Wild Garters in my area

[xStatic]

I stumbled across a couple old pictures I got of some wild garters in my town. One picture was taken by my dad who has a NICE camera XD and the other by me. I don't have a nice camera. I am really really terrible at identifying garters as I've never bothered to learn the distinguishing characteristics (though I should). I was wondering if anyone wanted to try and ID these snakes so I have a better idea of what is living around me? Neither of the photos are very great for identification but I'm hoping you geniuses will be able to tell anyway! (:

PS: These were both found around the same area, but at different times of the year. There are always a lot of garter snakes over there and I almost always spot one swimming in the river.

http://www.thamnophis.com/thamphotos/data//500/medium/IMG_2452.jpg (http://www.thamnophis.com/thamphotos/showphoto.php?photo=10123&title=img-2452&cat=500)

http://www.thamnophis.com/thamphotos/data//500/medium/259911_2151252508684_1467514599_32500176_5330377_n .jpg (http://www.thamnophis.com/thamphotos/showphoto.php?photo=10122&title=259911-2151252508684-1467514599-32500176-5330377-n&cat=500)

[guidofatherof5]

T.elegans (Western Terrestrial Garter Snake) I believe.
Western Terrestrial Garter Snake - Caresheets (http://www.thamnophis.com/caresheets/index.php?title=Western_Terrestrial_Garter_Snake)

[xStatic]

Do people keep this species in captivity? There wasn't any discussion in the discussion lol

EDIT: Okay never mind stupid question! I didn't realize how many different subspecies/names there are for this species (: of course people keep them!

[ssssnakeluvr]

that's a wandering garter, thamnophis elegans vagrans, western terrestrial, or coast garter is found in California =)

[guidofatherof5]

Thanks Don. I thought T.elegans ranged in Montana?

Terrestrial Gartersnake - Montana Field Guide (http://fieldguide.mt.gov/detail_ARADB36050.aspx)

[xStatic]

Is there a large difference between those subspecies? Do wandering garters make good pets? Are there any negative drawbacks to them like bad attitude, bad feeding response, etc.? They are fairly easy to find around here in the summer (:

[katach]

From what I've read on here they can be aggressive toward other garters. I have no experience with them though. I think i_heart_sneakie_snakes (http://www.thamnophis.com/forum/members/i_heart_sneakie_snakes.html) found one not too long ago. I don't know if she kept it though.

[Stefan-A]

Do wandering garters make good pets?
Damn good ones if you ask me. All of the ones I have, have been far better pets than most of the common garters I've had.


Are there any negative drawbacks to them like bad attitude, bad feeding response, etc.?
The attitude is great and the feeding response phenomenal, but they do require solo housing because there's a risk that they'll try to make a meal of their cagemate regardless of its size.

[i_heart_sneakie_snakes]

From what I've read on here they can be aggressive toward other garters. I have no experience with them though. I think i_heart_sneakie_snakes (http://www.thamnophis.com/forum/members/i_heart_sneakie_snakes.html) found one not too long ago. I don't know if she kept it though. Yes I did find one and yes I have also kept her :) She is one sweet and very active and curious young lady!!! She is an escape artist extraordinaire!!! I really adore her. I keep her in her own cage though. She and Failte (who is my lovely Eastern girl) get to have play dates together, but I never leave them without my supervision. Neither girl has shown any type of aggression towards each other though. I did have trouble getting her to eat at first. Took her a couple of weeks. She is not eating now, but I am sure that is because of the season. So I love mine :) I'm gonna show them off now :) Failte is the big girl and Pumpkin is the little skinny one. 3298

[Stefan-A]

that's a wandering garter, thamnophis elegans vagrans, western terrestrial, or coast garter is found in California =)
Western terrestrial is T. elegans, the species. The coast garter would be T. elegans terrestris and T. elegans elegans would be mountain garter.

[xStatic]

Cool thanks everyone! (: If I kept one it would be a loner anyway. All my other snakes are either very young or of a much different species lol

All of the garters I've picked up around here have been really awesome. I've never paid much attention to the different types but I'll assume most are probably the same species. They've never bitten or even musked me before. I think when spring arrives I will go out on a hunt for some snakes! I may keep one but I'm not sure if I really do need anymore.

Does anyone think it would be difficult to get a wild snake switched into mice? During the winter it's too cold to go digging for worms and I would rather not deal with guppies (I can do F/T fish tho!). All my other snakes are on mice. From the sounds of it wandering garters seem to eat most everything.. but does that transfer to captivity well?

@ I_heart_sneakie_snakes: Your snakes are awesome! (: Are they that brown in real life? I love that color. The ones around here are more black than that

[ConcinusMan]

Chances are there isn't any need for "switching". The snake probably has already been eating rodents when the opportunity arises. He'll probably take f/t pinkies just fine. Most wanderings do, wild caught or not.

[EasternGirl]

Both of my girls were wild caught and both eat frozen pinkies, store bought trout and salmon and worms. Just so you know, you can buy worms at marine stores...bait stores...just make sure they are nightcrawlers. If you have trouble getting the snake to take the pinkies at first, just sent the pinkies with worms or mix worms in with the pinkies. My snakes actually prefer fish and pinkies to worms at this point...and I'm pretty sure that they were used to eating a main diet of worms outside before I found them. It didn't take them long at all to switch over. And both of my girls are awesome too...they never bite or musk either...they can be very skiddish though.

[infernalis]

Is there a large difference between those subspecies? Do wandering garters make good pets? Are there any negative drawbacks to them like bad attitude, bad feeding response, etc.? They are fairly easy to find around here in the summer (:

I have two, and they are both awesome captives. Stefan already covered it...

[i_heart_sneakie_snakes]

@ I_heart_sneakie_snakes: Your snakes are awesome! (: Are they that brown in real life? I love that color. The ones around here are more black than that

That picture shows them both pretty true to real life. The little wandering (pumpkin) is very brown. I think she is very pretty though :)

[EasternGirl]

My easterns are very brown too...3547