Sierra garter snake (Thamnophis couchii)

Short answers

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

From 100×60×40 cm (minimum size per the 1997 expert report, garter snakes; considerably more floor space for each additional animal).

Sierra garter snake: What temperature does it need?

Daytime 21–26 °C, basking spot Basking spot 30–32 °C, at night 13–17 °C.

Sierra garter snake: Does it need UVB lighting?

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

Sierra garter snake: How long do they live?

Life expectancy: 8–10 years.

Sierra garter snake: Is it suitable for beginners?

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

Climate

Daytime temperature

21–26 °C

Night temperature

13–17 °C

Basking spot

Basking spot 30–32 °C

Humidity

45–60 % (land area dry, humidity from the water basin)

UVB

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

Enclosure

Minimum size

from 100×60×40 cm (minimum size per the 1997 expert report, garter snakes; considerably more floor space for each additional animal)

Substrate

Sand-soil mix with gravel and large flat stones, a large water basin with stones at the edge for dragging prey out, basking spot right next to the water, hides

Feeding

Food

A fish and amphibian eater: in the wild fish, frogs, tadpoles and salamander larvae. In captivity mainly fish (low in thiaminase; avoid e.g. smelt and goldfish), plus mouse fillet scented with fish or frozen-thawed mice; not all animals accept earthworms. Do not feed amphibians.

Feeding interval

adults 2×/week, juveniles more often

Key facts

Adult size

45–80 cm (rarely up to 96 cm)

Life expectancy

8–10 years

Origin

California: Sierra Nevada from the Pit and Sacramento rivers to the Tehachapi Mountains, small populations in western Nevada; about 90–2,440 m elevation

Protection status

Not listed under CITES

Brumation

A winter rest of 10–14 weeks at 5–8 °C (mountain species; animals from low elevations somewhat shorter)

Cohabitation

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

Notes

Little captive experience; the care values are derived from its habitat (mountain rivers up to over 2,000 m, so rather cool) and from close relatives (T. atratus, T. hammondii). A pronounced fish eater – feed purely on fish only with low-thiaminase varieties.

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 Sierra garter snake (Thamnophis couchii) you typically need: a suitable enclosure (from 100×60×40 cm (minimum size per the 1997 expert report, garter snakes; considerably more floor space for each additional animal)), substrate (Sand-soil mix with gravel and large flat stones, a large water basin with stones at the edge for dragging prey out, basking spot right next to the water, 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.