sad news(and hopes for a new beginning)

[guidofatherof5]

I can't imagine that larger guppy causing its death. I would say that was a coincidence.
Speaking for myself I can say I'm on a learning curve with my snakes. I'm alway learning and observing new things about them. I don't think that will ever change.
Your feelings for your snake are refreshing. They do have a way of getting into our hearts. My hopes are that you will get another, soon.
This forum is a great place to learn. So many of the members have that feeling in their hearts for their snakes.
I think the love we have for them only helps us to care for them more and pushes us to do all we can for the few that enter our lives.
A little Garter snake bit me in the heart when I was only 5. 45 years later the poison is still infecting me.
My daughter Gabby has been biten and I can only hope the wonderful poison infects her for the rest of her life.

Thank you for the kindness, I was very attached to the little guy; not only he was my first garter but also my very first snake! Not really the best way to start... So you think that could have killed him?
As it was my first experience I'm still a bit obsessed if I've done something wrong caring for him after all, do you see something wrong from my welcome thread? I was still housing him in the same conditions, and feeding him SMALL sized guppies every second day. So, did that last bigger(but still medium) sized guppy contributed?

[Herps 4 Life]

2. Don't want to give up

Glad to hear that Steve
As for getting a new one, after I've lost my little joy I couldn't help but take it as a personal failure, with all the frustration that comes along. Still, I want to try one more time. But the fact is, I have some serious doubts about buying another T. pulchrilatus. First, I have done research, but it seems it is an almost unknown snake. I mean, I couldn't find any useful information apart from maximum size registered, distribution, hypothetical(-what!?) habitat, some rare photos and inexistent or unknown reported presence in the trade!!! Along with that, as one of the common names implies(mexico highland garter snake) it's a highland species(in fact, mine seemed happier on cooler days), and from what I've read about other reptiles it seems that tropical mountain species may be more delicate or challenging to keep properly in captivity.. So I'm not shure afther that if this garters could still be suitable for beginners... Any opinions on this? Ironically, they seem the garter more commonly found in stores around here! All the snakes I could find where occasional cornsnakes, kingsnakes, lampropeltis, small boids, burmese, reticulated(!) and ball phytons plus LOTS of boa constictor but... NOT ONE SINGLE NORTH AMERICAN GARTER!!!!! Just these little guys, wich I can presume are ALL wildcoughts. But a few days ago, in the same petshop where I've buyed my previous snake I spotted two of this garters(pics below): they seem a very different snake, they are more heavily builded(or just fatty) and somewhat less slender than the "standard".. Yeah, I know, they are no beauty compared to the pulchrilatus but I don't really care about it, all I just want is to have a nice, happy, and healthy garter in the end!
But guess what? I can't seem to be able to identify them! Does anyone know what they are?? (hey Don,still have that garter snake book over there?)

[Herps 4 Life]

...any advice ?

[gregmonsta]

Does look like a southern species again can't be sure which one. I would also think it could be another WC. A better lit picture could help ... one of the southern marcianus or scaliger ... try to get a better photo if you can.

[Herps 4 Life]

eh eh, they were taken with a phone, sorry...
Here is one again, I've tryed to get it brighter but it's still bad... The snake was pretty dark anyway, the first time I've seen it I hardly noticed the line and blotches. Yeah, I'm sure it's a WC too however that specimen was a really calm one, it not even got frightened by opening the jar(yes they still have that bad habit of keeping garters in plastic jars in that store!!!)

[Stefan-A]

Does look like a southern species again can't be sure which one. I would also think it could be another WC. A better lit picture could help ... one of the southern marcianus or scaliger ... try to get a better photo if you can.

Does indeed look like T. scaliger, at least to me. It resembles T. marcianus bovallii a lot.

[Stefan-A]

Time to count supralabial scales. 6 or 7, it's T. scaliger, 8 it's T. marcianus. Additionally, what colour is its tongue, completely black, or black and red?

edit: Judging by that picture of its head, with the last supralabial scales obscured, I'd say 6 or 7, meaning it's probably T. scaliger.

[Herps 4 Life]

Hi!
uhm...unfortunately I couldn't see the tongue...
Yes, it seems like they are 6 or 7.. A scaliger? ...hmm starting research!

[Herps 4 Life]

Oh wow, another garter with almost no information...
And another mountain species too! But.. I don't know, in the few (3) photos I could find the head seems to have a different shape, like more elongated, but may be the age.. no? Also the color seems to bee alot brigther in those, but we all know there are geographical variations... Aah, if only MY photos were clearer!!! However personally, from the body form it gives me the impression that they are not a very aquatic species, like they are not SO agile as others, what do you think?

[Stefan-A]

The head shape is the same as on the one in The Garter Snakes - Evolution and Ecology. It could be the age, the gender, or just variation. The coloration, too.