*Question* Which type of garter stands out the most color wise ?

[infernalis]

I only have one Garter and I am going to keep it at one! I see why you want more than one, but I can't have a breeding colony in my apartment.

Do you think they get lonely for other garters?

Snakes are not even capable of experiencing "Loneliness" as we know it

[ConcinusMan]

Sometimes It annoys me when people anthropomorphise reptiles. They do not think like us. There's no reason to believe they do. They do not get lonely, and do not feel affection for their keepers or each other. Can I prove it? No. But things like seeking company and feeling affection are instincts that enhance mammalian survival. Reptiles have no need for these things so there's no reason to believe they are even capable of feeling or thinking like we do. They don't even possess the necessary brain chemistry such as oxytocin, serotonin, dopamine, etc as far as I know.

[EasternGirl]

Actually I just read something in The Evolution and Ecology book about them needing oxytocin when there are problems with retaining afterbirth, so I am assuming they do have it. I understand that people get annoyed by those of us who want to believe that snakes have feelings. But..you are right...you cannot prove that they do not. No offense. We assume dogs have feelings and we assume that the higher you go up the evolutionary chain that animals have more feelings, thoughts, etc. But we don't have scientific proof of that. We don't know that snakes don't get lonely...we do know that they seem to benefit from the company from other snakes...that shows something. It isn't hurting anyone if I want to believe that my snake might actually have some feelings beyond instinct. To be honest, and there is no offense intended here... I actually get a little annoyed by all the people who insist that it is impossible to conceive that a reptile may actually feel something...but hey...I try to respect everyone's beliefs...so for the most part, I usually just keep that to myself. Besides...people usually think I'm crazy if I start trying to insist that my snake has feelings. I honestly don't know if they do or do not. I am just saying I am not closed to the idea that it is possible that they may have feelings.

[kibakiba]

Colour wise, I enjoy my concinnus. They're pretty little snakes.


And, you cant tell what a snake is feeling, so there's no reason to believe that they are or aren't attached to people. Perhaps you should be open minded, it opens a lot of doors that were locked, you know.

[angrygamer]

Snakes are not even capable of experiencing "Loneliness" as we know it

Sometimes It annoys me when people anthropomorphise reptiles. They do not think like us. There's no reason to believe they do. They do not get lonely, and do not feel affection for their keepers or each other. Can I prove it? No. But things like seeking company and feeling affection are instincts that enhance mammalian survival. Reptiles have no need for these things so there's no reason to believe they are even capable of feeling or thinking like we do. They don't even possess the necessary brain chemistry such as oxytocin, serotonin, dopamine, etc as far as I know.

OK, since I'm really new to snakes I hold them in the same regard that I would any other pet...and so many times I have read on this forum about how a Garter is introduced to other Garters in a nest and how that new Gaters' behavior changes, usually for the better, in terms of feeding, activity or what have you.

I think because of the fact that their behavior changes says something about their ability to be stimulated by their environment.

As far as being "lonely", OK it may not be the pinnacle of survival in captivity, but just like with any other pet, it is probably condusive.

I mean, obviously they are social animals, if not to us humans, at least to each other, and that can't (usually) be a bad thing, right?

[EasternGirl]

Exactly. Plus...there is no harm in wanting to be open to the possibility that snakes can actually have some higher order of thinking and some emotion. Does it sound ridiculous when I say it? Sure...but since I cannot scientifically prove that they do or do not have emotion...I choose to at least keep my mind open to the possibility that they could have something comparable to what we call emotion. If people want to think I'm crazy for that...so be it...it wouldn't be the first time people thought I was nuts.

[RedSidedSPR]

Sometimes It annoys me when people anthropomorphise reptiles. They do not think like us. There's no reason to believe they do. They do not get lonely, and do not feel affection for their keepers or each other. Can I prove it? No. But things like seeking company and feeling affection are instincts that enhance mammalian survival. Reptiles have no need for these things so there's no reason to believe they are even capable of feeling or thinking like we do. They don't even possess the necessary brain chemistry such as oxytocin, serotonin, dopamine, etc as far as I know.

When I do it it's not real. I don't really mean it, I'm just getting the point the across.

Agreed, but they can feel insecure without company.. I know this just from my snakes

[Mommy2many]

Do you think they get lonely for other garters?

I think we get lonely for other garters...

[EasternGirl]

When I do it it's not real. I don't really mean it, I'm just getting the point the across.

Agreed, but they can feel insecure without company.. I know this just from my snakes

Agreed. My snakes do much better when they are housed together. I don't know how you explain that...being lonely, insecurity..I don't know. I just know I have seen the proof that they thrive when they are together.

[RedSidedSPR]

Babies especially benefit from company from whatbive seen