my 10 year old garter passed on

[snakeman]

Probally just died of old age.They only live 10-15 years.

[guidofatherof5]

Probally just died of old age.They only live 10-15 years.

That seems like such a short time.
I heard a saying that seems to fits their lives,
"The candle that burns the brightest also burns the shortest"
I hope to get many of mine to that 15+ year mark. I've got a number of them here on the Ranch that are my good old friends. I've lost a few to old age but it was wild time not captive time.
That wild time is hard on them.

[aSnakeLovinBabe]

I am curious about how much is actually known about the lifespan of a very healthy garter... I have heard from multiple rather reliable people that they had, or currently have a garter live or living to almost 20 years. Many, many other snakes are able to live to at least 20 and closer to 30, I don't see why it would not be realistic for a very healthy, captive bred thamnophis fed a just-right, well balanced diet that does not contract some sort of illness or parasite!

Sorry to hear of your loss... I have 7 year old kingsnake who was my first pet snake and I love him to pieces, and even though he has MANY years left ahead, I don't like to think about how old he already is!

[Mommy2many]

I am so sorry to hear of your loss. Please share some stories & pictures. I have 2 W/C garters and have no idea of their age. I think all we can do is care for them the best we can and let nature and fate do the rest.

[Stefan-A]

I am curious about how much is actually known about the lifespan of a very healthy garter... I have heard from multiple rather reliable people that they had, or currently have a garter live or living to almost 20 years. Many, many other snakes are able to live to at least 20 and closer to 30, I don't see why it would not be realistic for a very healthy, captive bred thamnophis fed a just-right, well balanced diet that does not contract some sort of illness or parasite!

I'm willing to bet that a significant number of those 15+ garters are simply cases of owners-forgot-when-they-got-them.

[aSnakeLovinBabe]

Well, in 10-20 years we will most likely have better answers to this question... I don't think enough people have been keeping captive bred garters for long enough to get a good estimate!

[charles parenteau]

Sorry for your lost ! 10 years is very good!!!
This female eastern is around 10 years old and still alive in september 09.
She is from the first blais flame lineage .

[ConcinusMan]

Probally just died of old age.They only live 10-15 years.

The only garters I ever had from less than a year old to the end of their lives were sirtalis concinnus. Male died at 18 yrs, female died at 21. I really didn't expect them to live that long when I got them. I think if you keep them warm year round and push for fast growth, that could be a factor in shortening their lives. Think about it. That's about 7 years of rest over her lifetime! My pair always got some kind of cool inactive period every winter and they never ate rodents. I had a young (WC, age unknown) ordinoides that died after about 9 years in captivity. All three of these snakes were definitely showing the signs(poor feeding, reduced mobility) for about a year before they died, in addition to barely any growth, (and looking old like that flame eastern above) in the last 3 years or so. (they were already maxed out, size wise)

10 years, not bad. Pretty average, I think.

[charles parenteau]

Wow this very 0ld 18 and 21 years old!!!
I agree 100/100 with you about food and cooling period .
I beleive I will return to my old fashion .
just give to my animal their natural food and a hibernbation period at least 4 -5 months to all my eastern sirtalis sirtalis .
Im from Quebec usually garter here they are hibernating around 7 months but its rough for garter snake that why hibernate them just 4-5 months
I will tried to give theme their natural environnment this is the best
and for northern eastern uv light is really needed at least for female .many little thing that make the difference in the garter life ...

ITs very interresting to know that a garter can live over 15 years!!!!