Meet Wendy

[Tim C.]

Yes they may be tame but if your denying something they would have had in the wild your giving it a lower quality of life instead of improving it. I don't feel bad about taking their freedom because in the wild they look for food, water, and a mate. The rest of the time they hide and are insecure most of the time. By keeping them in a proper envirnment with all their needs met plus the security they find in their viv and in your hand, then you are improving its quality of life. If you don't improve you animals quality of life then you have no business taking its freedom.

[Tim C.]

Who is Shannon? If she is a friend of yours could you refer her to this post?

[Tim C.]

Plus, most the snakes I've had in the past loved to watch tv, they don't get that in the woods.

[RedSidedSPR]

You aren't denying them anything. As long as you house them well, and care for them, breeding isn't like that.

Who is Shannon? If she is a friend of yours could you refer her to this post?

Well, i guess she's a friend. She's a member here, another big-time garter snake keeper, who loves checkards.
Garter Snake Forum - View Profile: aSnakeLovinBabe

[Tim C.]

Well that's just my belief and opinion, right or wrong, thats the way I plan to raise them. I appreciate your help and information.

[d_virginiana]

I don't feel bad about taking their freedom because in the wild they look for food, water, and a mate. The rest of the time they hide and are insecure most of the time. By keeping them in a proper envirnment with all their needs met plus the security they find in their viv and in your hand, then you are improving its quality of life. If you don't improve you animals quality of life then you have no business taking its freedom.

I'm glad you think that way, since it means your snakes are probably going to have a very nice home with you, but it's not really fair to the baby snakes if you breed yours without being sure you can either house them yourself or find homes for them. Especially since releasing cbb babies into the wild isn't an option.
Garters most definitely benefit from the company of other snakes, but a same-gender tankmate (if you have room; what size are your tanks?) gives them that natural experience of interacting with another snake, but you don't end up with babies you can't care for. Plus, if they're the same gender, you can mix species in one tank.

[Tim C.]

I have an 18x18x18 exo terra with two floors. The above ground environment level is flush with the bottom of the doors with the underground environment in the lower part without doors. It is my understanding that this should be large enough to house two garters under 3ft. With two levels they should be able to stretch out if they needed.

[d_virginiana]

Never even heard of a cage design like that before. Did you buy it like that or customize it? It sounds interesting though, I'd like to see some pics of it.

[RedSidedSPR]

Is this it? Idk, it looks a little small...

Exo-Terra Glass Terrarium (18X18X18) | Josh's Frogs

[d_virginiana]

Yeah that does look a bit on the small side.. I misread the earlier post, I thought he said it was 3 ft long, which would be pretty good (gotta start actually reading things before I reply..) Yeahh, 18X18X18 is a bit small for an adult garter, especially two of them.