what species do you recommend?

[duh duh duh]

as stated in the T. Gigas thread, my jurisdiction has restrictions on what types of garters I can posess, or import.

Basically, the following are "no no":

Butler's Garter Snake Thamnophis butleri
Eastern Ribbon Snakes Thamnophis sauritus

Thamnophis sirtalis (Red‑sided Garter Snake)

Thamnophis radix (Plains Garter Snake)

Thamnophis elegans (Wandering Garter Snake)


What sucks about this is that there are some tremendous morphs of Sirtalis that I have seen on the site. You guys who are breeding them are doing a wicked job. Unfortunately, I can't import any! I'd even have looked at getting a pair of San Frans, but, darnit, they are sirtalis as well.


so what do the expert minds on this site recommend? I have fairly good experience in herps and have had garters and dekay in the past (as a kid).

I have a bunch of space as well, so I think I could properly house whatever is suggested.

Post links to photos as well

[count dewclaw]

How about:

Thamnophis atratus (Santa Cruz garters)
http://www.thamnophis.com/caresheets...c_Garter_Snake
Thamnophis proximus (Western ribbons)
http://www.thamnophis.com/caresheets...n_Ribbon_Snake
Thamnophis ordinoides (Northwestern garters)
http://www.thamnophis.com/caresheets...n_Garter_Snake

There are probably others as well. I don't know if any of these are available in Canada, but it would be worth looking into.

[thinkmore]

The Red-Sided Garter Snake is Thamnophis sirtalis parietalis. That leaves a lot of other T. sirtalis perfectly legal, including the Eastern (T. sirtalis sirtalis), Red-spotted (T. sirtalis concinnus), and many more.

[aSnakeLovinBabe]

The Red-Sided Garter Snake is Thamnophis sirtalis parietalis. That leaves a lot of other T. sirtalis perfectly legal, including the Eastern (T. sirtalis sirtalis), Red-spotted (T. sirtalis concinnus), and many more.

Unless the law says No sirtalis period!

what about marcianus? the checkered garter?

[duh duh duh]

Help me out here.

Is the genus and species, Thamnophis Sirtalis, and then the pariertalis the sub-species? or

Is sirtalis the genus and parietalis the sub-species?

in any event, unless I get an opinion from a fish and wildlife officer that I can keep a sirtalis sirtalis, I think I have to err on the side of caution when importing. There is a certain stigma if an unknowing customs officer or official charges one with "importing illegal reptiles".

[guidofatherof5]

Family: Colubridea
Genus: Thamnophis
Species: Sirtalis
Sub Species: s.parientalis
Here's a link. Hope this helps. It does get confusing ITIS Standard Report Page: Thamnophis sirtalis

[mustang]

Unless the law says No sirtalis period!

what about marcianus? the checkered garter?

checkers are cool ul love them they get big and i caught a 2.5ft one and never attemted to bite nor has my wc baby

[wolfpacksved]

no radix? wth. the only one i can see making some sense is Butler's.

[duh duh duh]

Thanks everyone, keep it going!

I think the reason Radix is a no no is that they occur naturally here. You can go and catch one and keep it, but you can't import it. I would have been interested in a morph radix, because I can view the regular radix in nature without a whole lot of effort.

[duh duh duh]

anyone working with Northwesterns? Those are neet. I bet the morphs on those can be pretty fantastic.