Scientific name:
Thamnophis hammondii
Dutch name:
Tweestreepkousebandslang
English name:
Two-striped Garter Snake
German name:
Zweistreifen-Strumpfbandnatter

Subspecies:
None

Pictures of Thamnophis hammondii…

Range:
Monterey County (Salinas) southward into north-western Baja California.
Also some isolated populations in northern Baja California Sur.
The occurrence on the island of Santa Catalina off the California coast is also reported.

Habitat:
This species is found in all types of forests, but also in areas of grassland and shrubbery.
Prefers clear, flowing water with a rocky bottom and a lot of shore vegetation.

Food:
Especially frogs and toads and their larvae, but also fish, fish eggs and worms. The ones I kept/keep in the terrarium ate everything I gave them: eel, chicken heart, fish fillets, baby mice, etc.
In the wild it almost exclusively hunts in the water.

Reproduction:
Matings late March / early April.
Births take place from late August to late October.
A litter consists of 10 to 35 young that are about 20 cm long.

Terrarium:
This species can best be kept in a large enclosure. They are fairly motile snakes. A large water basin is desirable. Climbing branches and shelters are needed. They are quite shy when they have enough hiding places.

Specifics:
Their length is about 60 to 70 cm. up to a maximum about 85 cm.
They occur at altitudes between 0 and 2100 meters.
This species is particularly active during the evening and night, but is also seen during the daytime.
While being fed they acted, in my terrariums, very fanatical regarding chasing the other snakes. You have to watch them during the whole meal. or you have to feed them separate in curver boxes.
This is the garter snake that resides primarily in the water in the wild. In danger, they dive under water right away. In the terrarium they were  no more or less water than other species.
Their brumation lasts about two months. I placed them for about 2 months in the refrigerator at 4-6 ° C.
Named after William Alexander Hammond (1828-1900), an American doctor.

Observations: