Author: Martin Hallmen 1997

In 1997 I bought 2,2 melanistic Common Garter Snakes of the species Thamnophis sirtalis sirtalis at the reptile fair in Hamm (Germany). They came from Jan VAN HET MEER (Netherlands), a well known breeder of the genus Thamnophis for a long time. He told me that the snakes were born in July 1997 and that they were all offspring of the first melanistic Common Garters which were introduced in Europe in 1988 (BOL, 1996). All animals were in best conditions.

Keeping conditions

The juvenile snakes were kept in 2 small glas tanks, 1,1 in each. The setting inside the tanks was sterile. The terrariums only contained paper on the floor, a water bowl and a piece of oak bark for shelter. Above the terrarium there was a heating lamp (40 W) and under it a heating mat (15 W) was placed.

The snakes were hibernated warmly. During the summer the temperatures inside the tanks range from 22,3 to 35,7 ^oC (day) and 18,0 to 27,1 ^oC (night). During winter time the temperatures were 19,1 to 28,3 ^oC (day) and 15,8 to 24,7 ^oC (night).

All snakes were fed with a diet of fish containing 3 different fish species. They all grow up properly.

Shedding behavior

Visible dark blue lateral stripes and the observations of SCHMIDT (1997) and CHLEBOWY (1997) were the first facts that directed my attention to the shedding behavior of my juvenile melanistic Common Garters. After this I made detailed observations of 17 sheddings of my 4 young snakes. More and more I could see the regularities shown in figure 1.

The first visible sign of an approaching slough is the change of color at the ventralia and the first 2 lateral scale rows. They turn from black to a dark milky-blue color. This phase of dark blue ventralia lasts 4 to 5 days. Then the dark blue lateral stripes and the ventralia turn its color back into the original black. At the end of this lateral blue-phase the eyes become milky-blue. This second part of the "blue-stage" lasts from the 3^rd to the 5^th day after the beginning of visible signs of the approaching shedding.

The "blue-stage" is then followed by a 1 to 2 day lasting stage with a very dull black color. Dulling of color patterns shown before the first signs of the "blue-stage" now reaches its climax. Sometimes the scales of the snake's body seem to have a white border why I would like to call this phase the "white-stage. After this sloughing follows and the animals occur in a shiny and brilliant black color (= "black-stage").

Compared to the shedding stages of more colorful Thamnophis species and subspecies the observed juvenile melanistic Common Garter snakes show an additional phase in their "blue-stage". I never read about such dark milky-blue ventralia and 2 scale rows.

At the moment I don't have any experience in shedding stages in older specimens of melanistic Thamnophis sirtalis sirtalis. I would like to ask all keepers and breeders of these snakes for detailed observations on the different shedding stages in semiadult or adult animals. I would be grateful for receiving any information about this.

Acknowledgements

I thank my colleague Rudi MARK for his help with the computer graphic. Karin BERGMANN corrected my English worthy of thanks.

Literature

BOL, S. (1996): Melanistische Kousebandslangen; Inteelt, uitval en vererving van het melanisme. - The Garter Snake, Kaiserslautern, 3/96: 18-25.

CHLEBOWY, J. (1997): Stellungnahme zum Bericht "Haltungsprobleme melanistischer Strumpfbandnattern" von Thorsten Schmidt in der "elaphe" 3/97. - Elaphe, 5(4): 50.

SCHMIDT, Th. (1997): Probleme bei der Haltung melanistischer Strumpfbandnattern (Thamnophis sirtalis sirtalis). - Elaphe (N.F.), Rheinbach, 5(2): 34.

Zusammenfassung

2,2 juvenile melanistische Tiere der Gewöhnlichen Strumpfbandnatter Thamnophis sirtalis sirtalis wurden auf ihre Häutungsstadien untersucht. Es konnten 3 unterschiedliche Häutungsstadien beobachtet werden: Während des ersten Stadiums (= "blaues Stadium") verfärben sich zuerst alle Ventralia sowie beidseitig die ersten 2 Schuppenreihen dunkelblau. Danach setzt die Trübung der Augen ein. Nach diesem ?-tägigen Stadium folgt das 1-2-tägige "weiße Stadium", in dem die Tiere ihre stumpfeste Schwarzfärbung aufweisen. Die Schuppen scheinen zuweilen fast weiß umrandet. Das dritte und letzte Stadium stellt das Abstreifen der alten Außenhaut dar. Die Blaufärbungen zu Beginn der Häutungsstadien scheint bislang noch nicht bekannt. Es ist derzeit auch noch unbekannt, wie es sich damit bei semiadulten oder adulten melanistischen Exemplaren der Gewöhnlichen Strumpfbandnatter verhält. Über Informationen hierzu wäre der Autor dankbar.

The Garter Snake, 4/97: 19-23.