Florida Blues

[Eight]

So hopefully I will be picking up a couple of these guys next week. This is only the second species of garter and I wondered if they differed much compared to T.marcianus in terms of temperament, preferences and habit?

Also what is their scientific name? Many sites I've seen label them as Thamnophis sirtalis sirtalis, but I thought that was the scientific name for easterns? or are Florida blues a locality of easterns?

[ProXimuS]

Thamnophis sirtalis sirtalis is an Eastern. The scientific name for the Florida Blue is Thamnophis sirtalis similis. They're sooo pretty, nice choice

[snakeman]

Thamnophis sirtalis sirtalis is an Eastern. The scientific name for the Florida Blue is Thamnophis sirtalis similis. They're sooo pretty, nice choice

Florida blues are sirtilis sirtilis.bluestripe garter is similis.

[ProXimuS]

Hmm I guess maybe I read wrong, I'll have to find where I saw it.

So a Florida Blue is the same as an Eastern?

[Steveo]

Hmm I guess maybe I read wrong, I'll have to find where I saw it.

So a Florida Blue is the same as an Eastern?

They are related subspecies, i think.

[ProXimuS]

Blue Garters from Florida - Caresheets

I found this article....Looks pretty old But anyways explains the difference. I guess I saw them being referrenced wrong, or perhaps read wrong.

[thamneil]

Florida blue is a hobbiest term for the Florida locality of sirtalis sirtalis. It IS an eastern garter. Florida blues are known for growing slightly larger and generally have an overall colour of blue or green.

On the other hand, the subspecies sirtalis similis exists within the same range. The snakes are quite similar in appearance although I have heard that similis does not get as big. Similis is referred to as the blue striped garter.

This is a great example of why I prefer scientific names over common or local names! Hope my explanation made a little sense.

[Eight]

I prefer scientific names too. I had suspected they were a locality of Eastern. The only issue with the scientific name here is that it just names the snake an Eastern and doesn't take locality into account.

[the_edsta]

I do have some experience with florida blues both in terms of captive bred and (quite a few) wild caught. I have generally found them to be heartier than most easterns, and a bit more aggressive eaters (especially with live minnows). Granted, some of this perception is skewed by interacting with them in the wild, but the captive bred I had was the most aggressive of the bunch. Beautiful snake. I actually think the comparison between the florida blue and the eastern is analagous to the comparison between the florida black bass and the largemouth (the florida version will out-eat and out-grow the northerner in a comparable warm-climate environment).

[the_edsta]

I do have some experience with florida blues, both in terms of captive bred and (quite a few) wild caught. I have generally found them to be heartier than most easterns, and a bit more aggressive eaters (especially with live minnows). Granted, some of this perception is skewed by interacting with them in the wild, but the captive bred I had was the most aggressive of the bunch. Beautiful snake. I actually think the comparison between the florida blue and the eastern is analagous to the comparison between the florida black bass and the largemouth (the florida version will out-eat and out-grow the northerner in a comparable warm-climate environment).

Sorry to add to the confusion, but by 'florida blue' I mean the regional blue variation of sirtalis sirtalis.