[aSnakeLovinBabe]

Here is my female Miss Hoochie, one of Scott's original neon blue's:

http://i286.photobucket.com/albums/ll86/aSnakeLovinBabe/Snakes/Garters/P1090224.jpg


and here is Mesa, my neon blue male (his blue is kind of bleached out in this picture):

http://i286.photobucket.com/albums/ll86/aSnakeLovinBabe/Snakes/Garters/5742089.jpg


and I'll have 1.1 more infernalis in a few weeks that I don't have pics of yet!

[mustang]

Wish i could help but if you get a wc pm me and ill do what i can to help both of you adjust

[CRIKEY!]

Here is my female Miss Hoochie, one of Scott's original neon blue's:
I'M SOLD!!!
Mannnnnnnnnn...Miss Hoochie is hot! Mesa is very handsome too. Do you know the back round behind Scott's neon bloodlines? What makes his different from the other neon bloodlines? Are neons selectively bred or are they naturally found in the wild?


Wish i could help but if you get a wc pm me and ill do what i can to help both of you adjust
Thanks mustang.

[Mike Spencer]

I believe Scott's are selectively bred, but I do know one of the localities where 'neon's' originate and I have found some georgous, very blue adults out there.

[CRIKEY!]

I'll take some pics of my female this weekend. I'm picking up a baby neon blue on Friday so I'll get pics of her too.
Hey Mike...did you get your new neon blue? I want to see pics. :D

[Mike Spencer]

Hey Mike...did you get your new neon blue? I want to see pics. :D

Not yet. My plans got all screwed up. I'm going out on Sunday to hopefully get some Atratus shots, so hopefully I'm picking it up that day since I'll be herping with the kid that has it.

[CRIKEY!]

Sounds fun. Keep us posted.

[Odie]

Hi, from Oregon, CRIKEY! :)

[mtolypetsupply]

Just my 2 cents... my infernalis is a cranky little snake. She does NOT like any kind of attention whatsoever, and strikes at you NO MATTER WHAT. I like that she has "personality" and think that she's just an "old beyond her years curmudgeon".

I've decided to name her Naomi, after Naomi Campbell, for the human Naomi's reported fits of rage for no reason.

:)

[CRIKEY!]

Hi, from Oregon, CRIKEY! :)
Hi Odie!


Just my 2 cents... my infernalis is a cranky little snake. She does NOT like any kind of attention whatsoever, and strikes at you NO MATTER WHAT. I like that she has "personality" and think that she's just an "old beyond her years curmudgeon".

I've decided to name her Naomi, after Naomi Campbell, for the human Naomi's reported fits of rage for no reason.

:)
Can I see a picture of cranky Naomi? :D

[adamanteus]

I have a sub-adult pair of infernalis, they are very beautiful but extremely feisty, striking (closed mouth) and musking whenever they're disturbed.... complete nutters!:)

[CRIKEY!]

I have a sub-adult pair of infernalis, they are very beautiful but extremely feisty, striking (closed mouth) and musking whenever they're disturbed.... complete nutters!:)
Hi James,
My brother-in-law is from Cheshire, now he resides in the states. Someday I'm going to cross the pond. I checked out the photos on your UK website. Are the two infernalis on there yours? They are gorgeous! But you're not the only one that tells me that they're a little high strung. Do you think with a lot of attention, they will stop striking & musking through time? Even if they don't calm down, it's still worth having those living jewels. :D

[adamanteus]

They're certainly worth keeping, despite their nervous disposition. I don't handle any of my snakes just for the fun of it, but the infernalis are the only ones that haven't become used to routine cleaning etc. Yes, the ones are my web-site are my pair, although they are considerablt bigger now.
I think that if they were handled more often they would acyually settle down more. Beautiful sub-species though. I would recommend them to anyone who loves Garters.

[aSnakeLovinBabe]

The infernalis are flippy but so worth it, of course. I recommend getting a few of each species and subspecies to anyone who loves garters and has the space. It's what I did :D. There is not really one subspecies that has me completely won over. I have to say though my favorite group are my FL blue Easterns. Of the species that are largely recognizable and available, I am really only missing terrestris and ordinoes! And Pallidulus, but I already have easterns that look exactly like them! In fact since I am running out of garter species to add I have broadened my horizons to water snakes, grass snakes and keelbacks! :p

[CRIKEY!]

