New to garters, not so new to snakes. Hi there!

[Floof]

Hello! My name is Taylor. I'm 18, a resident of northern Utah, and, of course, a reptile lover.

I've been keeping snakes (mostly corn snakes) for about 3 years now. Right now, I have a modest "collection" of three bearded dragons, a Corn snake, and a San Diego gopher snake.

I've always been fascinated by garter snakes, but have never kept one, in large part because of the whole fish/slugs/earthworms thing (frozen mice are just so much easier), but have decided now that I am definitely going to get a garter snake (or two). Probably not until next October, when the local expo comes around again, but it's never too soon to start researching, right? Which is why I'm here!

While I'm posting, I have one question. Can someone clear up the cohabitation issue concerning garters?? I know it's a big no-no with other snake species, for reasons ranging from disease transfer to cannibalism to the big one, STRESS, but it seems cohabbing is an accepted and even common practice in Garters. What makes them different?

I don't plan on cohabbing garters, due to my established beliefs concerning the same with other snake species, but I want to understand exactly why such a normally taboo practice is so widely accepted with just this one genus... So can anyone clear this up for me?

Thanks, and I look forward to learning all I can from the great, knowledgeable Garter keepers this forum has to offer!

[Stefan-A]

Welcome aboard.

Regarding the diet, mice can be included in it. Some even feed them that exclusively, although I'm not convinced that is a good idea.

Cohabitation depends on the species of garter snake. There are a few species that have had recorded instances of genuine ophiophagy and I personally have had two attempts at it. Feeding accidents are not uncommon and some of them do lead to the death of one or both of the snakes. The obvious recommendation is also to avoid housing snakes of disparate size together.

Stress doesn't seem to a big issue with garters, unless you're mixing sexes. There's some basis for the claim that non-garters can't be cohabitated, but it's not as simple as saying that they can't be cohabited and garters can. Natural population densities among garters are some of the highest in the snake world, which makes them quite well adapted to cohabitation. Sexes probably shouldn't be mixed unnecessarily, because contant courtship by the male can be a source of stress for the female. Among some snakes, there is male combat over females, but not garters. In the wild, any stressed animal can leave the situation on its own, but not in enclosures.

Having said that, there is no real need to cohabitate garters.

[guidofatherof5]

Welcome to the forum from the T.radix Ranch in Iowa, Taylor.

It sounds like your future garter snakes are going to have a good caregiver.

[Mommy2many]

Welcome to the forum! Good luck with your research. You've come to the right place!

[Selkielass]

Welcome!

[Floof]

Thanks for the warm welcome, everyone!

And thank you, Stefan, for the explanation! So, to clarify, the reasoning is that cohabbing doesn't cause the same excessive stress, and that garters are more well equipped for communal living?

Also, thanks for the diet information; I was aware they could be fed mice (if you can get them eating them; might be difficult when the options are either WC or neonate too small to take a pinky...), but not aware that a diet of strictly mice may not necessarily be totally healthy for them. I'll have to get some silversides for the freezer when I get my garter(s), then!

[Stefan-A]

And thank you, Stefan, for the explanation! So, to clarify, the reasoning is that cohabbing doesn't cause the same excessive stress, and that garters are more well equipped for communal living?

That's the gist of it, yes.

[ssssnakeluvr]

welcome to the forum!!! I live in Magna and have a number of baby garters left over from the expo available....

[Charis]

Hello & welcome from Idaho! Don does have some great looking babies! If I had just a little more space, one or two might have come home from this last WRE. ~ Charis, A.K.A Tavia on CS.com

[infernalis]