I used to have a eastern garter that was 3.5 ft long and we would measure him every time he shed but I think he was old cause when I caught him he looked beat up but I brought him home and we had him for about a year and he was doing great and then I think he got sick or something cause we woke up and he had passed. He was awesome and very tame. Even my 4 year old would hold him all the time