Hey SnakeLovinBabe - did you get your new infernalis pair yet?

[aSnakeLovinBabe]

not just yet! Saturday is the big day for me. It's when I receive the new keelbacks and garters. I seriously cannot wait! I am sure Rhea can't either, it will be such a relief!

[drache]

not just yet! Saturday is the big day for me. It's when I receive the new keelbacks and garters. I seriously cannot wait! I am sure Rhea can't either, it will be such a relief!
not such a great relief
part of me is having trouble letting them go

[aSnakeLovinBabe]

not such a great relief
part of me is having trouble letting them go
awwwe! Don't worry Rhea, after all you have done for me there are surely free future babies in it for you! Seriously though, I'm letting you pick out whatever the heck you want next baby season!

How are those fitchii? I just received my babies from Don and they truly are gorgeous!

[adamanteus]

The infernalis are flippy but so worth it, of course. I recommend getting a few of each species and subspecies to anyone who loves garters and has the space. It's what I did :D. There is not really one subspecies that has me completely won over. I have to say though my favorite group are my FL blue Easterns. Of the species that are largely recognizable and available, I am really only missing terrestris and ordinoes! And Pallidulus, but I already have easterns that look exactly like them! In fact since I am running out of garter species to add I have broadened my horizons to water snakes, grass snakes and keelbacks! :p


Wow, Shannon. I didn't realise your Garter Snake collection had become so expansive. Perhaps you could add photos of the less frequently seen species and sub-species to our photographic library?..... It still has some huge gaps in it.

[aSnakeLovinBabe]

Yes James it has definitely taken off. 90% of my collection is now natricine snakes. You are right though, I should definitely fill in some gaps in the library!

[adamanteus]

Do you have any of these?....
T. angustirostris
T. a. hydrophilus
T. bogerti
T. brachystoma
T. chrysocephalus
T. conanti
T. couchii
T. eques (and T. e. megalops)
T. errans
T. exsul
T. fulvus
T. gigas
T. godmani
T. lineri
T. mendax
T. nigronuchalis
T. postremus
T. rossmani
T. rufipunctatus
T. scalaris
T. s. annectans
T. s. dorsalis
T. s. semfasciatus
T. sumichrasti
T. validus (plus 4 sub-species)
Our library would certainly benefit from images of some of these.

[drache]

there's a project for you, Shannon
forget about nerodia and natrix - I'm afraid your thamnophis collection still needs some beefing up
but heck - I'm quite happy with the selection and can't wait to see what all pops out this coming year
the fitchi just got moved into their real home, and I think the male is going into shed

[aSnakeLovinBabe]

hahaha, no, I do not own any of those! Those are all very hard to find especially to find as their TRUE subspecies, and not a more common subspecies that are just labeled wrong. Many people label snakes wrong, especially thams. It will take me years to find those guys. I will do it though. Whenever i come across a new subspecies, I snatch it. I have not ever seen most of those animals available and a few are illegal for me to own. I was moreso talking about the species that are fairly attainable and not quite so obscure, such as easterns, checkereds, wanderings, pugets, valleys, plains, ribbons, red spots, red sideds blacknecks.. you know... all those guys!

[adamanteus]

Ooops! Sorry Shannon! I misread your your post.... I thought you had said you were only lacking ordinoides, pallidulus and terrestris to have 'the full set'.:D

[aSnakeLovinBabe]

Hahaha, no not "the full set"... that would be INSANE. That will not be happening for years! But... I am going to try and make it happen at some point. There are a few species I am just not plain interested in though, like some subspecies of ribbon snakes. BUT, Red stripes I have, and blue stripes I nee/want.

[aSnakeLovinBabe]

T. sumichrasti


I would LOVE to own these. The barred variety is just amazing.

[MichaelSmith]

Do you have any of these?....
---
T. s. annectans
---
Our library would certainly benefit from images of some of these.

I believe I've uploaded a couple of photos of annectans.

[Stefan-A]

Do you have any of these?....

T. s. annectans

annectens, James. :p

[CRIKEY!]

Are the 'neon blues' originally from northern or southern California? Or are they found in both parts? Just curious. :D