Checkered Garter Snake
Thamnophis marcianus marcianus
Checkered Garter Snake
Thamnophis marcianus marcianus
Colubridae
Texas, New Mexico, some of California, Arizona.
Upto 4ft, 2-3ft is more common though and males are generally smaller than females.
Upto 15years.
A 30x12x12in vivarium will be sufficient for a single mature adult.
Woodland with a large waterbowl for soaking and drinking, this snake will spend more time in its bowl than most other snakes.
In the wild the Eastern Garter Snake will eat insects (earthworms primarily), frogs, fish, toads, etc. There is no reason a captive diet cannot be made up of insects and fish (and the odd amphibian if the opportunity arrises) if it is suplimented correctly (generally with calcium and vitamin D3 multivitamin powders usually associated with lizards). Alot of people do however prefer to wean these onto rodents by scenting the prey heavily with fish. It would be worth noting that garter snakes generally eat more often than most other snakes, they should be fed 2-3times weekly.
