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What is this snake? (alternating black and white crossbars on belly)

HI,

I need help IDing a snake. I was looking at the reptiles at my local petco and looked in the Garter snake tank. There was a snake without the dorsal yellow stripe and 2 brown stripes along the upper side of the body. The thing that really threw me off was that it has alternating black and white crossbars on belly (like a ringneck snake). Is it a garter? Maybe a type of ribbon snake? Or something else.... Any help will appreciated.

thanks, ericR

picture. what is this?

what is this snake?

Lined snake (Tropidoclonion lineatum), maybe? Not quite a garter snake, but not that far from it either.

I'm pretty sure that what you have is an Indonesion garter snake also known as the striped keelback: Natrix vittata. I've also seen it referred to as Xenochrophis vittatus, I'm no sure which name is more current. There isn't much info about them online other than the fact that they are rear fanged. Our local Petco gets them in and sells them as Thamnophis sirtalis :0P

-Alice

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Mike
KingPin Reptiles Inc.
www.freewebs.com/mikesnake
www.captivebredforum.com

HI Alice,

Thanks. I thought that most the petco snakes were from the eastern US so I was looking through all those field guides. Do you know how to care for the Indonesian garter snakes? Is it any different then a T. elegans? Do you know of a care sheet or breeding info? Also, how many types of garter snakes are rear fanged? It is a nice looking snake.

thanks for the posts, ericR

All of the North American garters are in the genus Thamnophis and none are rear fanged. The Indonesian "gartersnake" is not closely related to the North American gartersnakes and the striped keelback is probably a better common name. I've never kept one, and had no luck turning up any good caresheets on line. From the little information I was able to get, they are supposed to be amphibian and fish eaters ( http://www.ecologyasia.com/verts/snakes/striped_keelback.htm ) and occupy a simialr niche to the North American garters. In my experience T. elegans will feed pretty readily on rodents, these guys look like they might be more difficult to switch over. From what I've read these guys don't tend to be nippy and unlike some of the other keebacks's have mild venom. It's a lovely snake, good luck with him.

-Alice