New article entitled- Plethora of Morphs in Garter Snakes

[Jeff B]

There is another garter snake article in the BLBC Monthly Newsletter that I thought some of you might enjoy reading, entitled Plethora of Morphs in Garter Snakes. Just click on the link below and download it to read.
http://www.reptileradio.net/reptileradio/attachment.php?attachmentid=7203&d=1325885917

[guidofatherof5]

Good article Jeff.

[Jeff B]

Thanks Steve, hope you enjoyed it. Maybe it will peak some new interest in garters.

[guidofatherof5]

I hope it does also but believe there are still some real misconceptions about garter that keep people away from them.
The first one being their size. Too small for most. (Only big snakes are interesting and worth having)
Second being their activeness. Too hard to hold on to.
There are other but I think these two are at the top.
Just my opinion.

[Scott F]

Hey Jeff,

Excellent article, very well done !

Scott

[Jeff B]

Thanks Scott.
I've had several "non garter" people contact me after reading this article saying that they are seriously considering getting into garters and that they had no idea there was so many different morphs, colors, and patterns in garters. I think a lot of people can get past the negatives that you sited Steve when they see the beauty and morph combo potiential and then learn to respect the personalities.

[guidofatherof5]

I think a lot of people can get past the negatives that you sited Steve when they see the beauty and morph combo potiential and then learn to respect the personalities.

Agreed.

[ssssnakeluvr]

excellent article!!

[Chondro788]

Awesome Jeff!!! I enjoyed it, and I'm sure many other non garter people will open their eyes after reading it!!

[BUSHSNAKE]

excellent article Jeff, hopefully it will draw new attention to our hobby. I see that you mentioned that the axanthic blue plains gene needs to be figured out. Dont know if you know this but those were test bred way before they entered the hobby. Being co-allelic to the anery was proved long time ago

[Jeff B]

Thanks Don and Jason. I am really hoping to give the garters a little boost in the broader reptile community.

[tress29]

The first one being their size. Too small for most. (Only big snakes are interesting and worth having)Well, I have three males in the same space used to house just one ball python. Isn't MORE better?!

[kibakiba]

More mouths to feed and more attention/time needed for each snake. That would be a downside for a lot of people.

[tress29]

More mouths to feed... What it's costing me to feed three garters for a week is still less than feeding one ball python.

I have to say, I'm enjoying the small snakes way more than some of the larger ones I've been around. My hog is finally getting some girth to him, but he'll still only top out around 18" long! I always was into miniatures and small toy playsets!

[kibakiba]

I can barely keep up with my 12. But, you likely aren't mentally screwed up... ;)

[chris-uk]

It's a good article Jeff. I think the fact that it talks about garter morphs will stimulate interest in people who just thought garters came in one variation: "garter".
It should get some attention and those herpers will realise that not only are there several morphs being bred in several species, but also that the variation between species themselves is fascinating.

Now, personally I'm not a big fan of morphs and prefer to see the normal/natural colourings. However, I think with garters we're a long way from falling into the "hypo lavender spider spot" or "blood pastel supermelanistic" type of morphs that you see in other species...

I'll pop a link to the article onto the RFUK forum, there was a post recently where it was said that "garters only come in normal and albino"...

[EasternGirl]

Very interesting article. I would also think that a snake being smaller would be a plus...but I guess some people don't think that way.

[chris-uk]

Very interesting article. I would also think that a snake being smaller would be a plus...but I guess some people don't think that way.
For some people if it isn't big enough to squeeze the life out of you/your dog/your children it's not a real snake.

[kibakiba]

If it's not large enough to compensate for their lack of manhood, it's not a snake. I think that is what you mean. :p

[chris-uk]

If it's not large enough to compensate for their lack of manhood, it's not a snake. I think that is what you mean. :p
When you see photos of big blokes who spend too much time at the gym, posing with a huge retic... You just have to wonder whether the snake:manhood ratio is inversely proportional. Of course my garters are all really small.
Give me a garter any time, there's so many species that I've got a long time to go before I get bored.

[EasternGirl]

Yeah...I don't really know what I would do with an eight foot or larger snake around my house. For one, I would be very concerned about my child and my other animals...as you mentioned Chris...I do not want a snake that can squeeze the crap out of my son, or swallow my chihuahua for a snack! And I for one am not impressed by men with big muscles or big snakes.

