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  1. #11
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    Re: The British garter hobby ....

    When the petco near my house was selling ribbon snakes, (Simply labeled "Garter Snake") I started to point out that they were actually ribbon snakes, but before I could finish, they were like "yeah, we know, ribbon snake". They're not going to change the label. It's really of no consequence. Since they don't usually offer Latin names with their snakes, it doesn't really matter if they want to call it a garter snake. According to Stefan, they're one in the same. Well, they're not the same in this country. There are garters, and then there are ribbons.

    If you ask me, labeling them "garter snake" only hurts their chance of selling them since anyone here can go to a park or wild area and catch their own garter snakes.

    Personally, I think it should be a requirement in this country (or any country) for the pet store to know, and list the Latin name of species they sell. Case in point: The pet store at the mall has albino African Clawed Frogs. (Xenopus laevis). Once upon a time, they called them what they were. Now they are illegal to sell or keep. They still sell them but now they just call them "albino domestic frog".

    I said "hey, aren't those African..." and the guy stopped me. "shhh" and wink is what I got.

  2. #12
    SCOUSER
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    Re: The British garter hobby ....

    I saw your reference to the shops selling northern garters and wondered if they were the ones possibly, in my neck of the woods, as i recently went across to Manchester where they were advertising garters using that same name, although [even after all my years keeping garters] i am somewhat dubious about my identifying talents, i am reasonably sure that they were sirtalis. they did also have ribbon snakes but i dont know which ones,
    in both shops the snakes were hiding away and so were only partially visible
    one of the shops were selling radix i told them that they were definitely not radix and that my guess would be perhaps eastern, sirtalis sirtalis

  3. #13
    "Preparing For Second shed" Mix's Avatar
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    Re: The British garter hobby ....

    The aquatics centre in Nottingham where I got Lily had a really nice reptile section, and the guy who reserved her for me was fantastic. He knew how to sex them (which not everyone does, apparently), and when I had called to see if they had any garters at all, they knew they were red sideds. They fed them on thiaminase-free fish, gave calcium/vit powder, gave them all a big enough water bowl to get into, and they were in really nice condition. That's why I decided to get her from there, because it was worlds away from all the other places I had called. It wasn't a massive 'commercial' type place, just a small centre - and you could tell that the staff really did care. I just hope it's still the same.
    A lot of stores even seemed to be incredibly surprised that anyone could possibly want anything other than a corn! Like 'Garter snakes? What do you want them for? You do know corn snakes are easier?'
    Mix
    2.0 T. radix - Ska & Patton
    Yo ho, haul together, hoist the colours high,
    Heave ho, thieves and beggars, never shall we die


  4. #14
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    Re: The British garter hobby ....

    Well, you, others here, and myself know that garters are easy too. Not only that, they have way more personality than any ol' corn snake!

  5. #15
    "Preparing For Second shed" Mix's Avatar
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    Re: The British garter hobby ....

    I would say that actually getting to see them is a defintite plus! I love my feisty little snake.
    Mix
    2.0 T. radix - Ska & Patton
    Yo ho, haul together, hoist the colours high,
    Heave ho, thieves and beggars, never shall we die


  6. #16
    Domos Ophiusa gregmonsta's Avatar
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    Re: The British garter hobby ....

    Quote Originally Posted by PINJOHN View Post
    I saw your reference to the shops selling northern garters and wondered if they were the ones possibly, in my neck of the woods, as i recently went across to Manchester where they were advertising garters using that same name, although [even after all my years keeping garters] i am somewhat dubious about my identifying talents, i am reasonably sure that they were sirtalis. they did also have ribbon snakes but i dont know which ones,
    in both shops the snakes were hiding away and so were only partially visible
    one of the shops were selling radix i told them that they were definitely not radix and that my guess would be perhaps eastern, sirtalis sirtalis
    The two shops I recently came across were indeed in the Manchester area. I can also say that I've visited them both in the past, 2008, and thought they were good quality shops. Needless to say they didn't have any garter stock at the time and my opinions have dropped somewhat.

    Quote Originally Posted by Mix View Post
    The aquatics centre in Nottingham where I got Lily had a really nice reptile section, and the guy who reserved her for me was fantastic. He knew how to sex them (which not everyone does, apparently), and when I had called to see if they had any garters at all, they knew they were red sideds. They fed them on thiaminase-free fish, gave calcium/vit powder, gave them all a big enough water bowl to get into, and they were in really nice condition. That's why I decided to get her from there, because it was worlds away from all the other places I had called. It wasn't a massive 'commercial' type place, just a small centre - and you could tell that the staff really did care. I just hope it's still the same.
    A lot of stores even seemed to be incredibly surprised that anyone could possibly want anything other than a corn! Like 'Garter snakes? What do you want them for? You do know corn snakes are easier?'
    It's nice when you find shops that care. They're too few and far between. I'll join with you in hoping that it still has enthusiasm for the hobby it serves.
    Keeping - 'Florida blue' sirtalis, concinnus, infernalis, parietalis, radix, marcianus and ocellatus.

  7. #17
    Domos Ophiusa gregmonsta's Avatar
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    Re: The British garter hobby ....

    Quote Originally Posted by ConcinnusMan View Post
    Personally, I think it should be a requirement in this country (or any country) for the pet store to know, and list the Latin name of species they sell.
    It should be but at the same time - even that can be done wrong. Some shops won't question importers when their mixed bag of multi-coloured snakes arrives with a scientific name on the bag.
    As happened locally with an import of "Thamnophis sauritus". The shop owner didn't care ... the vast majority were proximus sub-species but were fed crickets and sprats and sold as sauritus regardless of my pleas. The blame falls not only on the ignorant shopkeeper but also on the importer (they didn't do their jobs properly either).
    Also, you don't get many shop owners that aren't guilty of simply caring for the animals that they care about (or that sell more) and ignoring the specifics with other species.
    Keeping - 'Florida blue' sirtalis, concinnus, infernalis, parietalis, radix, marcianus and ocellatus.

  8. #18
    Domos Ophiusa gregmonsta's Avatar
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    Re: The British garter hobby ....

    A mixture of shock and pleasure - - I've received a reply from a shop .... in a positive direction .... I will be helping with Thamnophis IDs and they are happy to have assistance.
    Keeping - 'Florida blue' sirtalis, concinnus, infernalis, parietalis, radix, marcianus and ocellatus.

  9. #19
    matris ut plures Mommy2many's Avatar
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    Re: The British garter hobby ....

    Excellent!
    Le Ann

    "Research shows that if you're afraid of spiders, you are more likely to find one in your bedroom. I'm really afraid of Johnny Depp."

  10. #20
    "Preparing For Second shed" Mix's Avatar
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    Re: The British garter hobby ....

    Wow! Great stuff!
    Mix
    2.0 T. radix - Ska & Patton
    Yo ho, haul together, hoist the colours high,
    Heave ho, thieves and beggars, never shall we die


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