Reptile & Amphibian Forums

I just picked up a baby from a local show. Just curious if anyone has any info on them. Or if they know the scientific name. I've seen them posted in the classifieds as a florida aquatic blue.

Any info would be greatly appreciated.

peace,
nathan

There's 2 different "blue" garters from the Florida area. One is the Florida blue, thamnophis sirtalis sirtalis, a blue color morph of the eastern garter. The other is the blue striped garter, thamnophis sirtalis similis. It has some nice blue coloring and is a different subspecies. There were "aquatic blue" garters in the classifieds recently. I believe those are the Puget Sound Garters. Scott Felzer has all 3. I have theFlorida blues, however my female only threw jelly beans this year....=(

I did see those Aquatic garters on the classifieds. They looked very nice from the pics. I happen to have a blue stripe on order from Scott. And I'm darn tempted to add a Florida blue (sirtalis) to my list as well. Something about blue garter snakes that I love, LOL
Steve

>>There's 2 different "blue" garters from the Florida area. One is the Florida blue, thamnophis sirtalis sirtalis, a blue color morph of the eastern garter. The other is the blue striped garter, thamnophis sirtalis similis. It has some nice blue coloring and is a different subspecies. There were "aquatic blue" garters in the classifieds recently. I believe those are the Puget Sound Garters. Scott Felzer has all 3. I have theFlorida blues, however my female only threw jelly beans this year....=(

Sorry its so bad, Im going to try to take some more tonight.

peace,
Nathan
Uluru Dragons

thanks for looking

What do these guys go for? And how common are they?

peace,
nathan
Uluru Dragons

Actually NorthWestern Garter Snakes, the blue phase. I was going to take on that project this year but decided against it because they usually only eat slugs.
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Mike
KingPin Reptiles Inc.
www.freewebs.com/mikesnake
www.captivebredforum.com

I'n not sure they are northwesterns.... northwesterns are primarily worm feeders, but i have beenable toget mine toeat feeder fish.

Im refuring to the one I posted.

Are they a fairly common species? What is the average price on tham?

thanks in advance

peace,
nate

ok, yours does look like it could be a northwestern...currently I know of no one working with northwesterns. I will be in the future when i can acquire some. I want to get a variety of colors as they have quite a variation in colors. I do have an old brown female with faint stripes, but that is the only one I have.

The ones in the classifieds are NorthWesterns.... The guy selling them confirmed it for me.

I have a friend in the range of the Northwesterns, and he was under the impression that they only feed on slugs. Since you say they'll eat fish I guess I can get some of those nice blue ones from him now.
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Mike
KingPin Reptiles Inc.
www.freewebs.com/mikesnake
www.captivebredforum.com

So the one i have is a northwestern?

I saw an older animal they had on display. It was solid black with eletric blue stripes.

And mine so far is eating worms. They said it was feeding on pinkies already but it refused one when i offered it. Im going to try fish today.

thanks for all the help and info

peace,
nate
Uluru Dragons

Mike, what kind of garters do you have in your collection? I know you have, or had, that melanistic eastern. Wasn't sure if your bad luck last year caused you to lose some of your garters or not. I'm adding a few this year myself. I have a Blue Striped, a Santa Cruz, and an eastern flame on order.

Steve

Hey Steve...

I still have the melanistic eastern female... She's doing quite well and always has been.

Last year I did lose a number of garter snakes, a 02 male melanistic garter, a 05 flame male, 1.1 05 het albino/melanistic/snow easterns, an adult eastern garter from NY that was light blue, and 1.1 erythristic eastern garter snakes.

Last year sucked. I've moved on. I have some CB06 Florida Blue Easterns coming shortly, as well as a speckled flame I am getting from a friend in Germany. I have also been talking with Scott and may be getting some new stuff from him.
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Mike
KingPin Reptiles Inc.
www.freewebs.com/mikesnake
www.captivebredforum.com

Sounds like you'll have some great animals back in your collection in no time. Looking forward to seeing some pics when you get those Florida blues, and some of the others. Some of these garters are so beautiful, the toughest part is picking what you want. I've gone back and fourth with several species. Blue-stripe (similis) or Florida Blue Easterns. Eastern Flame or erythristic. Tough choices. The wife's pretty liberal with letting me buy snakes, but not to the point where I can say I'll take one of everthing, LOL
Steve

lol.

Well personally I would go for the blue striped over the Florida Eastern, blue stripeds are smaller, much more rare while the Florida Easterns are just like your typically everyday Eastern.

Flame vs. Erythristic could be a tough one. I've had both but definitely liked the Flame more. The only bad part about the Erythristics is they remain looking like a normal Eastern until they get to about 15".
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Mike
KingPin Reptiles Inc.
www.freewebs.com/mikesnake
www.captivebredforum.com

He has been eating worms for the past week and last night decided to try a pinkey. He ate it with out hesitation.

peace,
nate
Uluru Dragons

I agree with you Mike. Both are beautiful, but I'm going with the Blue Striped (similis),and as far as the red Eastern garters, It will be a flame. Both flames and Erythristics are beautiful, but the flame was always been my first choice. I can always pick up an Erythristic next year.

>>Well personally I would go for the blue striped over the Florida Eastern, blue stripeds are smaller, much more rare while the Florida Easterns are just like your typically everyday Eastern.

Flame vs. Erythristic could be a tough one. I've had both but definitely liked the Flame more. The only bad part about the Erythristics is they remain looking like a normal Eastern until they get to about 15".

I have had luck feeding mine feeder fish. All the reading I have done says they are primarily worm feeders. I haven't tried slugs with them. I would get a few, but I have spent my limit on new snakes this year.....would have had more, but my Florida blue threw jelly beans...will have a small number of red spot babies around the end of this month or early next month.

I have a breeding colony and they eat feeder goldfish extremely well.

IF you were talking about the Aquatic Blues that were in the classifieds about a month ago. I purchased 5 of those guys. I actually got 4- 2 males and 2 females but he sent me 5- another small female because 1 of my larger females had a slightly defective tail- not bad just a little stubbed. These guys are great. I feed mine frozen/thawed fish 2 times per week. I am also going to start trying pinkies mixed in w/ the fish about every other week. I haven't handled them that much but when I do they don't try to bite or musk but they seem somewhat nervous. I was told that the four larger ones(20" - 24"are about 1.5 years old and should be ready for breeding next year. the little female (about 1' long) will have to beraised longer. I am very satisfied with these. Two of the larger ones have spectacular blue and stripping and even the two others are nice and blue themselves. The "baby" I was told should be the most spectacular and based on what I've seen it could be true but I don't see how she will rival the other 2 by much. I will be writing more on their progress and my observations.

I do remember those. You picked up some beauties. Post some updated pics when you get a chance. And I'm curious to see how they transition to pinks/pinkie parts for you.

Steve