Could I introduce a companion?

[toffee]

I have had my TSI for a few months now. It's a male. I was thinking that I would like to get him a companion. He has a good sized viv. Would it be possible to introduce another one, or would there be trouble? From what I've read, they're not cannibals.

[Invisible Snake]

You can introduce a female of the same species but there is a high possibility that they will mate and the female would produce offspring. You can also introduce a male of another species (except vagrans/wandering garters) as long as they are both roughly the same size. If you choose the latter please make sure that their sexes have been confirmed so that there is no possibility of them mating and producing hybrids.

[kibakiba]

I'd recommend getting another male, babies are hard to take care of.. especially when you have a lot of them.

[toffee]

If they lay eggs, can you not just remove and destroy them before they develop?

[Invisible Snake]

Garters do not lay eggs they give live birth.

[kibakiba]

That would be a stupid and irresponsible thing to do, if they did lay eggs. Its your job as an owner to prevent it from happening. That's like having sex without protection and using abortion as birth control. That is one of the stupidest things you could ever do. You don't do that, you use a condom or the pill. Same with the snakes, you prevent it from happening instead of mindlessly smashing eggs or babies.

[toffee]

Oh, I didn't realise they had live births. No, I wouldn't destroy a live snake. Hen keepers will remove and destroy any fertilised eggs that they don't want to hatch, I was just wondering if the same applied to reptiles. Please forgive my ignorance. I will get another male if I do decide to get him a companion.

[Sonya610]

Oh, I didn't realise they had live births. No, I wouldn't destroy a live snake. Hen keepers will remove and destroy any fertilised eggs that they don't want to hatch, I was just wondering if the same applied to reptiles. Please forgive my ignorance. I will get another male if I do decide to get him a companion.

I don't think you would want to do that with many reptile species even if they did lay eggs. Hens can produce eggs day after day, many domestic breeds don't get all that worried about a few missing eggs because they have lost their natural instincts. Some reptiles, like Ball Pythons go through a lot of hormonal changes when they breed, they can start wrapping around water bowls in preparation and when the eggs are laid they fearcily guard them until they hatch; it would be cruel to let the female go through all of that and then steal her precious eggs and throw them in trash.

Grant it BP breeders steal the eggs and hatch them in an incubator, but they put the female through that for a reason, because they WANT the babies.

Regarding your original question, if you want a companion shop around for another male baby, there are lots available this time of year. You may need to separate them during feedings so they don't accidentally bite each other trying to steal food, but generally they get along pretty good (they may be skittish around each other for the first few days). They aren't going to start fighting over territory or some such thing. Many seem to think babies do much better with other little companions, it adds to their sense of security.

[Stefan-A]

If they lay eggs, can you not just remove and destroy them before they develop?
Even if you could, the production of offspring is extremely taxing and somewhat risky.

[Sonya610]

Op just realized your current male probably isn't a baby. For some reason I assumed he was. I think you want to buy another animal that is somewhat close to the same size as your male if you want to house them together right away.

[Light of Dae]

Op just realized your current male probably isn't a baby. For some reason I assumed he was. I think you want to buy another animal that is somewhat close to the same size as your male if you want to house them together right away.

After a minimum 60day quarantine, then Right after that.


Have you read the Care Sheet for garters yet?
Garter Snake Forum - Garter Caresheet (http://www.thamnophis.com/index.php?page=caresheet)

[EasternGirl]

What is a TSI...is that a T.s.sirtalis? Sorry, I've never seen that abbreviation before. Like others said...you should stick to putting snakes of the same sex together. I am taking care of 4 babies right now and it takes up a lot of my time...with just 4! Garters can have litters of up to 40 babies.

Chantel...I think you should call my ex and give him the condom/abortion speech! Lol...someone needs to get through to the idiot before he has 10 unwanted children roaming around. Ha ha. :D I totally agree with what you said though.

[Sonya610]

After a minimum 60day quarantine, then Right after that.

Many do think that is a best practice. I just purchased an adolescent albino flame female from Tom, she arrived yesterday and went right in with my concinnus female, however I bought her from a very reputable breeder who provides healthy animals that he himself has bred/raised (second purchase from him and very very pleased).

I would worry about the health of a pet store/dealer animal, the pet store nearby is selling off baby albino's for $40 a piece, if I had gone that route (cheap/quick/unknown) yes a quarantine would have been in order. Needless to say the pet store animal would have been MUCH cheaper, heck the shipping alone cost me $60 but oh so worth it!

Your point is well taken though, and something the op needs to think about.

[Sonya610]

Actually in hindsight the pet store animal would have cost me more than $40 seeing as how I don't have extra set-ups. I would have had to buy a tank, lighting, heating, cage decorations, etc....for a 2 month quarantine. Not to hijack the thread but here is a pic that doesn't do her justice...her color is quite beautiful. Click to expand.

6010

[ProXimuS]

What is a TSI...is that a T.s.sirtalis? Sorry, I've never seen that abbreviation before. Like others said...you should stick to putting snakes of the same sex together. I am taking care of 4 babies right now and it takes up a lot of my time...with just 4! Garters can have litters of up to 40 babies.

I do believe she meant Thamnophis sirtalis infernalis.;) Different abbreviation I guess:p

Sonya, what kind is she? Is she an infernalis? She looks different to me, veeeery beautiful though!

[Sonya610]

I believe she is sirtalis. Eastern flame? I don't do well with the Latin names. Will say she has a firey temper though, if the concinnus touches her there is high drama and tail flailing, that and she drew blood (from me, not the concinnus) yesterday when I moved her back to the enclosure after feeding her. She has a faint checkered pattern that doesn't show up well due to my old camera (the newer one bought to photograph the snakes now has a "lens error").

[d_virginiana]

I believe she is sirtalis. Eastern flame?

I believe the only species with albino flames is eastern. Could be totally wrong though. Completely random, but yours may be from the same litter as my albino baby; I think he was from the litter that had a 50% chance of being albino flames.