You can count me among many people who would pay thousands for a pair of garters that look like that original post's picture. From legal stock or not, no one has produced an animal like that for public sale yet, in spite of names like "neon" and "blue-sided." I feel the hue, contrast, brightness, color, and whatever else is at a photo-editor's disposal is at play here (and on scores other super-bright garter "photos"), and even in a book on endangered species, 30-ish years ago, where I first learned about this beautiful serpent. Over the years, I've been fortunate enough to see some awful pretty garters in person, but not like that photograph. The reds look almost colored in on that pic, much like the "neon blue" does on others I've seen. Gartersnakes are much like live corals in this respect, from the right angle and lighting (and in the case of the OP's picture, pure painting), an animal can look spectacular, but then to the naked eye, appear quite plain. At least in contrast. All this to say, my biggest advice is -love the animal you're buying with your own eyes, if possible, and not though a camera lens.
