Chinese water snake? Garter relative?

[Selkielass]

I was checking out local reptile stores today and I came across something that puzzles me. It was a small snake labeled as a 'Chinese Water Snake'. It was housed in the type of enclosure I usually see turtles in- large aquarium with an island in the middle taking up around 1/3 to 1/2 the surface area. The snake was basking on its island, and it sure looked like a garter to me- like some of the pretty red sided garters I've seen pictured around here (Checkering w red, not solid red stripes.) Googling Chinese Garter snake turned up no matches, just a venemous critter with little resemblance to the pretty little thing I saw. The fellow at the store didn't know very much about it, other than it was strictly a fish eater. (It had plenty of feeders in its tank.) Could they have a mis-identified fish loving garter of some variety?

[guidofatherof5]

Mislabel something? Not know what they have? Never happens
It happens all too often.
Not sure about this case. Any chance you can get a picture of this snake?

[Selkielass]

Might be able to ask if I get back to that side of town. I was scouting out SE Mich reptile stores to price out supplies and to help 'HazAnga' with some possible stops for his trip. (Maybe he could offer an opinion or snap a pic if he sees this post) The shop is a pretty cool place- sort of an upscale Hippy head shop with a beautiful, very well kept reptile section. They might not mind a quick cell-phone shot. For only $15 I can't imagine its something terribly exotic or rare!

[HazAnga]

Might be able to ask if I get back to that side of town. I was scouting out SE Mich reptile stores to price out supplies and to help 'HazAnga' with some possible stops for his trip. (Maybe he could offer an opinion or snap a pic if he sees this post) The shop is a pretty cool place- sort of an upscale Hippy head shop with a beautiful, very well kept reptile section. They might not mind a quick cell-phone shot. For only $15 I can't imagine its something terribly exotic or rare!

I don't think I ended up able to git there unfortunatly. By the time the girlfriend was done her shopping and I was able to check out some stores myself I was able to git to one... like 5 min's before closing. But hopefully going over the border again next year.

[Selkielass]

Hah! Deeper googling revealed this- The snakes of Beijing - a short field guide Third snake down looks a little like the fellow I saw! (Chinese Garter snake! Yes!) Anyone with any experience with these fellows?

[guidofatherof5]

Very beautiful snake.

[aSnakeLovinBabe]

That's a "Red Backed Ratsnake" Oocatochus rufodorsata for sure... they do always call them chinese garter snakes. Anything that has a name like that, such as chinese garter, indonesian garter, etc... is in no way related to our garters. Our garters (thamnophis) are only found in north and central america. I have a pair of Oocatochus rufodorsata. They both tried my patience to the maximum. But they are nice snakes. They are sometimes also called Red-backed ratsnakes and used to be in the same genus as other ratsnakes... Elaphe rufodorsata. But, they're not really much of a rat snake at all.. I suppose that's why they've changed their taxonomy. They give live birth and are mostly frog eaters in the wild.... they need a setup just like our garters though... dry land with a bowl of water. the setup that guy has it in is ALL wrong. People are incredibly ignorant sometimes... sticking a water or garter snake in a tank full of water! I just went through this with a shop locally... they had two midland water snakes in a tank of water with a rock in the center. They need to be able to stay dry. The don't live in water at all, just near it because their food lives in it. I was only able to start mine eating with live tadpoles. My "chinese garters" had two meals of tadpoles and then they started eating live fish off my tongs. They have now eaten scented pinkies, but they are not fond of the texture and must be convinced that they are food. I can guarantee you one thing... it is wild caught, and it sounds like it's probably not a very happy snake in it's current setup...

[Selkielass]

Would a small/ young (12 inch or so) one have a build that resembles a garter snake? I think of rat snakes as having a 'stockier' build, but his fellows build really looked like a garter to my inexpert eyes. Poor thing. If Aberforth continues to refuse to eat, and has to be returned to the wild, I might consider this fellow as a replacement if he's eating well and has a decent temperament. A fish eater I could handle. An 'aquatic' snake not so much. Better yet if its just a mislabeled red sided garter.

[mustang]

could it be this (i looked it up and the common name is a chinees water snake not a cfa Chinese green false anaconda - Adults - $22.99

[Selkielass]

Nope. Very stripey, slim and red checkery along the sides. Sort of like these, but I don't think the yellow was so intense. California Red-Sided Garter Snake | Thamnophis sirtalis infernalis | Reptile I *thought* it was a red sided garter when I first spotted it, then I saw the water and the tag and became confused. I'm going to see If I can talk the store into letting me take a picture of it.