O.k., Here's all my garters.

[Loren]

This is my garter collection. (you can click on the names to go to a neat webpage on each species)

T. s. fitchi - Valley Gartersnake


T. a. zaxanthus - Diablo Range Gartersnake


T. e. terrestris - Coast Gartersnake


T. e. elegans - Mountain Gartersnake


T. couchii - Sierra Gartersnake


T. m. marcianus - Marcy's Checkered Gartersnake

[RZL36]

Very nice garters. That sierra looks like a mamba.

[enigma200316]

very nice looking Garters..........

[anji1971]

What a great collection!!! THanks for sharing!

[Stefan-A]

Very nice collection.

[Lori P]

Awesome pics!! Very pretty snakes!! :-)

[RZL36]

Are they all wild caught?

[Loren]

Are they all wild caught?

The Valley, Sierra, and Mountain were legally wild caught by myself. The Coast and Diablo were given to me by others who legally caught them. The checkered is captive bred.
I would have liked to have gotten captive bred, but the law here doesnt allow native garters to be sold here, so the only way to get captive bred is if someone has an incidental litter, and gifts them to you. Thats not always easy to come by.
The diablo had recently given birth(late last year?) when I got her early this year, and wasn't eating. She weighed 27 grams, and was emaciated. I got her back into eating with treefrogs, then to small mice, which she takes great now. She has to be in her hidebox though, or she wont eat. Now she is about 75-80 grams. The key to getting her better seemed to be a good dark hidebox,undertank heater,and leaving her alone, plus I have yet to meet a garter that could turn down a treefrog.
I've had all the rest of them since they were babies-to -yearlings. I always prefer to catch babies- they take better to captivity, plus many babies dont survive in the wild long enough to reproduce anyhow, so the impact on wild populations is less.
The only one not eating small mice(peach fuzzies or smaller, unscented), is the checkered. He isnt big enough yet.
The Sierra was the most difficult to switch to mice. Had to wash large pinkies, then very thoroughly scent them with treefrog. Even then, he didnt really want them( he'd hold them for a few seconds and drop them), so I had to play on his greed to get him to eat. He is such a greedy pig, that if I tried to take the pinky away(gently), he would then decide he wanted it. Had to keep tugging until it was almost swallowed. Kind of like kids with toys- they dont want a certain toy untill someone elso does. Now he takes them great- no scenting.Had him since 2002.
Mountain and coast garters took pinkies no problem. As any of you with elegans know, they'll eat anything. The valley will only take frozen/thawed, and he's a timid eater. I've noticed I dont need to feed nearly as often on a rodent diet, and growth is good.
The only one I actually know the sex of is the diablo, since I know she gave birth once. Havent had a reason to sex the others.
Wow, I didnt intend to type this much.

[RZL36]

You did type a lot, but I enjoyed every bit of it. My easterns will never refuse a meal. My marcianus and radix are too small to eat pinks yet.

[Gijs & Sabine]

Very nice collection you have there