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Description
Checkered Garter Snake (Albino)
Scientific Name: Thamnophis marcianus
Common Name: Checkered Garter Snake
Species Overview
Size: Adults typically reach 2–3 feet (0.6–0.9 m) in length, with a slender, agile body and keeled scales that give a textured matte finish.
Appearance: The Albino Checkered Garter Snake is a striking, high-contrast morph that replaces the typical black and olive checkering with soft hues of gold, cream, and orange. The background colour ranges from pale yellow to orange-tan, overlaid with warm peach or light pink blotches. The eyes are red or ruby-toned, and the underside is bright yellow to white with faint checkering. This morph highlights the Checkered Garter Snake’s lively pattern while transforming it into a glowing tropical palette, making it one of the most visually appealing forms of the species.
Distribution: Originates from selective captive breeding of the Checkered Garter Snake, a species native to the southwestern United States, Mexico, and parts of Central America.
Habitat: Checkered Garter Snakes inhabit grasslands, wetlands, riverbanks, and agricultural regions across their range. In captivity, this morph thrives in naturalistic terrariums with soft substrate, climbing branches, and secure hiding areas, along with a large water dish for soaking.
Behaviour: These snakes are diurnal and highly active, often exploring, basking, or swimming in their water dish. They are intelligent and visually aware, quickly recognizing feeding routines. With consistent handling, they become calm and engaging display animals.
Captive Care
Enclosure: Provide an enclosure at least 3 feet × 18 inches × 18 inches for adults, with secure ventilation and multiple hiding areas. Use soft, absorbent substrate such as soil, coconut fibre, or cypress mulch, and include décor that encourages exploration. A large, clean water dish should always be available for soaking.
Temperature & Humidity: Maintain a daytime gradient of 75–85°F (24–29°C) with a basking area near 88°F (31°C). Allow nighttime drops to 68–72°F (20–22°C). Maintain humidity between 50–70%, ensuring clean water is available daily.
Diet: Offer a varied diet including thawed rodents, earthworms, fish (avoid high-thiaminase species), and frogs. While these snakes can adapt to a rodent-only diet, they thrive best on diverse, natural prey options. Due to their fast metabolism, feed juveniles every 2–3 days and adults every 3–5 days.
Behaviour in Captivity: Checkered Garter Snakes are curious and responsive to movement. They display high activity levels during daylight hours and do well in enriched enclosures with hides, climbing décor, and moderate lighting.
Special Considerations: These snakes should generally be housed singly. If housed in small groups, close observation is necessary during feeding to prevent aggression or accidental bites—temporary separation during feeding is strongly recommended.
Genetics Note
Albino (Recessive): Removes dark pigment, revealing bright yellow, orange, and cream tones while maintaining the checkered pattern. The result is a vibrant, warm appearance with red or pink eyes.
Line Variation: Albino lines may differ in colour intensity, with some showing strong orange saturation and others producing pastel yellows or creams depending on selective lineage.
Genetic Combination Summary
The Checkered Garter Snake (Albino) expresses a single recessive trait:
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Albino (Recessive): Eliminates black pigmentation, producing vivid yellow and orange coloration with red eyes.
This morph enhances the species’ natural beauty with glowing tones and soft contrast. The Albino Checkered Garter Snake is valued for its vivid colours, active personality, and adaptability to varied diets that mirror its natural feeding ecology.