american /european selection?

[Cazador]

I suspect that since there is at least one species of wild garter across all of the lower 48 states, most people would rather catch their own than buy from someone else. Also, without doing research on the internet, most people are unaware of the huge differences between each garter species. Most people have no desire or motivation to learn more about such common snakes, so their variation goes unnoticed. Yet, Europeans appreciate them more because they're exotic, and they have to do the research to find which of the many varieties they would like to buy. Maybe European snake owners are a bit more educated about garters before they choose their first. Whereas, most 10 year old kids have probably caught and kept one in the U.S. I think that if more people were aware of the variety of garters beyond their backyard, they would be more interested in them.

Personally, I think garters are much easier to keep. For one reason, they're smaller, so a person can house more individuals in the same amount of space. Maybe the size thing is an issue? Maybe people want a large snake that impresses their friends? Who knows? Their activity levels, striking colors, personality, diverse diet, cost, friendliness, and availability are all major selling points for me. Personally, I don't want a snake large enough to harm (even cut) one of my children.

[Stefan-A]

Yet, Europeans appreciate them more because they're exotic, and they have to do the research to find which of the many varieties they would like to buy. Maybe European snake owners are a bit more educated about garters before they choose their first.

Frankly, we don't have a single reptile that is legal to catch and keep, so practically nobody has a locally caught snake. If somebody wants a snake, it's a cb, most likely one bred in the Netherlands, Germany or Sweden. They are as exotic here as ball pythons or boa constrictors. In fact, I know more people that own ball pythons than garters. I'd say corn snakes are the typical beginner snakes, that everybody has at some point or another over here in the north-northeastern corner of Europe. I don't think I've heard more than a couple even suggest garters as first snakes.

Still, it's much more expensive than a wildcaught (duh), so people really tend to learn a bit more about the animals before they get one.

As far as the varieties are concerned, I've complained (whined) about it before. There aren't any to choose from. Again, this is just from a local perspective, I know that the situation is much better across the Baltic, where the reptile hobby is much more developed. Personally, I chose garters instead, because they are so familiar (the whole grass snake similarity thing I sometimes talk about), despite being exotic. They could almost be a domestic species, which probably means a lot less to someone who lives in a country with more than two species. Well, three if you count the one that only lives on one island.