Narrow-headed garter snake (Thamnophis rufipunctatus)

Short answers

Narrow-headed garter snake: How big does the enclosure need to be?

From 125×75×50 cm (minimum size per the 1997 expert report, garter snakes; about a fifth more floor space for each additional animal).

Narrow-headed garter snake: What temperature does it need?

Daytime 22–27 °C, basking spot Basking spot 30–32 °C, at night 14–18 °C.

Narrow-headed garter snake: Does it need UVB lighting?

UVB: Recommended.

Narrow-headed garter snake: How long do they live?

Life expectancy: 8–12 years.

Narrow-headed garter snake: Is it suitable for beginners?

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

Climate

Daytime temperature

22–27 °C

Night temperature

14–18 °C

Basking spot

Basking spot 30–32 °C

Humidity

50–65 % (dry land area, clear and cool water)

UVB

Recommended

Enclosure

Minimum size

from 125×75×50 cm (minimum size per the 1997 expert report, garter snakes; about a fifth more floor space for each additional animal)

Substrate

Aqua-terrarium styled as a stream: a large water section with clear, filtered water and stones to hide under on the bottom, gravel and rock banks, a dry land area with flat stones and coco humus, branches above the water for basking

Feeding

Food

A pronounced fish eater (in the wild dace, chub, suckers and trout, rarely tadpoles, frogs and salamanders). In captivity low-thiaminase fish such as trout or smelt; earthworms and mice are usually not accepted

Feeding interval

adults 1–2×/week, juveniles more often

Key facts

Adult size

60–100 cm (females larger, up to 112 cm)

Life expectancy

8–12 years

Origin

USA: central Arizona and western New Mexico, mountain streams on and below the Mogollon Rim (Gila and San Francisco drainages) at about 700–2,400 m

Protection status

Not listed under CITES

Brumation

A winter rest of 10–14 weeks at 5–10 °C

Cohabitation

Pairs or a small group of similarly sized animals are possible if there are enough underwater and bank hides. Fish eaters strike hard at feeding time: always feed them singly, ideally in separate boxes.

Notes

Hardly any private keeping experience; the values are derived from the habitat and from close relatives. It is kept and bred mainly in American zoo conservation programmes. It needs clear, clean and rather cool water and eats practically only fish – choose low-thiaminase species.

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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 Narrow-headed garter snake (Thamnophis rufipunctatus) you typically need: a suitable enclosure (from 125×75×50 cm (minimum size per the 1997 expert report, garter snakes; about a fifth more floor space for each additional animal)), substrate (Aqua-terrarium styled as a stream: a large water section with clear, filtered water and stones to hide under on the bottom, gravel and rock banks, a dry land area with flat stones and coco humus, branches above the water for basking), a heat source with a thermostat, UVB lighting, thermometer and hygrometer, a water dish and hides. You will find equipment in the Reptoria marketplace.