Reptile & Amphibian Forums

My girlfriend just bought me one of these at Petland. I am having trouble finding information about this snake, but from what little I can find it is rear fanged venomous. Is this true? Thanks,
-Matt

Well, that is a question that could be debated for hours, as venom is merely a collection of enzymes found in the saliva of a snake. Well, in all honesty, some enzymes in your garter snake are also found in the cobra species! Wow! Exciting, but at the same time the ammounts of enzymes in a garter make them harmless. That and the fact that they lack fangs (hollow teeth) that they can use for hypodermic (under the skin) injection. If you were to get a whole jar full of garter snake spit and inject that into yourself you may have some ill reactions, but the snake alone is harmless! Not to mention the fact that a garters mouth is so darn small it is hard to get them even eating pink or fuzzy mice! Don't consider the little snake a threat, as even a bite will (from a HUGE adult) will do no harm. The bites may itch some...just treat the bite as a minor puncture wound as you would a splinter...clean it out, some peroxide or alcohol, and if needed a bandaid! Nothing to fret about I assure you!

-Steve Clark
TurtsAndTorts@aol.com

For what it's worth, I had emailed a biology dept. at a university in Indonesia (this was a few years back - I'd have to look up which one) and I was told that Indonesian garter snakes, ie. Xenocrophis vittatus, (I think this was updated to Xenocrophis vittata) but is also known as Natrix vittatus in older literature, is a mildly venomous snake. Being bitten and *chewed on* left an effect similar to being stung by many bees.

My guess is that this is anecdotal evidence at best. At least until Brian Grieg Fry (spelling?) analyzes their venom to be sure (if he hasn't already).

I imagine that if someone were to have an allergic reaction - symptoms could be worse. (I'm speaking as someone who has kept this species, and has many allergies - but I am not a physician.)

Xenocrophis as a genus is closely related to the genus Rhabdophis... and the species Rhabdophis tigrinus has caused human fatalities.

My guess is that the average person has nothing to worry about, but it's always wise to know what you're dealing with and be careful. The individuals I kept, never ever showed *any* inclination to bite and had the flighty personality of a ribbon snake, but while I let kids hold my garters and western hognose, I didn't let kids handle X. vittatus.

An interesting aside, if they get nervous while being handled - they will musk you - and it smells *exactly* like the North American skunk!

I hope this helps.

Lisa