Striped keelback


The striped keelback, Xenochrophis vittatus, is a species of snake found mainly in Indonesia and Singapore.

Ecology

This diurnal snake is found in rice paddies, ponds, small ditches, and sometimes suburban backyards and home gardens. The striped keelback is rear-fanged and mildly venomous, and is considered harmless; it typically feeds on amphibians, fish, and small lizards.

In captivity

In central Java, it is also not uncommon for striped keelbacks to be kept by children as pets. It has a reputation for being very mild-mannered and rarely bites. In the United States, wild-caught striped keelbacks are frequently imported and sold as "garter snakes", typically "Canadian garter snakes" or "Indonesian garter snakes", but they are not related to Thamnophis.