Hello!

[jwolfe152]

wow thats a pretty eastern, i have 4 WC all with different tinges of color brown, yellow, and one thats a blueish green that looks a little like your but mine is not so bright, if it is soaking in its bowl you can really see the color in it.

[chris-uk]

I am 99.9% sure she is not a hybrid. And I would never release her. I was told she was five years old and has been in captivity that whole time. I would find a nature center or something of the sort.


Sorry for the less than perfect picture, I rely on my cell phone camera way too much.

If you were ever pressed as to what she is by someone who might have an interest in enforcing the law, then I'd suggest that your official line should be to state that she isn't a T. sirtalis species at all... The chances are that most people would be unable to identify her accurately, and if you argued that she was a T. marcianus or a T. radix morph, that they wouldn't be in a position to argue too much.

Maybe we should have a competition on the forum to come up with the closest matching species to your photograph that isn't a garter snake native to Georgia?

But I'd wait until Steve has spoken to the state herpetologist, he can get all the information you need without you raising your head above the parapet and asking questions yourself.

[gregmonsta]

Greetings

[jwolfe152]

Maybe we should have a competition on the forum to come up with the closest matching species to your photograph that isn't a garter snake native to Georgia?

that sounds like a great idea

[guidofatherof5]

I spoke to Mr. Jensen today. He is one of the GA. State Herpetologists.
According to him, no T.sirtalis or any of its subspecies can be kept as a pet in the State of GA. That includes any T. sirtalis or subspecies that are born in other States.
Permits can be obtained to keep them if they are part of an educational, study or display program.
Any non-native species of garter can be kept as a pet without and permit unless there is some other law(Fed. protected or endangered species) prohibits keeping them.

[Zia]

That just about meshes with what I was able to find out. I wonder if I would have a case for some sort of permit since I'm highly involved in animal rescue here, and am going to school within the next year to be a vet tech. Probably not though. I do think I might check with an educational center close to me about if they might want her, they have several other native species and I really like their setup. I would also not be opposed to selling her to someone on this forum because I know she would get good care, but I have no experience with shipping snakes so I'd need to be walked though it. It's a shame, I do really want to keep her, she's fantastic. But I'm also worried that if she ever was discovered that some harm would come to her. I'm kind of at a loss. So, in the opinions of people on this forum, go with "don't ask don't tell", or re-home her just in case?

Thank you again for putting in the time and effort to make the calls. I really do appreciate it.

[BLUESIRTALIS]

Hey Zia, This snake used to belong to me and I sold her a few weeks ago at the Columbia repticon show! She is a wildcaught garter that was sold to me as a florida blue striped (thamnophis sirtalis similis) however she appears to be a naturally occurring intergrade of a florida blue eastern and florida bluestriped similis. Several breeders and florida natives said she was a pure similis, but most similis don't have the heavy checkered pattern so I think she could be an intergrade and that's why i decided not to keep her since I didn't plan to breed her.I told the guy who I sold her to that she should only be sold as pet and not a breeder even though it happens in the wild all the time I would like to keep the captive similis as pure as possible! She is not a hybrid and might even be a pure similis, but the heavy checkered makes me think intergrade. She is a very nice snake and will make a great pet!

[guidofatherof5]

That just about meshes with what I was able to find out. I wonder if I would have a case for some sort of permit since I'm highly involved in animal rescue here, and am going to school within the next year to be a vet tech. Probably not though. I do think I might check with an educational center close to me about if they might want her, they have several other native species and I really like their setup. I would also not be opposed to selling her to someone on this forum because I know she would get good care, but I have no experience with shipping snakes so I'd need to be walked though it. It's a shame, I do really want to keep her, she's fantastic. But I'm also worried that if she ever was discovered that some harm would come to her. I'm kind of at a loss. So, in the opinions of people on this forum, go with "don't ask don't tell", or re-home her just in case?

Thank you again for putting in the time and effort to make the calls. I really do appreciate it.

The priorities for most DNR offices doesn't involve garter snakes. They've got much more pressing issues to deal with. I would think the chances of you getting a visit from them because of that snake would be very slim to none.
The final call does rest with you though.

[BLUESIRTALIS]

This snake was caught 4 years ago as a suspected yearling in levy county florida! She feeds on mice very well!

[Zia]

Oh wow! It's nice to hear about her from who she actually came from, and her real story! She was purchased at the Atlanta repticon on the 27th/28th of July, and then by me on the 31st of July. She has settled in and has gone to town on mice and feeder guppies. I completely adore her as a pet, and have no plans to breed her. I follow the same line of thinking, that the DNR office has enough to worry about and that she should be fine in my possession. I only brought it up because I do want to do what is in the best interest of her, and didn't know if you guys had some horror stories of snake raids for one pet or something lol.