Question: The divide between water gardners and non-water gardners?

[nekura]

Which are which? I know the one I have now is a water type that won't eat worms. It's an eastern I think I said? Do they all like water/fish or do the more terrestrial ones not like fish/swimming?

[EasternGirl]

It's actually "Garter". Garter snakes all belong to the subfamily Natricinae, which includes water snakes and their allies, and fall into the genera Thamnophis...which includes garter and ribbon snakes. Ribbon snakes tend to dwell in water more that garter snakes do...but garters are semiaquatic....they live on land and also like water. Some subspecies of garter snakes like fish more that others from what I understand. Eastern garters live on earthworms primarily in the wild...but will also eat fish. That is about all I know. Also...ribbon snakes are much more skiddish and do not like handling as much as garters from what I understand. Did I get that all correct? (that question was directed to the more experienced forum members).

[chris-uk]

From your other post you've struggled to get your eastern to accept you, even if you want a more aquatic snake you should avoid a ribbon. I don't think anyone has a ribbon that's behaves how you want your snakes to behave.
I think all garters can adjust to eat fish, rodents aren't their natural prey so captive garters eating rodents have been conditioned to eat them.
When it comes to swimming, our checkereds like to swim in the bath occassionally, as do our Cuitzeos. The Cuitzeos are amongst the most aquatic garters known and will often spend 8 hours straight in their water bowls.

[nekura]

Okay, thanks. And that really does explain her temperament. Ah well. She was free (AKA saved her from dog). I would just like to get to the point where she isn't ramming her head against the mesh anytime I move near the cage.