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?

[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

[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.

[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.