Howdy and looking for advice!

[jaleely]

Hi all!
So, I don't have any garters...yet! I have 11 other snakes though *lol*
I thought it would be diligent of me to take a look around and learn more about them first ;)
I was browsing through the husbandry area, but I think it might be better to have you guys advice me of some links to read...maybe..? Pwease? :)

Hubby actually did the initial research when we got our first ball python a year ago...and after that I was hooked, and have become more snake obsessed than him. Garters are ...SO..cute. There's a reptile show in my area in January....I need to read up!!

Thanks guys!!

[infernalis]

http://www.thamfriends.com/mat.jpg

Hello again Melissa.. How nice of you to join us here.

[PINJOHN]

Welcome from a rain lashed Liverpool
http://t3.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcR4y1dPtN-EVPENg1BYYsLqoHg5jOJOmruRHFC-G6D7nGLBSxPphAhttp://t3.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcSaz93quM1Ay0V0d7uMRqvUm3CpZZtMC wWq2SdiSWB_eWH5brgjzg

[chris-uk]

Hello and welcome!
If you have 11 snakes already you will already be warmed up and ready for the main event. Welcome to the world of Thamnophis, the only snakes you'll ever need (except maybe some Natrix). :)

[Stefan-A]

Welcome aboard.

[EasternGirl]

Welcome to the greatest forum in the world! You are about to discover the snake world's best kept secret! Garters are amazing! Garter Snake Care Sheet - Caresheets (http://www.thamnophis.com/caresheets/index.php?title=Garter_Snake_Care_Sheet)

[tress29]

Welcome from the Hoosier state, Indiana!

[guidofatherof5]

The great radix State of Iowa welcomes you to the forum.

The care sheet is kind of a "Cliffs Notes" of many threads and will give you a crash course in keeping garters.
Specific questions can be posted to the members.
Main Page - Caresheets (http://www.thamnophis.com/caresheets/index.php?title=Main_Page)

[jaleely]

Buwahha! thanks guys! I did read over the care sheet, and did a couple little peeks around.

So, I see that garter snakes can live together. How many, what sex, and if you have say... a 20 gallon tank it looks like two adult males, or ..? Got confused here. Do the males fight? Do females? If you get mixed sexes, it's likely they will breed if the conditions suit them, correct?
Just curious. I Don't have any snakes that live together...it would be pretty cute to see a couple in a tank. I'd want them to have plenty of room and be active and adorable, of course, so what are the recommendations? :)
So far that's my only question!

[kibakiba]

Every snake is different. Some of mine prefer being alone, some prefer having buddies. A general rule, though, is to keep them around the same size and sex. Males don't fight, nor do females. If you feed them inside the tank, be sure to watched them while they eat, because they can get into a food fight and end up harming each other.

[EasternGirl]

If I had a 20 gallon tank...I would probably only want two full grown garters in it...but that is just my opinion. You can put two of most types of garters together...other members can tell you if there are certain subspecies that should not be housed together. You would want to have two of the same size...for the most part...you risk problems if they are different sizes. You also do not want a male and female unless you plan to breed...and unless you have experience with breeding, you shouldn't really breed as it is quite an undertaking. I think your best bet would probably be two females...but, again, that is my opinion.

[katach]

Welcome to the forum family! I have a 20 long tank and keep 5 females. 3 of my females are a smaller garter though. I have 4 T. ordinoides (Northwestern garter) 3 girls and 1 boy, 2 female T. s. pickeringii (Puget Sound garter). We have a lot of climbing stuff so it adds more space. My little boy NW is only 4mo olds so he gets a 10gal. all to himself for now.