Reptile & Amphibian Forums

Ok, same pet store I deal with has just gotten in what was called a Indonsian garter. It has black sides with two tight tan stripes on its sides, and a cool banded belly. The face looks very much like that of a racer or whipsnake, but is heavily marked black and off-white. So far it has been eating feeder fish, going with the garter snake name thing...but cleary not being a garter. Any guesses?

Conrad I can't be 100% sure but the snake you're describing sounds like it could be a Striped Keelback [Xenochrophis vittatus].Its a natricine from Sumatra and Java,with 4 specimens known from Singapore.There's a photograph of it in a book called "Fascinating Snakes of Southeast Asia-An Introduction"by Keng and Tat-Mong.Alot of these oddball natricines are called Indo Garters in the pet trade.Anyway this picture seems to be close to what you're describing. Hope this helps. Grant

Xenochrophis vittata

Xenochrophis sp. have been sold in petstores for years as indonesian garter snakes. Most have no idea that they are rear fanged or what to feed them.They generally don't acclimate well and rarely take anything other then frogs.

So far he has been eating feeder fish. He has a badly retained eyecap and looks like the eye is sunken in. Although he is overall healthy. He's small too, only about 8 inches in length. This is definatley the snake though...the pic is exact...thanks. I'll let the guys know so that they are more aware of what they have on their hands. Thanks again for the help.

Try a search under natrix vittata- I found some good images that way. I kept one for years and it ate rosey red feeder fish and occasionally smaller minnows. Never once tried to bite- and not knowing better (this was in the 80's) I usually fed it by hand. It died after 3 years and a possible cause was parasites. It developed a some cysts which contained small thread like worms. Neat little snake- made a good pet.
Lora