thamnophis couchi gigas - Giant Garter Snake

[vukic]

can anybody help me with information on breeding this snake gigas?
can't find any information on breeding or captive specific for this sub-species?

[Stefan-A]

I've not heard of anyone breeding it.



These days, T. gigas is a full species, not a subspecies of T. couchi.

[infernalis]

http://www.thamfriends.com/mat.jpg

I have never heard of anyone working with these.....

[guidofatherof5]

Nice to have you on the forum.

[ssssnakeluvr]

thamnophis gigas, giant garter, is endangered in their range and protected. no one is allowed to own them let alone breed them.

[Odie]

Hi, from Oregon, vukic :)

[ConcinusMan]

thamnophis gigas, giant garter, is endangered in their range and protected. no one is allowed to own them let alone breed them.


What he said ^^^ They are protected like the San Francisco garter. To tell you the truth, as a teenager, I handled them and even kept a few for a while before releasing them. They are one of the most unpleasant garters I've ever dealt with. If it's size you're interested in, feed a T.s. concinnus or T.s. infernalis female on mostly pinkies and some silversides and she'll get huge (3.5 feet) but she will be beautiful, tame, and quite a lovely snake compared to gigas. Gigas really aren't the greatest pets.

Here's me with my 3.2 foot female T.s. concinnus. She has a lovely disposition, doesn't mind being handled, she's smart, and well, just a joy to have around. The gigas I had for a short time were nasty little boogers. very unpleasant. No so with a large female concinnus. She's awesome.

http://img514.imageshack.us/img514/2742/gedc1428.jpg

[vukic]

thamnophis gigas, giant garter, is endangered in their range and protected. no one is allowed to own them let alone breed them.

but would that only affect USA? i'm in England.
garters in general are quite rare in this area, and i've been offered a sub-adult pair....
are they legal to keep in england??:eek:

[vukic]

What he said ^^^ They are protected like the San Francisco garter. To tell you the truth, as a teenager, I handled them and even kept a few for a while before releasing them. They are one of the most unpleasant garters I've ever dealt with. If it's size you're interested in, feed a T.s. concinnus or T.s. infernalis female on mostly pinkies and some silversides and she'll get huge (3.5 feet) but she will be beautiful, tame, and quite a lovely snake compared to gigas. Gigas really aren't the greatest pets.

Here's me with my 3.2 foot female T.s. concinnus. She has a lovely disposition, doesn't mind being handled, she's smart, and well, just a joy to have around. The gigas I had for a short time were nasty little boogers. very unpleasant. No so with a large female concinnus. She's awesome.

http://img514.imageshack.us/img514/2742/gedc1428.jpg
i'm afraid i don't have much of a choice in this area, no where stocks them and every one (rep centre/stores) can't seam to get them. one rep. shop has mangae to source t. gigas but now i can't find any specific informaton on their care....

[vukic]

Nice to have you on the forum.
nice to be here, Thanks:)

[Spankenstyne]

ConcinnusMan, you're certainly consistent.
Perhaps people have interest in other species too ;)

Maybe nobody in their native range is allowed to own them, but they aren't CITES listed so at least non-US folks could certainly work with them if there are captive populations outside the US (like the San Frans).
I notice they're listed as "threatened" rather than "endangered" like the San Fran garters. Not knowing how the local, state, and federal regs work there does that mean they are still protected on all the different US levels or is it just a California thing?

[ConcinusMan]

They are only "threatened"? I didn't know that. But yeah, the thing is, if there is no captive stock, there's no way to get it started without illegally collecting specimens.

Nobody stocks concinnus in the U.K.? well then, we'll just have to see what we can do about that.

Actually, I did once see someone post a pic of one of those weird blue/green anery concinnus shannon and I have. He was in the U.K.

[drache]

stocks???
Richard, you've got to be joking
how many pet stores in the US do you know that "stock" garters to the point of having specific species or sub-species available?
I am fairly certain there are concinnus in the UK, but our new member was offered a pair of gigas - let's hope they're not the pissy kinds of your youth, being that they're most certainly cb

[infernalis]

but would that only affect USA? i'm in England.
garters in general are quite rare in this area, and i've been offered a sub-adult pair....
are they legal to keep in england??:eek:


Then I say go for it!

The law is only in the USA and as a non native UK species, they are open to breed and sell without any recourse.

It's done with San Francisco garters every day.;)

[Mommy2many]

Welcome! Welcome!

[sirtalis01]

http://www.californiaherps.com/snakes/pages/t.gigas.html