Reptile & Amphibian Forums

I caught this guy in Salt Lake City, Utah, several weeks ago. I'm not sure what species he is. I'm guessing either a Western Black Neck or Western Checkered Garter. He eats fish almost exclusively, but recently I've had luck getting him to eat F/T pinkies also. He is very active, likes to climb, and has been very interesting to watch. I would appreciate any help in his identification. Thanks!

Looks like a wandering garter to me. Are they in Utah?
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Mike
KingPin Reptiles Inc.
www.freewebs.com/mikesnake
www.captivebredforum.com

Hi, I'm in Utah too.
Thats definately a wandering garter (Thamnophis sirtalis fitchi).
We only have two kinds of garters in northern Utah.
Valley garters and Wandering garters. Your's is a wandering.
They are pretty easy to get onto mice and they make interesting pets. Good luck with it.

Brian

>>I caught this guy in Salt Lake City, Utah, several weeks ago. I'm not sure what species he is. I'm guessing either a Western Black Neck or Western Checkered Garter. He eats fish almost exclusively, but recently I've had luck getting him to eat F/T pinkies also. He is very active, likes to climb, and has been very interesting to watch. I would appreciate any help in his identification. Thanks!
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ThamnophisWest.com
Specializing in Captive bred Garter Snakes
from west of the continental divide.

I agree but the Wndering garter is T elegans vagrans. T s fitchi is the Valley Garter.
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Randy Hallman
Firehouse Herps

LOL, I do know that. I can't believe I typed that.
I guess I need to stop trying to work on so many things at the same time.

>>I agree but the Wndering garter is T elegans vagrans. T s fitchi is the Valley Garter.
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>>Randy Hallman
>>Firehouse Herps
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ThamnophisWest.com
Specializing in Captive bred Garter Snakes
from west of the continental divide.

definitely a wandering garter, very common here. My daughter found and adult pair week before last at a Park in Magna (a suburb of Salt Lake City) that were breeding!! They come in quite a variety of colors and with varying amounts of checkering. Brian Eager has a collage of wanderings showing their variability...maybe he can post that photo here.....