Width

stjohnny · 06-13-2007, 02:22 PM

So, could anyone give a general range of thickness/width/diameter (at the thickest point) for garter snakes corresponding to their length? For example, what is a good range of thickness for garter snakes that are a foot long? What about two feet? Three feet? Also, how is this different between male and female?

Thanks so much

adamanteus · 06-13-2007, 02:29 PM

Hi Adam, and welcome to the forum. That's a hard question to answer....I guess the best way is to post a picture of your snake and get opinions from the members here. Generally speaking males are a little bit slimmer in build than females.
Guide to posting pictures.

garterchick · 06-13-2007, 03:48 PM

it also depends on breed of snake, some are naturally more heavy-bodied than others. welcome to the forum
tina

adamanteus · 06-13-2007, 03:51 PM

Excellent point, Tina. What species do you have, Adam?

stjohnny · 06-13-2007, 04:28 PM

My garter is pretty young. I caught him/her in my yard yesterday. It is about six inches long and thinner than a pencil. It is generally gray/brown with the classic three yellow stripes. It generally looks like a very small version of this:

http://www.fws.gov/sacramento/images...renner_FWS.JPG

ssssnakeluvr · 06-13-2007, 08:29 PM

the one in the pic looks like a northwestern garter...but, it would help to know where you found the snake..what state....

stjohnny · 06-14-2007, 01:01 AM

I'm around Portland, Oregon. The snake looks a lot like the one in the picture, only smaller.

ssssnakeluvr · 06-14-2007, 09:21 AM

then it's probably a northwestern garter...thamnophis ordinoides

adamanteus · 06-14-2007, 11:23 AM

I agree, probably T. ordinoides.

Sid · 06-14-2007, 04:41 PM

Girth of a Garter or other snake in general will vary greatly. The thing I look for is the apperance of the snake in coils, if the appearence is well rounded, its not under weight. If there are drastic folds in the skin, its more than likely under weight. If the scales seem somewhat seperated then it is possibly over weight. Just my own observations. Hope this helps.

Sid

06-13-2007, 02:22 PM	#1 (permalink)
stjohnny Hi, I'm New Here! Join Date: Jun 2007 Posts: 3 Country:	Width So, could anyone give a general range of thickness/width/diameter (at the thickest point) for garter snakes corresponding to their length? For example, what is a good range of thickness for garter snakes that are a foot long? What about two feet? Three feet? Also, how is this different between male and female? Thanks so much

06-13-2007, 02:29 PM	#2 (permalink)
adamanteus Moderator Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Cheshire. (Near Manchester). Posts: 7,983 Country:	Re: Width Hi Adam, and welcome to the forum. That's a hard question to answer....I guess the best way is to post a picture of your snake and get opinions from the members here. Generally speaking males are a little bit slimmer in build than females. Guide to posting pictures. __________________ James.

06-13-2007, 03:48 PM	#3 (permalink)
garterchick Juvenile snake Join Date: May 2007 Location: austin , texas Posts: 161 Country:	Re: Width it also depends on breed of snake, some are naturally more heavy-bodied than others. welcome to the forum tina

06-13-2007, 03:51 PM	#4 (permalink)
adamanteus Moderator Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Cheshire. (Near Manchester). Posts: 7,983 Country:	Re: Width Excellent point, Tina. What species do you have, Adam? __________________ James.

06-13-2007, 04:28 PM	#5 (permalink)
stjohnny Hi, I'm New Here! Join Date: Jun 2007 Posts: 3 Country:	Re: Width My garter is pretty young. I caught him/her in my yard yesterday. It is about six inches long and thinner than a pencil. It is generally gray/brown with the classic three yellow stripes. It generally looks like a very small version of this: http://www.fws.gov/sacramento/images...renner_FWS.JPG

06-13-2007, 08:29 PM	#6 (permalink)
ssssnakeluvr "PM Boots For Custom Title" Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Salt Lake City, Utah Posts: 1,886 Country:	Re: Width the one in the pic looks like a northwestern garter...but, it would help to know where you found the snake..what state....

06-14-2007, 01:01 AM	#7 (permalink)
stjohnny Hi, I'm New Here! Join Date: Jun 2007 Posts: 3 Country:	Re: Width I'm around Portland, Oregon. The snake looks a lot like the one in the picture, only smaller.

06-14-2007, 09:21 AM	#8 (permalink)
ssssnakeluvr "PM Boots For Custom Title" Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Salt Lake City, Utah Posts: 1,886 Country:	Re: Width then it's probably a northwestern garter...thamnophis ordinoides

06-14-2007, 11:23 AM	#9 (permalink)
adamanteus Moderator Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Cheshire. (Near Manchester). Posts: 7,983 Country:	Re: Width I agree, probably T. ordinoides. __________________ James.

06-14-2007, 04:41 PM	#10 (permalink)
Sid Thamnophis Addict Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: South Carolina Posts: 1,637 Country:	Re: Width Girth of a Garter or other snake in general will vary greatly. The thing I look for is the apperance of the snake in coils, if the appearence is well rounded, its not under weight. If there are drastic folds in the skin, its more than likely under weight. If the scales seem somewhat seperated then it is possibly over weight. Just my own observations. Hope this helps. Sid

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