Red-sided Garter Snake

Overview

A garter snake with bright red side stripes, famous for huge mating balls in Canada.

History & Origin

The colubrid snake is native to North America / Canada. It belongs to the family Colubrids, a lineage of snakes distributed across those regions and kept both in the wild and by specialist reptile keepers.

Appearance & Size

Red-sided Garter Snake is a small (60–90cm) snake.

Temperament

It shows the typical temperament of its group—research the species for handling guidance.

Care & Husbandry

Colubrids are the largest, most diverse snake family and include many harmless, slender species ideal for keepers. Most are fed rodents, fish or insects depending on species; they need species-appropriate enclosures with good ventilation, hiding places and a temperature gradient.

Health & Lifespan

Generally hardy; risks include respiratory infection, mites and dehydration. Corn snakes and kingsnakes are famously easy, but wild-caught species need careful acclimation. In captivity a healthy individual may live around 8–15 years.

Popularity & Recognition

Colubrids are the richest snake family—garden racers, corn snakes, kingsnakes and coral-snake mimics all belong here. Corn snakes are a flagship beginner pet worldwide.