My First Garter ( I'd like your vote)

[lokai99]

Hi everyone! Learning lots already! I consider myself pretty knwledgeable about common things like feeding,temp and temp gradients, shedding, and humidity. I have a Cali King, Corn, and Honduran Milksnake right now and I want to get my first garter very soon. I really like the bluish greens found in the Florida phase Eastern garter and the bluish on the Sirtalis similis, but I am open to considering others. I would really appreciate some input as to your favorite kinds. Here are my some of the things I'm trying to keep in mind in my search.
1. Size, I'd like a larger garter maybe 24-30 inches at adulthood

2. Color ( it doesn't have to be Puget sound shockingly bright, but colorful would be nice

3. Cost ( this is my first garter and a $300-400 color morph is not something i can afford for my first garter experience)

4. last, but not least haha, Availability: I'd like to find a garter I can actually find fairly easily from someone


Thanks:) can't wait to here what you all can come up with:):)

[guidofatherof5]

Well, I think a T.radix would be a good choice. They come in beautiful natural colors (lite,dark,green,brown,orange,red, albino) They seem very docile and down right calm most of the time. The females like interaction and close time. The males are wonderful but in a male sort of way. They don't go for much of the cuddle time. I of course am rather partial to the radix as I have a few:D Everyone of them a great snake.

[drache]

since you already mentioned the Florida blue T.s.sirtalis, I must say that I like mine a lot. I prefer the markings and the type of blue-green to the ones of the pickeringii or the similis.
I also really like both the parietalis and the concinnus
none of these are pricey snakes, and depending on where in the country you are, you might even be able to save yourself shipping costs

[lokai99]

You mentioned some great choices. I really like the pickeringii. I'm wondering if the pickeringii is anymore difficule to keep than the others? parietalis and concinnus are beautiful....are they easy to find from breeders?