please help me identify my garter snake

[ConcinusMan]

I'm going with my original ID of T. proximus orarius. (Gulf Coast Ribbon Snake) Regardless of what the salesperson told you, it's not a garter snake and it's not even close to being mistaken for T. sirtalis. However, it's possible I'm mistaken and it could be Thamnophis sauritus. They can look very much like a T. proximus depending on location.

Same thing happens around here. I always see ribbon snakes for sale and they are nearly always labeled as "garter snake" T. sirtalis. One look at a ribbon snake compared to a garter and the difference is obvious as night and day. First thing you'll notice is that they are thinner and their body thickness doesn't taper as abruptly as a garter snake. Ribbons tend to look very long and thin when compared to garters. Ribbon snake bodies sort of look like a whip. The look of the head gives them away too. Head tends to be narrow and pointy compared to a garter snake.

Ribbon:


Garter: