Bogert's garter snake (Thamnophis bogerti)

Short answers

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

From 75×45×30 cm (minimum size per the 1997 expert report, garter snakes) (about one fifth more floor space for each additional animal).

Bogert's garter snake: What temperature does it need?

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

Bogert's garter snake: Does it need UVB lighting?

UVB: Recommended.

Bogert's garter snake: How long do they live?

Life expectancy: 8–10 years.

Bogert's 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

50–70 % (montane forest, provide dry resting spots)

UVB

Recommended

Enclosure

Minimum size

from 75×45×30 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 oak leaf litter, stones and bark as hides, a medium-sized water basin, one dry side

Feeding

Food

Low-thiaminase fish and earthworms, plus mouse fillet or small frozen mice if accepted. Frogs and lizards have been recorded as prey in the wild; do not feed wild-caught frogs.

Feeding interval

adults 2×/week, juveniles more often

Key facts

Adult size

40–60 cm (snout-vent length up to about 45 cm)

Life expectancy

8–10 years

Origin

Southern Mexico: highlands of Oaxaca, south-eastern Puebla and adjacent Veracruz (Mixteca, Sierra de Juárez, Sierra Miahuatlán, Tehuacán-Cuicatlán), oak and pine-oak forests at about 1,900–2,900 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, and only house animals of roughly the same size together.

Notes

Hardly any keeping experience; values are derived from the habitat (montane forests at about 2,000–2,900 m) and from close relatives. Since 2024 the former species T. conanti and T. lineri have been included in T. bogerti. Probably does not tolerate summer heat above 28 °C.

Do you keep this species?

Add your animal to Reptoria – Reptoria reminds you about feeding and shedding. Add your animal for free →

Look for Bogert's garter snake (Thamnophis bogerti) in the marketplace →

Related species

• Ahumada's alpine garter snake (Thamnophis ahumadai) – 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 Bogert's garter snake (Thamnophis bogerti) you typically need: a suitable enclosure (from 75×45×30 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 oak leaf litter, stones and bark as hides, a medium-sized 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.