Longtail alpine garter snake (Thamnophis scalaris)

Short answers

Longtail 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; large females are better kept singly).

Longtail alpine garter snake: What temperature does it need?

Daytime 20–28 °C, basking spot Basking spot 30–32 °C, at night 14–20 °C.

Longtail alpine garter snake: Does it need UVB lighting?

UVB: Recommended (UVB tube above the basking spot, the species basks a lot).

Longtail alpine garter snake: How long do they live?

Life expectancy: 8–10 years (estimate, species-specific data are lacking).

Longtail alpine garter snake: Is it suitable for beginners?

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

Climate

Daytime temperature

20–28 °C

Night temperature

14–20 °C

Basking spot

Basking spot 30–32 °C

Humidity

50–70 % (one slightly moist corner for burrowing)

UVB

Recommended (UVB tube above the basking spot, the species basks a lot)

Enclosure

Minimum size

from 90×55×35 cm (minimum size per the 1997 expert report, garter snakes; large females are better kept singly)

Substrate

Warm side dry with coarse wood chips, cool side slightly moist coco humus or unfertilised soil for burrowing; rocks, bark and leaf litter as hides, a shallow water bowl

Feeding

Food

Earthworms (Lumbricus), thawed pinkie mice, occasionally low-thiaminase fish (often refused); in the wild mainly earthworms, large animals also lizards and small snakes

Feeding interval

adults 1×/week, juveniles more often

Key facts

Adult size

45–70 cm (females clearly larger, rarely up to about 75 cm)

Life expectancy

8–10 years (estimate, species-specific data are lacking)

Origin

The highlands of central Mexico (from Jalisco to Veracruz), about 2100–4270 m

Protection status

Not listed under CITES

Brumation

Short rest period of 6–8 weeks at 15–18 °C (brief basking during the day; a cold winter rest at 5–10 °C has cost animals their lives in captivity)

Cohabitation

Keeping them singly is the safer choice, especially for large females: in captivity, females have eaten smaller cage mates, usually males. A small group of roughly equal-sized animals is possible but needs clearly more space than the minimum and constant observation. Always feed singly, ideally in separate boxes.

Notes

Very little captive experience; the values come mainly from the reports of a Dutch garter snake keeper and from the natural habitat. A highland species: copes poorly with heat, but does not need a cold winter rest either.

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Related species

• Ahumada's alpine garter snake (Thamnophis ahumadai) – Expert
• 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

All species in the care wiki →

What you need to start

To keep Longtail alpine garter snake (Thamnophis scalaris) you typically need: a suitable enclosure (from 90×55×35 cm (minimum size per the 1997 expert report, garter snakes; large females are better kept singly)), substrate (Warm side dry with coarse wood chips, cool side slightly moist coco humus or unfertilised soil for burrowing; rocks, bark and leaf litter as hides, a shallow water bowl), a heat source with a thermostat, UVB lighting, thermometer and hygrometer, a water dish and hides. You will find equipment in the Reptoria marketplace.