Male vs. Female

[gregmonsta]

I would say from my radix experience that females are calmer and more trusting.
My males are more wary and have more of a startle response. Just my opinion.

Well the female I got from James is the calmest baby ever absolutely handleable and virtually no fear response.

[Sid]

I'll have to chime in with the majority of responses on this thread. I have found that the majority of my female garters are conciderablly less skiddish than the majority of my males, but will add the meanest I ever had was a female. The same has been pretty much true of other species of snakes that I've kept. Females more easily handled than males.

[MasSalvaje]

I will echo what everyone else has said about females. I personally like to watch males more though, they seem to wander and explore more (IMO), you can't go wrong either way.

Something to think about if you are looking to breed in the future is that females take longer to mature sexually, usually a year longer than males. Therefore you might want to get a female started now if you are getting a baby, so it won't take quite as long to get them breeding when you are ready.

-Thomas

[guidofatherof5]

Well the female I got from James is the calmest baby ever absolutely handleable and virtually no fear response.

Well, what did you expect, Greg.
It was from James.
I would love to trade a few with James. I can just hear their great Brit. accent. And mine would have that.... Iowa accent.

[Cobra Kai]

Thanks everybody. You've given me some good food for thought. Do any of your garters go on a eating strike?

[guidofatherof5]

The strikes for mine only occur, before brumation, after brumation and right before giving birth.
Otherwise, they are eating machines.

[Cobra Kai]

The strikes for mine only occur, before brumation, after brumation and right before giving birth.
Otherwise, they are eating machines.

Yeah...I like eating machines.

[zooplan]

Yeah...I like eating machines.

Than you should get a Wandering Garter, a Florida Blue or a Stanta Cruz Garter Snake!

[Cobra Kai]

Than you should get a Wandering Garter, a Florida Blue or a Stanta Cruz Garter Snake!

That's cool. How do pickeringii compare?