Hello from South Africa!

[thamneil]

Welcome from a cloudy Manitoba!

[SilasBannook]

Outstanding! South Africa. It is excellent to have you on board. Do check out the care sheet and look at the Husbandry section of the forum for tips. It will be great to see pictures of the snakes you have. You will love the resource this forum provides.

[@ndy]

Hello everyone!

And thank you for the welcome! This is the first forum where I received such a warm welcome! It makes me feel at home here!

Thanks for posting the Care sheet link is the most detailed care sheet I have seen so far on the web and it will replace my current sheet!

As for the sexing,I had a look and I have tried to identify the sex but I am not sure at all, it will be of great help if you guys and gals could help me with the sexing, I will take the photos and post it up.

As for photos of my female they will be uploaded a bit later today.

[guidofatherof5]

You are now part of a community that cares for the best snakes on the planet. Garters are the most interactive/social and inquisitive snakes out there.
Each possessing it's own personality. They are the best kept secret in the snake/reptile hobby.
We are a small worldwide bunch of garter nuts and that's a good thing.

[infernalis]

[snake man]

Welcome.

[ConcinusMan]

Welcome! Wow, what is it about checkered garters? They've made it all the way to South Africa?

[@ndy]

We have had checkered and Florida Blue garters in SA for a couple of years, I know there are a couple of Checkered breeders around, I am trying to trace the breeder of the Florida Blue garters but no luck yet, I think the person immigrated over seas and sold his collection to an unknown person.

I have however found a breeder in SA of Red sided garters (Thamnophis sirtalis parietalis) although I have been warned that this person have Hybridized checkered and red sided garters. Really want a pure pair of red side's but how can I trust this Person knowing that he hybridized a pair, whats to say I don't get hybrids from him.

I found this on another forum where the breeder I found posted this

21j3kud.jpg

[chris-uk]

I was going to ask if you're certain that the breeder produced hybrids, but it sounds like he posted the photo himself showing the hybrid? I wouldn't want any hybrids either and wouldn't rely on anyone who had knowingly produced them. On the other hand, if the parietalis and marcianus hybridised by accident, and if he's been open about it and hasn't sold them on as anything other than hybrids, and if he doesn't intend to produce more, and if you believe that he won't produce another hybrid litter... (lots of "ifs" there) then this breeder may be one of the few options you have in SA.
If it's practical and economical I'd suggest importing from Europe where you have a good choice from respected breeders.

[@ndy]

I was going to ask if you're certain that the breeder produced hybrids, but it sounds like he posted the photo himself showing the hybrid? I wouldn't want any hybrids either and wouldn't rely on anyone who had knowingly produced them. On the other hand, if the parietalis and marcianus hybridised by accident, and if he's been open about it and hasn't sold them on as anything other than hybrids, and if he doesn't intend to produce more, and if you believe that he won't produce another hybrid litter... (lots of "ifs" there) then this breeder may be one of the few options you have in SA.
If it's practical and economical I'd suggest importing from Europe where you have a good choice from respected breeders.

Yes to many if's for me and these were done on purpose

Below i quote the users post from the other forum

"Hi everyone,

Used to be on SA Reptiles about a year ago but since moved and got a new job etc...
so I have no idea what my username never mind my password was, anyway.

I currently have around 10 garter snakes, exotic ones and they are as follow:
1.2 Thamnphis sirtalis parietalis
above all are adults both females gravid.

1.3 Thamnophis marcianus marcianus
1.1 juveniles - should breed next season; 0.1 adult; 0.1 albino about 15-18 months of age copulated with red sided male last night

1.1 hybrids of the above - should bred next season.

Now my question is what are your thoughts around the above ideas.
what do you think can I expect from the checkered albino female x red sided male, the dominant genes are T. m. marcianus but while the albino genes carry over as well or not really, it is all speculation at this point, international sites frown upon this idea.

But I feel due to the lack of variance Thamnophis species available in this country of ours I personally feel no harm.

This is up for discussion to anyone with any feelings towards this as long as it is kept within reason.
Hope the mods approve this post thank you."

I have been looking into importing from Europe, I have never Imported a snake before, i hav a friend that imports pythons from somewhere, will find out whats involved in importing.