Keeping Garters together?

[Gryffindor]

I've heard garters are one of the few snakes that can live together. Do many people here keep garters together? They don't get stressed or anything and it's fine to keep any sex together (i guess as long as you're okay with babies at some point if you keep males and females together)?

I'm just doing some research on snakes that I am interested in keeping one day, no garters yet.

[Stefan-A]

Most species of garter snake can be kept together, but even then, it's advisable to keep males and females separate, because the continuous courtship attempts are sure to cause stress in the females.

[gregmonsta]

Communal housing - Thamnophis Alba - The Scottish Garter Snake

[chris-uk]

I think you'll find that nearly eveyone on here with more than a couple of garters will have some of them housed comunally. It seems to reduce stress if there are other garters around.
Single-sex groups are best, and just introduce them when they are due to breed.

Basically, follow Greg's link above, read that and let us know if you have any questions.

[EasternGirl]

It is my personal belief that garters do better when housed with another garter....like Chris said, I find it actually reduces stress on the snake when another snake is around. I always try to house at least two together...although, as Stefan said, it is best to house garters of the same sex together. If you put a male and female together, you will end up with a mating situation and most likely many babies at some point. Taking care of baby garters is something that one needs to be skilled in doing....it is not an easy undertaking. Also, dealing with a gravid female can be a difficult task and stressful on the female. Another important thing to remember is that you never want to put a male and female garter of two different species together.

[Didymus20X6]

Communal, but with a few exceptions:

Newborns probably need to be kept separate so they don't get mistaken for food.

Those species that tend toward cannibalism, obviously, like the Wandering Garter. If you do get cage mates, make sure they are similar sizes, and keep them well-fed.

Keep males and females apart, as has been suggested above, but especially if you keep multiple species. Cross-breeding is highly discouraged, and so only keep males and females together if they are the same species.

[infernalis]

I keep most of mine in groups.

[Invisible Snake]

Why is cross-breeding highly discouraged?

[guidofatherof5]

Muddies the gene pool. Accidental breeding of some garters produced watered down snakes.
Produces mutts.
My opinion.

Also the offspring have little to no value in the market.

[kueluck]

I was very excited to read this thread since I’m torn between the Eastern & Red Sided. So my understanding is I can have these two in the same tank, both would be males. Yes?