Garters in the UK

[yellowfang]

Hi,

I have hardly seen any Garters for sale in the UK.

Are they easily available here?

If yes, then please advise from where?

Cheers.

[PINJOHN]

hi we might be in a better position to help you if you let us know what part of the country you live in . you biography is a little short on detail
by the way welcome to the sight :)

[yellowfang]

hi we might be in a better position to help you if you let us know what part of the country you live in . you biography is a little short on detail
by the way welcome to the sight :)

Hi,

Thanks.

I travel frequently between these counties: Hampshire, Berkshire, Midlands (England)

Cheers.

[gregmonsta]

You will find them quite difficult to track down but they are out there. I would recommend tracking down private breeders and keeping an eye on forum classifieds.
I'm based in Scotland and hope to have some success round about April with my active breeding projects. Home - Thamnophis Alba - The Scottish Garter Snake (http://thamnophis-alba.webs.com/)
Other members here will pipe up ;). I know ZombieKitty is hoping to breed tetrataenia this year and you might want to try contacting the British breeders in the links section of my website.
If you do find them in shops really do check them over - a lot are WC and there is a very good chance that they will have been mis-labeled/mis-represented as well as not having been kept properly.
Here's an example - http://www.thamnophis.com/forum/general-talk/8050-british-garter-hobby.html

[PINJOHN]

you should also join thamnophis.uk as the name suggests it is a British site
there's a couple of of good reasons for this, not least from your point of view its where a number of British and European keepers advertise their young and perhaps you might get some adults if you advertise on it
the other reason is it is greatly under used, but has the potential to help garter enthusiasts on this side of the Atlantic to a very large degree, if only the brit keepers devote a little time to it each week

[Mix]

I live in the West Midlands, and this is the centre near to Nottingham (about 1 - 1 1/2 hours' drive away) where I got my red-sided Lily.
It's an unassuming place, but (when I went there, at least) had friendly staff who knew their stuff. The aquatic section has won multiple awards. The animals all seemed very well cared for, in great condition. I've not had any problems with Lily so far (fingers crossed), and they can sex the snakes if this is a requirement (I asked for a girl).

The garters and ribbons are almost at the bottom of the stocklist:

Reptile Department snakes for sale (http://www.wharfaquatics.co.uk/reptilestocksnakes.htm)

They have a location map and contact details on the 'about us' tab, and if you wanted to call ahead, their phone number is along the bottom of the page.

Now, I'm not necessarily 'recommending' as such, since I've only made the one purchase; but it was a nice place at that time. ;)

[gregmonsta]

Eastern red-sided garters? :rolleyes: I feel an e-mail coming on.

[Mix]

Ha ha ha! I may have been useful in at least one way :rolleyes:

When I got Lily, it was just 'red-sided garters'. Hey ho.

[Stefan-A]

I may be missing some crucial information about that particular situation, but unlike "eastern red-sided garters", "red-sided garters" do exist.

[Mix]

I meant that I was useful in leading to an error - which Greg may correct them on.

When I got Lily there, who is a red-sided, they were correctly labelled as such. My 'hey ho' was aimed at the fact that I thought they were one place that knew how to get it right - but now maybe not.

[gregmonsta]

It's just something I'm pernickety about ... if they respond I'll be asking them which exact sub-species of ribbons they have too. ;) they may still give the right advice, etc.

[yellowfang]

Hi,

Just a quick question - can different breeds of Garters be kept in the same viv?

Cheers.

[Stefan-A]

Hi,

Just a quick question - can different breeds of Garters be kept in the same viv?

Cheers.
Species. As long as they're the same sex.

[guidofatherof5]

Yes, but.....
Same sex and size is a good rule.
Wandering garter snakes have a history of cannibalism.
I don't keep Wanderings.
Some other members will clarify any other info.

[gregmonsta]

My advice on communal housing would be this - Communal housing - Thamnophis Alba - The Scottish Garter Snake (http://thamnophis-alba.webs.com/apps/blog/entries/show/5862375-communal-housing)

On another note - the shop mentioned earlier confirmed their stock was parietalis and I am planning to see what exact ribbon snakes they have in stock with an e-mail tomorrow ;)

[guidofatherof5]

Nice read, Greg.

[gregmonsta]

Cheers ;)

[ZombieKitty]

OP- is your username greybite on RFUK by any chance?


I know ZombieKitty is hoping to breed tetrataenia this year

Fingers crossed! Start the new job monday so i have a crazy viv-building weekend ahead of me :)


My advice on communal housing would be this - Communal housing - Thamnophis Alba - The Scottish Garter Snake (http://thamnophis-alba.webs.com/apps/blog/entries/show/5862375-communal-housing)

On another note - the shop mentioned earlier confirmed their stock was parietalis and I am planning to see what exact ribbon snakes they have in stock with an e-mail tomorrow ;)

Please let me know if they get back to you! I visited my old Rep shop last weekend when visiting the parents- i was planning on picking up a gulf coast ribbon female whilst i was there- but alas they had finally sold her :(

[gregmonsta]

Please let me know if they get back to you! I visited my old Rep shop last weekend when visiting the parents- i was planning on picking up a gulf coast ribbon female whilst i was there- but alas they had finally sold her :(

Will do ;) my findings will be public as always.

[ZombieKitty]

Will do ;) my findings will be public as always.

Awesome :D