Reptile & Amphibian Forums

So, I purchased a 12" male black-neck garter today. I am not recieving the snake for a week or two. I am going to keep him in my snake rack on newspaper as a substrate. I will have a hide box and water bowl in his tub. Can anyone give me any advice with this species? I have a huge collection of herps; so, the basics I understand. Presently, the male eats minnows and prawn. I will try and switch him to mice/rats in the future. Does this species need hibernation? What is their exact native local(s)? I'm looking for any tips on their specific care as a species??? I appreciate any help and info. If you have any questions too, I will try and answer them too. Thanks and have a good day!

- Justin

I am going to keep him in my snake rack on newspaper as a substrate.

If I were you, I'd go buy a bag of CareFresh bedding (pulped, recycled newspaper). It's a lot more absorbent than using sheets of newspaper, and you'll need it when you see how messy the poop gets with a fish-eating snake!
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Chris McMartin
www.mcmartinville.com
I'm Not a Herpetologist, but I Play One on the Internet

already got that for my hedgehog! Will keep that in mind. Anything else!

- Justin

Presently, the male eats minnows and prawn. I will try and switch him to mice/rats in the future.

You can try nightcrawlers too.

Does this species need hibernation?

NEED it? No. It doesn't hurt, though.

What is their exact native local(s)?

They're fairly widespread across the southwest US. Did you buy from a breeder who has locale information? If it is an eastern blackneck garter (T.cyrtopsis ocellatus), it's native only to the Edwards Plateau region of central TX. They're generally the more desireable subspecies and command the highest prices due to their coloration.

I'm looking for any tips on their specific care as a species???

I don't think there are any specialized care info for these garters that doesn't apply to garters in general.
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Chris McMartin
www.mcmartinville.com
I'm Not a Herpetologist, but I Play One on the Internet

Thank you! I greatly appreciate your help! I bought the lone snake from Ben Siegel.

Yours is no doubt an Eastern Black-Neck. They are much more colorful than the Western Black-Necked. The Eastern is found in a relatively small area of Texas and are being bred by different people. Easterns are not too uncommon to find for sale but it may take a bit of patience. Texas has pretty liberal laws for Reptiles. The Western Black-Neck is found in Arizona, New Mexico, western Texas, a few spots in Utah and a few localities in Southern Colorado. All these states but Texas have prohibitions against the commercialization of native species. That and the fact that the Western Black-Neck is relatively plain looking compared to the Eastern may be why it is seldom offered by anyone. I have suspicions that it will soon be protected in AZ like the Mexican Garter and the Narrow-Headed Garter. There is also a third subspecies in Mexico (the Western BN also extends into Mexico).

I have two Eastern Black-Necks. Husbandry is typical for Garter Snakes. I keep mine on aspen shavings and they both switched to f/t mice very easily and quickly. They have graduated through several rodent sizes for me. They do like a hide in their cages and they occasionally burrow in the shavings. It is generally recommended that if fed worms a calcium supplement should be used.

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Randy Hallman

I've bred and raised eastern blacknecks (actually have some babies at present that I am offering). They can be switched to small pinkie mice (or pinkie parts) with some scenting. Babies I've produced have been a little variable as to their willingness to take fish. About the only study of wild T.cyrtopsis showed that their natural diet is almost exclusively small frogs and salamanders. Earthworms were not found in their stomachs, and I've never had one take an earthworm. Once switched to rodents, there are no more worries about them being amphibian eaters, and my adults have done fine on a purely rodent diet.

Michael Smith
Cricket Frog Press