Need help Identifying Oregon snake, Wild Albino garter?

[AlbinoSquiggle]

This is my first post but I have spent much time reading through these forums and have found a LOT of useful advice and information.
I live in Eugene, Oregon and my story starts around June/July of this year. I was working out in the garden when I noticed something light colored move under some plants. I began searching to soon discover a light colored snake. I had no clue what kind it was only that it had to be a baby since it was so small. At the time she was approximately 4" and skinnier than a night crawler. I brought her into the house and made a small home for her in a tupperware bin. I spent several days researching how to properly care for her and possibly what type she may be. After about a week I released her back into the garden figuring she had better odds of survival in the wild.
As the summer wore on I encountered her many more times as I worked int he garden. I was happy to see that she wasn't scared off by being captured for a week.
Eventually I decided to catch her again and house her to eliminate the risk of another critter eating her or meeting her fate at blades of the mower or tiller.
Currently she is housed in a 10 gal tank with a ZooMed UTH (sidemounted). Daylight is simulated with 2 - 12 volt, 18 watt incandecent lights. Substrate is typical aquarium gravel, hiding spots on both sides. I feed her worms cut into bite-size pieces and every couple feedings she is fed a couple small slugs ( somewhere I read they are more nutritious).
She has shed 3 times since I have had her, not sure if she shed at all while she was free. Not sure of her lenght but I would say approximately 9-11"
I want to do all I can to ensure her continued survival and someday maybe even breed her to keep her genetics going.
The questions I have are:
Is she a true albino or just lighter colored.

Is she a checkered garter, or what?

Can you handle garters too much? For example, is handling them everyday too stressful?

I started my worm farm from worms in the garden are OK to eat?

Should I have a heat lamp as well as the UTH?

How often should I mist the tank? I try to mist occasionally but have no set approach currently.

Thanks in advance for any help!

[Greg'sGarters]

This might help you out a bit with the care...

Garter Snake Care Sheet

As far as species identification, I don't think it is any subspecies of Thamnophis sirtalis, so it is out of my area of expertise. If I had to take a guess, I would guess Thamnophis atratus hydrophilus (Oregon Garter Snake) or Thamnophis elegans vagrans​ (Wandering Garter Snake). If you want more information, you should send a private message to Richard. His username on here is Concinnusman. I believe he lives in Oregon, and is an expert with local garters. I once sent him a picture of my Oregon Red-spotted Garter, and he told me where it's bloodline originated! He is your go to man. Hope this helps!

[snake man]

Welcome and first off I would change the substrate as soon as possible gravel is no good for them, heres what I use. I might be wrong but it almost looks like you have an albino radix, radix being the most common garter. You can hold them very often and once a day is ok, personally after I feed my snakes I will not hold them for the rest of the day, but it should not be to stressful if you are careful and gentle. Certain worms will be toxic to your snake read the caresheet to clarify this. The UTH should be ok to provide heat, however the pad sould only be on half of the tank and reach no more than 100 degrees F. You can mist when you feel you need to I only mist if the tanks looking extra dry or one of my snakes is preparing to shed. Good luck and I am looking forward to seeing you around the forums.

[Light of Dae]

Looks like a possible Radix, maybe a eastern I'm not sure... But I do know that it looks like a T+ Albino. Very beautiful n rare to find in the wild as their light color makes it really easy for prey to spot them.
Makes a nice light snack lol

Gravel is a bad idea as there is no absorption n it is very bad for scale rot n general bad heath. A lot of people favor aspen, but I find it very dry, as well it is not safe to feed on... I've used sand(very bad choice), aspen, coco husk, paper towel, crinkle cut colored paper, Newspaper pellets. My current set up is my favorite yet. I've got paper towel on the bottom as a liner (makes for easy cleaning) Then I've got Paper Pellets on top of that. I use some crinkle cut paper for ground cover.

Paper pellets are VERY easy to spot clean and I feed all my snakes on it without them ingesting it, I love it. Best stuff I've seen/used yet, and cheaper then anything else. Some of my snakes even borrow in it.

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[ssssnakeluvr]

wandering garter, and looks like a t+ albino. easterns and radix aren't in oregon. very nice find!!!

[guidofatherof5]

T.radix doesn't range in Oregon.

I'm guessing albinoT. e. vagrans (Wandering garter snake)
Here is a link to the forum care sheet. Any questioned not answer can be posted to the forum.
Be sure to introduce yourself in the "Welcome Lounge"


Garter Snake Forum - Garter Caresheet

[ProXimuS]

Awesome find!! I think that is by far the darkest T+ albino I've ever seen(not that I've seen any in real life). Here is a link to a thread about another T+ albino wandering: http://www.thamnophis.com/forum/gart...wandering.html There is also a T- albino towards the end of the thread.

Definitely check out our caresheet that's been provided. I would suggest getting a thermometer and a humidity guage. "Moderate" humidity works fine for them. If the humidity goes anywhere below 40 you can mist.

[Invisible Snake]

Wow great find!! She is beautiful!

[AlbinoSquiggle]

Thank you all so much for the replies!

I figured her color was kinda rare and that she would make an easy target, which eventually led to me wanting to make the safest home I could for her.
I typically handle her before I feed her so she doesn't barf her worm back up but I try to handle her everyday or two so she knows I'm not trying to eat her.
The care sheet has been very helpful, almost too much good info. It's now book marked and set to favorites!
I love the pic of your little friends head poking out of the pellets!
After reading your responses and the caresheet, I pulled all the gravel out and put in a layer of paper towels, pay day is Friday so I will buy a humidity guage and paper pellets then. The last thing I would want to do is cause my little buddy any harm.

Thanks again everyone and Happy Holidays!

[i_heart_sneakie_snakes]

She is downright gorgeous!!! She is so lucky you found her