Tepalcatepec Valley garter snake (Thamnophis postremus)

Short answers

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

From 90×55×35 cm (minimum size per the 1997 expert report, garter snakes) (about one fifth more floor space for each additional animal).

Tepalcatepec Valley garter snake: What temperature does it need?

Daytime 26–32 °C, basking spot Basking spot 32–34 °C, at night 20–24 °C.

Tepalcatepec Valley garter snake: Does it need UVB lighting?

UVB: Recommended.

Tepalcatepec Valley garter snake: How long do they live?

Life expectancy: 8–12 years.

Tepalcatepec Valley garter snake: Is it suitable for beginners?

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

Climate

Daytime temperature

26–32 °C

Night temperature

20–24 °C

Basking spot

Basking spot 32–34 °C

Humidity

50–70 % (more humid near the water, otherwise rather dry)

UVB

Recommended

Enclosure

Minimum size

from 90×55×35 cm (minimum size per the 1997 expert report, garter snakes) (about one fifth more floor space for each additional animal)

Substrate

Coco humus or a soil-sand mix, a large water basin, roots, stones and cork tubes as hides, one dry side

Feeding

Food

Fish (low in thiaminase!), earthworms, frozen mice or mouse fillet

Feeding interval

adults 2×/week, juveniles more often

Key facts

Adult size

about 45–70 cm (estimated from close relatives; no published measurement was found)

Life expectancy

8–12 years

Origin

Mexico: Michoacán, mainly the hot lowlands of the Tepalcatepec basin (Apatzingán, Nueva Italia area) at about 350–600 m; type series also from the Uruapan area

Protection status

Not listed under CITES

Brumation

No real winter rest needed (lowland form); a cooler rest period of 4–6 weeks at 18–22 °C is possible

Cohabitation

Group keeping is possible (similarly sized animals, enough feeding spots). Here too the feeding accident remains the risk: always feed singly, ideally in separate boxes, and only house animals of roughly the same size together.

Notes

Hardly any keeping experience; values are derived from the habitat (hot lowlands of Michoacán) and from close relatives in captivity such as the Mexican garter snake (T. eques), of which it was originally described as a subspecies. When feeding fish, use low-thiaminase varieties, or vitamin B1 deficiency threatens.

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Related species

• Ahumada's alpine garter snake (Thamnophis ahumadai) – Expert
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• 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 Tepalcatepec Valley garter snake (Thamnophis postremus) you typically need: a suitable enclosure (from 90×55×35 cm (minimum size per the 1997 expert report, garter snakes) (about one fifth more floor space for each additional animal)), substrate (Coco humus or a soil-sand mix, a large water basin, roots, stones and cork tubes as hides, 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.