My first colubrid:-)

[Justin83]

After a trip to my local reptile store to look at the monitor lizards I have come home with this awesome little garter snake.
I've been researching colubrid and held a Mandarin rat snake but I couldn't warrant the £200 asking price, I then saw this little shoe lace.
These are so awesome in person, pics just don't do them justice...
I was warned he is tiny and on fish still at only 7"ish, I couldn't resist, I thought I would attempt to feed when I got home so defrosted a whole silverside fish that I had in the freezer and sliced a piece off. I waved it over him and he didn't seem interested so I floated it in his bowl as advised.
I had read worms are in their diet to so grabbed a worm from our garden and washed it off then tossed it in the bowl too.
I'm luck to have wandered back by the tank 10min later, I caught him grabbing the fish and chucking it from the water bowl lol, then he grabbed the worm and swallowed it down lol!!?
He carried the fish about a bit afterwards, maybe he will eat that later haha...

I'm so happy with him, or her? Any ideas for a unisex name for the little dude/dudette?

2018-10-27_02-42-53 by Justin Phillips - Flickr2BBcode LITE


2018-10-27_02-43-04 by Justin Phillips - Flickr2BBcode LITE

Hopefully one day s-he can be this big;-)


2018-10-27_03-00-16 by Justin Phillips - Flickr2BBcode LITE

[Justin83]

What is wrong with Flickr lately grrr

[Justin83]

Click on the date below the pic and it should load up...

[BPGator]

Looks like a pretty checkered Garter. When he gets a little older, it’ll be easy to tell if it’s a boy or girl based on the tail. If he takes silversides, I’d keep giving him those. You can transition him to pinkies and he will grow fast (cut them up for him since he’s so small). You may have to mix the fish in with the mouse since they are very keen on scent.

Night crawlers are good; avoid red wigglers as they are considered toxic. Not sure what worms you have in your garden, but should probably be avoided anyways since they can have parasites.

Congrats. Garters are fun to watch and are active during the day. Their musk stinks, but they typically calm down with age.


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[Justin83]

Thanks pal, I will avoid garden worms then, not sure if we have red wrigglers here in the uk? Hopefully he is ok? Was only a little one.
I was drawn to them as I'd like to do a display tank with live plants and it was amazing luck to see one in a local store.
I've not seen them for sale around here before.
So glad I bit the bullet and brought him home, gonna set a nice display up on top of the boa tanks once he has some size.
So do males have longer or shorter tails?

[BPGator]

Thanks pal, I will avoid garden worms then, not sure if we have red wrigglers here in the uk? Hopefully he is ok? Was only a little one.
I was drawn to them as I'd like to do a display tank with live plants and it was amazing luck to see one in a local store.
I've not seen them for sale around here before.
So glad I bit the bullet and brought him home, gonna set a nice display up on top of the boa tanks once he has some size.
So do males have longer or shorter tails?

It’s more about the taper past the cloaca. The males hemipenes cause a bulge which prevents the tale from tapering down.







It’s not always obvious, but you can typically see the difference easily when they’re a little older.


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[BPGator]

I think they’re great for display tanks since they are usually very curious and will come up to the front to watch you. They also enjoy basking.


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[Justin83]

That's great, cheers. Have you kept many? Got any ATM? I'm guessing 2.5' is average Max size? 3.5' very rare I assume?

[BPGator]

That's great, cheers. Have you kept many? Got any ATM? I'm guessing 2.5' is average Max size? 3.5' very rare I assume?

3.5’ is a big Garter and most likely female. Males are shorter and not as thick. I currently keep some checkereds, wandering, Santa Cruz and a red-sided Garter.


Albino Checkered


Wandering Garter


Wandering Garter


Santa Cruz


Red Sided Garter


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[Bogertophis]

Those are some very nice garters you have, BPGator! thanks for sharing both knowledge & pics...I've kept many colubrids so this post caught my eye, but I
have no experience with garters, other than in my yard, lol. I do love the more active snakes...