[PINJOHN]

Yeah... And I for one am not impressed by men with big muscles or big snakes.
Is that a euphemism Mainie.......:D

[Jeff B]

It's a good article Jeff. I think the fact that it talks about garter morphs will stimulate interest in people who just thought garters came in one variation: "garter".
It should get some attention and those herpers will realise that not only are there several morphs being bred in several species, but also that the variation between species themselves is fascinating.

Now, personally I'm not a big fan of morphs and prefer to see the normal/natural colourings. However, I think with garters we're a long way from falling into the "hypo lavender spider spot" or "blood pastel supermelanistic" type of morphs that you see in other species...

I'll pop a link to the article onto the RFUK forum, there was a post recently where it was said that "garters only come in normal and albino"...

Chris,
I certainly understand and appreciate that morphs and combos don't appeal to everyone. The whole art of combining genes and trying to predict the outcomes and the surprizes of the real outcomes is what really trips my trigger, so I promote my passion. If the natural/normal type is your passion by all means that is what you should promote. Both promotions are good for the hobby. Thanks for sharing with the RFUK forum, will be curious to see feedback.
Jeff

[EasternGirl]

I find that I love both the normal garters and the morphs...I see the beauty in the natural colors and I find some of the morphs absolutely stunning. I love my easterns...they may seem plain to some, but I think they are lovely. But my albino checkered is gorgeous too. I love flames...find them absolutely gorgeous. The silver morph is so beautiful...really breathtaking. But then I could go on about some of the natural coloring out there too...like the black and white radixes and the infernalis, the fitchi...the florida blue-striped...all so beautiful.

[chris-uk]

Chris,
I certainly understand and appreciate that morphs and combos don't appeal to everyone. The whole art of combining genes and trying to predict the outcomes and the surprizes of the real outcomes is what really trips my trigger, so I promote my passion. If the natural/normal type is your passion by all means that is what you should promote. Both promotions are good for the hobby. Thanks for sharing with the RFUK forum, will be curious to see feedback.
Jeff
Sure, I understand that morphs have an appeal, the point I was making was that although morphs don't float my boat (a personal thing) the state of garter morphs isn't the same as other species of snakes where it is ALL about the morph.
I studied genetics at uni, so I appreciate the science and the achievement it is to produce a stable morph line, and actually if I was breeding I'd almost certainly be selecting parents which had the colours I appreciated most.

The way garters are so underrated in the UK, anything that raises their profile is a good thing, and your article will appeal to a lot of snake owners who didn't appreciate that there is more than one species of garter and that several garter species have established morph lines. All good from my perspective.

[Selkielass]

Great article.
Love the pic of the flame with the yellow striping-the contrast is lovely.

[Jeff B]

Forgot to mention that I have several other articles that will be published in the next couple months and throughout this coming year. Not to sound self promoting, the point is that I enjoy writing and will continue to work hard to promote garters in the reptile keeping hobby.

[guidofatherof5]

Looking forward to your articles.

[EasternGirl]

That sounds great Jeff...looking forward to reading them.

[chris-uk]

Forgot to mention that I have several other articles that will be published in the next couple months and throughout this coming year. Not to sound self promoting, the point is that I enjoy writing and will continue to work hard to promote garters in the reptile keeping hobby.
Anything that promotes garters is a good thing. Will be interested to read them.

[Stefan-A]

Anything that promotes garters is a good thing.
In what way?

[chris-uk]

As in, anything that promotes garters and makes people aware that there is more to them than "just a starter snake" is a good thing. If there were a few more enthusiastic keepers in the UK we'd have a wider number of species available.

[Jeff B]

Stephan,
Are you saying you would rather they stay a secret little gem? and that they/we/you would be better off it they never become a popular pet? Just curious what your position is with regards to promoting them. I'm not interested in debating, just open minded to hear a different view.
Jeff

[Stefan-A]

Stephan,
Are you saying you would rather they stay a secret little gem? and that they/we/you would be better off it they never become a popular pet?
Yeah.

[BUSHSNAKE]

Yeah.
Integrity is a wonderful thing