Reptile & Amphibian Forums

Hello,

This is my first post here and was wondering if someone could help me. I believe these are garter snakes but I am not a 100% sure. If so what kind are they? What do they eat? I put some small feeder fish in a bowl but they dont seem very attractive to them. I caught these in my back yard, I think they were still hibernating. I live east of Dallas, Texas. Oh, they are all about 12" long, how old do you think they are?

Thanks,
Dustin
Snake Pictures Here

I believe these are garter snakes but I am not a 100% sure. If so what kind are they? What do they eat?

Graham's Crayfish Snakes, Regina grahamii.

My page about crayfish snakes

Try feeding them crawdads if available. If not, you might want to release them.
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Chris McMartin
www.mcmartinville.com
I'm Not a Herpetologist, but I Play One on the Internet

I am not sure that it is one of those either. I researched the crayfish snake and found that they have solid white belly, mine has black spots on it. The crayfish snake also hase a faint yellow stipe down the center, mine has a bright yellow stripe down the center.

Thanks for the post,
Dustin

>>I am not sure that it is one of those either.

I'm about 99% sure. But get a second opinion.

I researched the crayfish snake and found that they have solid white belly, mine has black spots on it.

From your pics, it appears yours have the little "half-moon" shaped spots, a row down either side of the belly. Same as Graham's Crayfish Snake (make sure you're researching grahamii, not rigida).

The crayfish snake also hase a faint yellow stipe down the center, mine has a bright yellow stripe down the center.

"Faint" and "bright" are often in the eye of the beholder.
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Chris McMartin
www.mcmartinville.com
I'm Not a Herpetologist, but I Play One on the Internet

According to the Peterson guide, Graham's are supposed to have plain belly or a single central row of dark spots; the glossy has the double row of large black half moons on the belly, with only traces of stripes.

The easiest way to tell for certain whether you have a lined or some kind of crayfish snake is to look at the anal plate. Both species of crayfish snakes have divided anal plates; lined snakes have a single anal plate.

-Alice

Looking at the pictures further, I think you are right. Any clear pictures of the head?
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Chris McMartin
www.mcmartinville.com
I'm Not a Herpetologist, but I Play One on the Internet

>>According to the Peterson guide, Graham's are supposed to have plain belly or a single central row of dark spots; the glossy has the double row of large black half moons on the belly, with only traces of stripes.

I had to go back and look at the pics of the crayfish snake I picked up on a snake call. It was a year ago and my memory was fuzzy, but the pictures show a single row of half moons on the posterior half of the venter, plus a thick, solid black stripe on each edge (left/right) of the belly. In my mind I was confusing the stripes for moons.

So yes, Tropidoclonion is the consensus for these mystery snakes.
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Chris McMartin
www.mcmartinville.com
I'm Not a Herpetologist, but I Play One on the Internet

They look like lined snakes (Tropidoclonion lineatum). The double row of black half moons on the belly is a diagnostic feature for this species. Earthworms are said to be their favorite food.

-Alice

Lined snakes top out at 8.5" - 15" so yours are full size adults.
-Alice

Thanks for all the post! The snakes were very happy when I put worms in the tank! I hope that I can help yall in return someday.

Thanks again,
Dustin

I'm glad I could help you out. Keep us posted on how they do. They are one of the species I'd like to keep someday
-Alice

I live just south of Dallas and I have caught many of those. I think they are garters. If you go to Petsmart in Dallas and look at there garter snakes, they look just like those.

Garters have unmarked bellies. The paired balck half moons on the ventral scales, indicate that they are lined snakes not garters. The two genera are, however, closely related and similar in appearance.

-Alice