Pacific coast aquatic garter snake (Thamnophis atratus)

Short answers

Pacific coast aquatic garter snake: How big does the enclosure need to be?

From 95×55×40 cm (minimum size per the 1997 expert report, garter snakes; considerably more floor space for each additional animal).

Pacific coast aquatic garter snake: What temperature does it need?

Daytime 22–27 °C, basking spot Basking spot 30–32 °C, at night 15–19 °C.

Pacific coast aquatic garter snake: Does it need UVB lighting?

UVB: Recommended (UV index around 2–3 at the basking spot).

Pacific coast aquatic garter snake: How long do they live?

Life expectancy: 8–12 years.

Pacific coast aquatic garter snake: Is it suitable for beginners?

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

Climate

Daytime temperature

22–27 °C

Night temperature

15–19 °C

Basking spot

Basking spot 30–32 °C

Humidity

50–65 % (land area dry, humidity from the water basin)

UVB

Recommended (UV index around 2–3 at the basking spot)

Enclosure

Minimum size

from 95×55×40 cm (minimum size per the 1997 expert report, garter snakes; considerably more floor space for each additional animal)

Substrate

Soil-sand mix with a pebble and stone area, a large shallow water basin with stones (creek-bank style), basking spot on a flat stone, several hides

Feeding

Food

In the wild mainly amphibians and their larvae (treefrogs, toads, newts), plus small fish, leeches, slugs and occasionally rodents. In captivity fish (low in thiaminase; avoid e.g. smelt and goldfish), earthworms and frozen-thawed mice or mouse fillet, scented with fish if needed. Do not feed amphibians.

Feeding interval

adults 2×/week, juveniles more often

Key facts

Adult size

45–75 cm (rarely up to 102 cm)

Life expectancy

8–12 years

Origin

Pacific coast of the USA: coastal California from Santa Barbara to northern California and south-western Oregon

Protection status

Not listed under CITES

Brumation

A winter rest of 6–10 weeks at 8–12 °C

Cohabitation

Can be kept in pairs or as a small group of similarly sized animals, with considerably more space and several basking spots. If you want to avoid stress completely, keep them singly. Always feed them separately – fish in a shared basin quickly leads to a feeding accident in which one snake grabs the other.

Notes

Little captive experience in Europe; the care values are derived from the mild, cool coastal climate of California and from close relatives (T. couchii, T. elegans). Very variable in colour, from grey with blotches to almost black with a yellow dorsal stripe. Three subspecies: atratus, hydrophilus, zaxanthus.

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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 Pacific coast aquatic garter snake (Thamnophis atratus) you typically need: a suitable enclosure (from 95×55×40 cm (minimum size per the 1997 expert report, garter snakes; considerably more floor space for each additional animal)), substrate (Soil-sand mix with a pebble and stone area, a large shallow water basin with stones (creek-bank style), basking spot on a flat stone, several hides), a heat source with a thermostat, UVB lighting, thermometer and hygrometer, a water dish and hides. You will find equipment in the Reptoria marketplace.