Reptile & Amphibian Forums

I am not much of a message board user, but I know that this one gets the most traffic and I wanted to let all the garter snake enthusiast who would enjoy this to know about this snake. Was collected near me by an 11 year old young man who is a friend of the family. It is an adult female, looks a little over 24 inches, missing just the very tip of the tail. One of the most unusual garter snakes I have ever seen. I do not want this picture shopped all over the boards and people’s email. I have uploaded 14 pictures with much greater detail to my facebook and anyone who is so inclined can link to my FB page from my website below view them. Hope everyone enjoys. Thank you.

Chuck Hurd Serpentology

Is it in your posession or the 11 year olds?It is looking thin.There is another not as much white though.

Its at the family’s house, I am in GA where its illegal to keep native colubs….but I took over one of my boxes and set her up on news paper and with a water bowl. They are not green, his dad has had snakes for 40 years and he has for about all of his life. It has taken some minnows already and I am going to give it a f/t frog in the next day or two….its in good hands while its future is decided.
Chuck Hurd Serpentology

May be a good idea to take it to a good vet and get it checked for parasites.Some wildcaught garters tend to stress a lot and the parasites wind up killing them.Too rare of a garter to chance it.You would think it would be gravid this time of year.

You are correct my friend, but taking a snake to a vet, in most cases is an exercise in futility. My wife works for a vet and they call me to ask directions when someone brings in a snake. =) I am very skilled at parasiting a snake, but as you mentioned, chances are she is already gravid. If she stays with us, I will de-worm her in the fall. I have read panacur can cause ill affects on gravid females. For the mean time, going to move her to f/t frogs to start, should be on scented mice shortly.
Chuck Hurd Serpentology

You should also tell the kid to sell it as quick as possible.There is'nt much money in garters.Very very few people willing to put out more than $500 for a garter.

I can’t mention much about selling it on here, least KS will yank the post---but trust me, plenty of people are offering way more then $500 on this one. Haha.
Chuck Hurd Serpentology

I was talking more about the babies from it.I know the adult is worth more.I would love to see that snake bred to a melanistic.If by chance one gene did not mask the other you might get a black and white snake.That would be awesome!

I am certain you will see that, sooner or later. If it does not stay with me, sooner. I know whoever gets it will put it right into the biggest money maker, and I don’t blame them. but if she stays here, under my thumb, the first generation sold will be locality specific from her and local males. If I get to do it that way, I hope that a pure pied line from her will stay intact down the line, but that really depends on her future. =)

very cool!!keep it pure!!at first anyway. i would do the fish and or wal-mart night crawlers over f/t frogs(they move an all wc's go for them)...best of luck!!!!!!!!
-----
few boa morphs hypo,jungle,anery,het snows,an some high reds
few pet ball pythons
garter morphs easterns,erys,flames,few het bluegrass an het schuett albino /albino,het checkereds/redsides
western hognose morphs
1.1 super kids Memfis Lance and Linda May(co-dom)

Sweet! quite the nice find!!! I would love to get a few babies from her!! Wouldn't mind her either! =)

Wow amazing . I have lots garters around here (Florida) and for most part all look same.

What an amazing find and she could produce lots of unusual babies.

I don't subscribe to taking anything from the wild but in this case your doing the hobby a favor and in truth surprised she made it.

I would keep her in a minute if found her and IMO $500 for her considering the potential $ from future offsprings is nothing .Don't get fooled.

I sure hope that snake is getting the best of care. Looks like it needs some TLC from an experienced keeper. It's not in the greatest shape.