Tamaulipan montane garter snake (Thamnophis mendax)

Short answers

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

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

Tamaulipan montane garter snake: What temperature does it need?

Daytime 20–26 °C, basking spot Basking spot 28–30 °C, at night 14–18 °C.

Tamaulipan montane garter snake: Does it need UVB lighting?

UVB: Recommended.

Tamaulipan montane garter snake: How long do they live?

Life expectancy: 8–10 years.

Tamaulipan montane garter snake: Is it suitable for beginners?

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

Climate

Daytime temperature

20–26 °C

Night temperature

14–18 °C

Basking spot

Basking spot 28–30 °C

Humidity

60–80 % (humid montane forest, provide dry resting spots)

UVB

Recommended

Enclosure

Minimum size

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

Substrate

Humus-sand mix with leaf litter and moss patches, bark pieces and flat stones as hides, a shallow water dish, one slightly moist and one dry side

Feeding

Food

Earthworms as the staple (from untreated ground, no compost worms), plus low-thiaminase fish and mouse fillet if accepted

Feeding interval

adults 2×/week, juveniles more often

Key facts

Adult size

about 40–60 cm (estimate; no reliable maximum length for the species was found)

Life expectancy

8–10 years

Origin

Mexico: Sierra Madre Oriental in south-western Tamaulipas (Gómez Farías – La Joya de Salas area, El Cielo), about 1,100–2,100 m

Protection status

Not listed under CITES

Brumation

Winter rest of 8–10 weeks at 8–12 °C

Cohabitation

Group keeping is possible (a small group of similarly sized animals, several hides). The feeding accident remains the risk: always feed singly, ideally in separate boxes, especially with earthworms, which two snakes can grab at the same time.

Notes

Hardly any keeping experience; values are derived from the habitat (montane forest at about 1,100–2,100 m) and from close relatives such as T. scalaris. Probably does not tolerate summer heat: a room that gets warmer than 28 °C in summer is unsuitable.

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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 Tamaulipan montane garter snake (Thamnophis mendax) you typically need: a suitable enclosure (from 75×45×30 cm (minimum size per the 1997 expert report, garter snakes) (about one fifth more floor space for each additional animal)), substrate (Humus-sand mix with leaf litter and moss patches, bark pieces and flat stones as hides, a shallow water dish, one slightly moist and one dry side), a heat source with a thermostat, UVB lighting, thermometer and hygrometer, a water dish and hides. You will find equipment in the Reptoria marketplace.