breeding qs i have a common garter snake

[eddospeeples]

Hi i am going to go get some wild garters and breed them i have had them as pets before what is the min weight for a female to breed exsample leopard gecko 45 grams min to breed and can i keep them in my rack and can i keep the cage out side?

[Odie]

Hi, from Oregon, eddospeeples :)

[Stefan-A]

Hi
Welcome aboard.


i am going to go get some wild garters and breed themI recommend buying a pair from a reputable breeder. You have better chances of getting healthy snakes with known histories and at the same time you avoid taxing the wild population.


i have had them as pets beforeThey are indeed nice pets.


what is the min weight for a female to breedNormally, people go by age. In the wild, female garters become sexually mature some time around their second brumation and males around their first. The bigger, the better.


can i keep them in my rack and can i keep the cage out side?You can keep them in a rack, but I don't endorse the practice. Unless you happen to have an actual proper outdoor enclosure, I don't recommend keeping them outdoors, either. A normal indoor enclosure is the safest alternative.

[eddospeeples]

so then at the seconed brumation about how many grams is the female?

[guidofatherof5]

Welcome to the forum.
I would recommend getting them from a good breeder. In the long run it can save you money and the heartache of lossing the snake.

[Stefan-A]

so then at the seconed brumation about how many grams is the female?
That varies greatly, depending on the species and how well it's been fed.

[enigma200316]

if i may, i would say do your research and i mean real research before getting them and trying to have babies seriously, its fine to ask question, but for what you want you should learn all you can first....Welcome to the forum this is a great place of friends and knowledge:)

[drache]

welcome to the forum
take a little time and check out our new and improved care sheet - riveting literature
http://www.thamnophis.com/caresheets/index.php?title=Garter_Snake_Care_Sheet
lots of answers right there
and feel free to use the search function also because some of your questions have probably been asked before
like others here, I feel that getting a captive bred garter is better than catching one wild
before you get into breeding, besides learning what to do husbandry-wise, you should also give some thought as to what you want to do with the babies
I recommend familiarizing yourself with your local wildlife laws because it's always nice to have some awareness as to whether you're breaking any laws or not, and what that means to you

[aSnakeLovinBabe]

I would also highly recommend getting captive bred garters for breeding purposes. what is the point of catching some garters out of your backyard and breeding them? they will do that on their own in the wild, and what will you do with all those babies? They are a LOT of work, they must eat every day when they are first born. I only say that because many people become very surprised when they have their first clutch of garters and find themselves bogged down by all the work and worry of making sure they are all getting enough to eat. As long as you are prepared for it, you shouldn't have much trouble. but if you aren't the babies will die quickly as they are not forgiving of any mistakes and starve faster than any other snake. Also, check your state laws and make sure that it isn't illegal to collect/breed/sell your local species of garter snake. You can get some really cool types and color morphs of garters from breeders. The weights vary greatly by species and how much the snake eats, as Stefan mentioned. They are very rewarding to keep, the coolest snake there is hands down! My first snakes were always garters I found outside as a kid, I would keep them for the summer and feed them worms, and then release them before fall.... I have come a long way since then!

[wadih]

Although I totally agree with all the previously written posts suggesting to buy the snake from a breeder, I suggest if you insist on getting them from the wild to wait till August or even September to try to catch the snake. During that period, it will be much easier for you to identify the pregnant snake from others, where it will be bigger and thicker that all the rest. Keep it for a month or two and you can get the babies.

However, I think it is your first time to keep a garter snake, it would be better to get adults from a breeder since they are much easier to keep and take care of than babies (as shannon said). That will give you a good way to learn more about their habits and feeding methods. Then you can go for the babies and try to keep them alive.

Any way, with any method you start with I wish you luck, and in all cases welcome to the garter world :)

[guidofatherof5]

However, I think it is your first time to keep a garter snake, it would be better to get adults from a breeder since they are much easier to keep and take care of than babies (as shannon said). That will give you a good way to learn more about their habits and feeding methods. Then you can go for the babies and try to keep them alive.

Any way, with any method you start with I wish you luck, and in all cases welcome to the garter world :)

This is good advice. You don't want a baby or babies as your first garter. Get a snake that is well established( eating, being handled). Find a breeder. There are many on the forum. Give us your area and we'll see what we can do.

My best advice is to wait. Stay active on the forum and learn. This way your new(first) snake won't be so new to you. There are many threads here that will give you a good idea of what you need to do to take care of your special snake.

[Stefan-A]

Although I totally agree with all the previously written posts suggesting to buy the snake from a breeder, I suggest if you insist on getting them from the wild to wait till August or even September to try to catch the snake. During that period, it will be much easier for you to identify the pregnant snake from others, where it will be bigger and thicker that all the rest. Keep it for a month or two and you can get the babies.
Otherwise good advice, but that last part is a bad idea. Gravid females should be left alone.

[wadih]

Otherwise good advice, but that last part is a bad idea. Gravid females should be left alone.


I totally agree with you stefan, that is why I started the whole sentence with "if he still insist". In all cases, thinking about again, I think if he still wants to catch some snakes and insist on that. He can try catching and keeping them for some while, if they breed it will be fine if not it will be great opportunity for him to have idea and learn about garter ways of living.

By the way, I never tried it before, but do you think it is easy just to run behind a snake and catch it in the wild? I am not sure about it... Even how can you tell if it is a garter from a distance (especially if one is not so experienced) and even if you can I think it is impossible to tell if it a male or female before catching it. Anyway, I am not expert enough to tell about this part since I never tried and will never do in the near future, but I am sure other friends in the forum have tried and can share with us their experience. :)

[Stefan-A]

By the way, I never tried it before, but do you think it is easy just to run behind a snake and catch it in the wild?
Depends on the snake, I suppose. I've seen the full range of responses, from dashing for shelter, to defensive displays, to no reaction at all. Obviously they're easier to catch when they don't try to escape.