could some one i.d 1 of my garters please

[Paul.c]

As above, I bought a pair of garters and was told they were northerns, but was asked on here what i meant by northerns as there is no such species or sub-species. To be honest i only know what i was told by the seller.
This is a picture of the mother (well i hope, i have not yet tryed to put a pic up on here )northern garter.jpg

[guidofatherof5]

My first impression would be T.sirtalis parietalis (Red Sided garter snake)

[kibakiba]

I agre, red sided garter.

[chris-uk]

I agree, it looks like a Red-sided Garter. I have a T. sirtarlis parietalis that was described by the shop as a "Northern Garter", I was less certain about Nobby's species because she has no red at all. It really doesn't help us in the UK when importers and reptile shops sell garters using the Northern Garter name, it's Greg's pet hate and has become one of mine too.
At least now you know the correct species and subspecies for your two Northerns.

[thamneil]

I'll second everyone's guesses and say red sided!

[EasternGirl]

Rofl about the "northern garters"...someone should tell our friend the deal with that one. I suspect they would be red-sideds as most of the UK "northern garters" seem to be...

[EasternGirl]

Oh...I just read your post, Chris...guess you have the "northern" thing covered.

[InsanePirateDragon]

What is with them calling redsided 'Northern' anyway.

Is it just people who don't care, or are they just trying to sell the reduced red guys as a different spiecies

[guidofatherof5]

What is with them calling redsided 'Northern' anyway.

Is it just people who don't care, or are they just trying to sell the reduced red guys as a different spiecies

It might also be that Red Sided garters are thought of as a Canadian garter, hence Northern.

[chris-uk]

I guess it's laziness on the part of the importer and then shops can't be bothered to do any research to put right the mistake (why bother checking the species and subspecies for a "£30 starter snake", anyone that knows about snakes is buying the more expensive boas and pythons, right?). So, the Northern tag is just something that has propagated in the pet retail sector in the UK. Pure laziness, and an unwillingness to admit that the way they label these snakes is not accurate enough.

There is now only one shop I'd consider buying a garter from, and that's because I know that they wouldn't put a garter on the shelf as a Northern. All the well known (and seemingly respected by the masses of herp keepers) have refused to acknowledge that Northern Garters don't exist - I'm pretty sure that Greg has contacted them all over the years.