Species

Thamnophis radix
The Plains garter, as its name suggests, inhabits the Great Plains region of the US. It's highly-sought morphs, especially the albinos, are becoming increasingly available on the market. Normal Plains garters have a thick yellow-orange dorsal stripe on a brownish body, with small black checkered markings. The base of the flanks and the ventral scales are a creamy tan in color.

High red: These stunning animals retain their normal dorsal stripe color, but instead of having brown flanks, they are a strong red in color, with checkered marks that can be reduced in size from the normal state. The top of the head is also red.

Anerythristic: Another reason why Plains garters are much sought-after by breeders, the unique anerythristic morph has a navy blue dorsal stripe and ventral scales, while the rest of the snake is black with some dark gray fleckings.

Albino: There are two strains of this morph: the Iowa strain and the Nebraska strain, named after the normal ranges of where these animals are found in the wild.  Iowa snakes have a chalky yellow or white dorsal stripe with purple or pink markings where the black checkers would normally be. A variation on this morph has a deeper purple color than other albinos. Nebraska albinos are more yellow in color, with compact brownish-purple checkered marks and a light belly.

Christmas albino: This unusual variation on the albino Plains has a very light colored body and a white dorsal, with neon orange to red checkered marks running down the middle of the flanks.

Red albino: Representing every warm color on the wheel, this snake has  yellow dorsal and lateral stripes, with red latticework surrounding white circles on the flanks. Orange dots mark the base of the dorsals and the tops of the ventrals.

Snow: Like the albinos, there are two strains of this morph. Iowa snows are pure white with bright red eyes. As youngsters, these snakes are a nearly translucent pink all over. Nebraska snows also start out a slightly darker pink, and grow to a snake that is light tan in color, with a white dosal stripe.