Ahumada's alpine garter snake (Thamnophis ahumadai)

Short answers

Ahumada's alpine garter snake: How big does the enclosure need to be?

From 90×55×35 cm (minimum size per the 1997 expert report, garter snakes) (about one fifth more floor space for each additional animal).

Ahumada's alpine garter snake: What temperature does it need?

Daytime 18–25 °C, basking spot Basking spot 28–30 °C.

Ahumada's alpine garter snake: Does it need UVB lighting?

UVB: Recommended.

Ahumada's alpine garter snake: How long do they live?

Life expectancy: 8–10 years (estimate).

Ahumada's alpine garter snake: Is it suitable for beginners?

No – better suited to experienced keepers (difficulty: Expert).

Climate

Daytime temperature

18–25 °C

Night temperature

10–14 °C

Basking spot

Basking spot 28–30 °C

Humidity

60–75 % (moist mountain meadow, provide dry resting spots)

UVB

Recommended

Enclosure

Minimum size

from 90×55×35 cm (minimum size per the 1997 expert report, garter snakes) (about one fifth more floor space for each additional animal)

Substrate

Humus-sand mix with grass tufts, moss and leaf litter, logs and flat stones as hides, a medium-sized shallow water basin, one dry side

Feeding

Food

Earthworms as the staple (from untreated ground), plus low-thiaminase fish and mouse fillet if accepted

Feeding interval

adults 2×/week, juveniles more often

Key facts

Adult size

35–55 cm, individual females up to just over 70 cm

Life expectancy

8–10 years (estimate)

Origin

Western Mexico: highlands of Jalisco (Sierra Cacoma near Cumbre de Guadalupe, Sierra de Tapalpa near Atemajac de Brizuela and Juanacatlán), grassland and meadows in pine and pine-oak forest at about 2,140–2,450 m

Protection status

Not listed under CITES

Brumation

Winter rest of 8–10 weeks at 5–10 °C

Cohabitation

Group keeping is possible (a small group of similarly sized animals, several hides). The feeding accident remains the risk: always feed singly, ideally in separate boxes, because two snakes can grab the same worm; do not keep the large females with much smaller animals.

Notes

Only described in 2024, no keeping experience; values are derived from the habitat (highland meadows at about 2,100–2,450 m) and from close relatives such as T. scalaris. Probably does not tolerate summer heat above 28 °C.

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Related species

• Bogert's garter snake (Thamnophis bogerti) – Expert
• Butler's garter snake (Thamnophis butleri) – Intermediate
• Cope's mountain meadow snake (Thamnophis copei) – Expert
• Fox's mountain meadow snake (Thamnophis foxi) – Expert
• Yellow-throated garter snake (Thamnophis pulchrilatus) – Expert
• Common garter snake (Thamnophis sirtalis) – Beginner
• Godman's garter snake (Thamnophis godmani) – Expert
• Goldenhead garter snake (Thamnophis chrysocephalus) – Expert

All species in the care wiki →

What you need to start

To keep Ahumada's alpine garter snake (Thamnophis ahumadai) you typically need: a suitable enclosure (from 90×55×35 cm (minimum size per the 1997 expert report, garter snakes) (about one fifth more floor space for each additional animal)), substrate (Humus-sand mix with grass tufts, moss and leaf litter, logs and flat stones as hides, a medium-sized shallow water basin, one dry side), a heat source with a thermostat, UVB lighting, thermometer and hygrometer, a water dish and hides. You will find equipment in the Reptoria marketplace.