Reptile & Amphibian Forums

I have kept garters for quite along time and i would like to start breeding. the thing is that i have a wandering garter that has half its tail bitten of and another garter that i have no clue the specie. It looks like a buttler eats fuzzies and some people think its an eastern. The mainidea of my post is to ask where i can start? Should i catch as many wandring garters and try to sex by comparing or should i buy a captive pair. (if there is adults for cheap)
How did the rest of you start.
if you can help....Thanx
chris

>>I have kept garters for quite along time and i would like to start breeding. the thing is that i have a wandering garter that has half its tail bitten of and another garter that i have no clue the specie. It looks like a buttler eats fuzzies and some people think its an eastern. The mainidea of my post is to ask where i can start? Should i catch as many wandring garters and try to sex by comparing or should i buy a captive pair. (if there is adults for cheap)
>>How did the rest of you start.
>>if you can help....Thanx
>>chris

First of all Chris, you should acquaint yourself with the reptile and amphibian rules for Utah. Here is a link to the new rule which is now in effect.
www.rules.utah.gov/publicat/bulletin/2003/20030501/26168.htm

This rule still has some problems but it is much better than it used to be. One of the main problems with this rule is that a person can collect 25 wandering garters a year but they must apply for a COR (Certificate of Registration) from the Utah Division of wildlife resources if they want to breed them.
This allows the DWR to keep tabs on what species are being bred and what the interest is in breeding them. I think this law should be changed to exclude non-commercial breeding. I also think 25 wandering garters is way to many to take from the wild and aside from collecting snakes to feed other snakes I can't see a reason for such a high bag limit.

Secondly,
Wandering garters are pretty easy to sex based on the tail taper. Wandering garters are all over the state as you probably know and it should be easy for you to collect a pair.
Although normal wandering garters are available for sale, I wouldn't waste the money. I plan on starting a breeding project involving a melanistic form of the wandering garter snake that I found in northern Utah next spring, after I apply for a COR of course.

Third,
Other types of Garter snakes in Utah besides T. e. vagrans. There are 2 other types of garter snakes in Utah.
1. The Western Black necked garter snake, which can be found in the southeastern portion of Utah along the Colorado river drainage.

2. The Valley Garter Snake (T. s. fitchi) which has a range from Idaho down to Payson. You will find it in Valley wetlands such as marshy areas around lakes and ponds. It is sympatric with the wandering garter snake.

Fourth,
Get yourself a Petersons Western field guide if you don't already have one. That should provide you with the ranges and habitat types of the other snakes in Utah which you might like to persue. Here is a link to another Utah'n who sells herpetology books specifically.
www.herplit.com

Happy Herping,
Brian Eagar

>>>>I have kept garters for quite along time and i would like to start breeding. the thing is that i have a wandering garter that has half its tail bitten of and another garter that i have no clue the specie. It looks like a buttler eats fuzzies and some people think its an eastern. The mainidea of my post is to ask where i can start? Should i catch as many wandring garters and try to sex by comparing or should i buy a captive pair. (if there is adults for cheap)
>>>>How did the rest of you start.
>>>>if you can help....Thanx
>>>>chris