Best Snake Books

[Thamnophis]

I will first shop around in Holland, Spiderqwan.
If this does not work, I maybe ask you.
Thanks anyway.

[Cazador]

Is the Coote book well written and informative?

[Spiderqwan]

Thats a difficult question to answear as i'm a complete novice. However i did feel confidant after reading the book to be able to set up and look after a garter snake. Having read the book, information in the book, has been reinforced by you guys. so yes i would say that it is well written and informative. I need to read some other books to get a more definitive opinion.

[sschind]

Just ordered my copy of The Garter Snakes Evolution and Ecology. Found it on amazon.com and with $30.00 savings for applying for a cc I got it for around $20.00. I can't wait to get it. I'd also get the Strumpfbandnattern if it were translated to English.

[Spiderqwan]

Do any of the books available list clearly and with pictures all of the genus sub species and morphs and can you tell me the name of the book please I would love to know for example the difference between T. Marcianus and T. m. Marcianus and for that matter all other differences for all the varients of garter snakes.

[Thamnophis]

These two books come close to what you ask.

Best all-around garter snake book:
Rossman DA., Ford NB., & Seigel RA. 1991. The Garter Snakes Evolution and Ecology. University of Oklahoma Press. Norman, OK.

Hallman M & Chlebowy J. Strumpfbandnattern

[Cazador]

We haven't mentioned What's Wrong With My Snake by John Rossi D.V.M., M.A & Roxanne Rossi, yet. With certain reservations, I have to say that I think it's one of the best veterinary books out there for snakes hobbiests. My reluctance to give it a full recommendation is because even though it is very comprehensive, it is biased toward the treatment of larger snakes (boas, pythons, etc.). Yet many principles apply to large and small species, alike.

For example, they recommend treating snake mites with "Seven Dust," which works terrific, but they recommend leaving the snake in the powder for 24 hours. This is probably fine for larger snakes, but it is way too long for garters. After treating a newly acquired garter (a few years ago) with seven dust the snake started showing neurological disorders after just over an hour. The active ingredient in Seven Dust kills pests by overstimulating nerves. (It's an acetytlcholinesterase inhibitor). Luckily, I was paying attention, removed and rinsed the snake, and the symptoms disappeared.

With that caveat (and with the knowledge that all of its doseage recommendations may be biased toward larger snakes), I feel that the other 38 topics ranging from pediatrics to geriatrics make this book well worth the money. Does anyone else recommend or have reservations about this book?
Rick

[GarterGuy]

Originally Posted by Spiderqwan

Do any of the books available list clearly and with pictures all of the genus sub species and morphs and can you tell me the name of the book please I would love to know for example the difference between T. Marcianus and T. m. Marcianus and for that matter all other differences for all the varients of garter snakes.

Some books that I've found that tend to get over looked on this subject are the many field guides for snakes. I often end up relying on them to help me with id. of the various species and subspecies. It'd be really nice to see a book out there that would be like a serious guide to garters, having not only care info. and the usual descriptions, but some good hard scientific data on scale counts, and other such identifiers. Hmmmmm....maybe I'll have to talk to my publisher friend???

[sschind]

Originally Posted by GarterGuy

Hmmmmm....maybe I'll have to talk to my publisher friend???

and start writing

[sschind]

Some books try to be all and they end up suffering for it. I wouldn't mind if a book were lacking in husbandry details if the identification was top notch, and vice versa. Within the tarantula hobby, the book that is considered the best in the English language, has very little information on individual species. Still, it is a must have. Now if you want to know how to keep or identify individual species you will have to get another book. Sadly, I haven't found an ID/husbandry book that comes even close to this one.

I am really looking forward to my Garter book. I'll have to tell my mom I want it for Christmas and she can move some of my Christmas presents to my birthday in February. I picked out pretty much everything anyway so I know what I can wait to get.