Northwestern garter snake (Thamnophis ordinoides)

Short answers

Northwestern garter snake: How big does the enclosure need to be?

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

Northwestern garter snake: What temperature does it need?

Daytime 20–25 °C, basking spot Basking spot 28–30 °C, at night 14–18 °C.

Northwestern garter snake: Does it need UVB lighting?

UVB: Recommended (basking spot with UVB, plenty of cover next to it).

Northwestern garter snake: How long do they live?

Life expectancy: 8–12 years (in captivity up to almost 16).

Northwestern garter snake: Is it suitable for beginners?

Rather not – it is considered an intermediate species (difficulty: Intermediate).

Climate

Daytime temperature

20–25 °C

Night temperature

14–18 °C

Basking spot

Basking spot 28–30 °C

Humidity

60–75 % (damp corner and humid hide, but well ventilated)

UVB

Recommended (basking spot with UVB, plenty of cover next to it)

Enclosure

Minimum size

from 75×45×30 cm (minimum size per the 1997 expert report, garter snakes; considerably more floor space for each additional animal)

Substrate

Moisture-holding soil with moss and leaf litter, dense planting, bark and small boards as hides, a shallow water dish (no large basin needed)

Feeding

Food

A specialist for slugs and earthworms. In captivity mainly earthworms (no red wigglers), plus slugs from a source known to be free of poison or from your own culture; some animals get used to pieces of fish or mouse fillet scented with worm. Dust occasionally with calcium/vitamins.

Feeding interval

adults 2×/week, juveniles more often

Key facts

Adult size

30–60 cm (rarely up to 95 cm)

Life expectancy

8–12 years (in captivity up to almost 16)

Origin

Pacific Northwest of North America: south-western British Columbia including Vancouver Island, western Washington, western Oregon, the far north-west of California

Protection status

Not listed under CITES

Brumation

A winter rest of 8–12 weeks at 5–10 °C

Cohabitation

Can be kept in pairs or as a small group of similarly sized animals, although in the wild the species lives solitarily without social behaviour. If you want to avoid stress completely, keep them singly. Always feed them separately – two animals on the same slug or worm is the typical feeding accident.

Notes

Little captive experience; the care values are derived from the cool, damp coastal climate (fog belt) and from close relatives. Very variable in colour – striped, spotted or plain, sometimes with a red or blue dorsal stripe. Slugs from gardens may carry parasites or slug pellets.

Do you keep this 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 Northwestern garter snake (Thamnophis ordinoides) you typically need: a suitable enclosure (from 75×45×30 cm (minimum size per the 1997 expert report, garter snakes; considerably more floor space for each additional animal)), substrate (Moisture-holding soil with moss and leaf litter, dense planting, bark and small boards as hides, a shallow water dish (no large basin needed)), a heat source with a thermostat, UVB lighting, thermometer and hygrometer, a water dish and hides. You will find equipment in the Reptoria marketplace.