Co-habbing adult male with a female?

[Magnarock the 2nd]

Im wondering if this would end up being problematic. Im thinking they would breed if the season was right which would be good. But after they copulate, would the male continually pester the female causing her to stress out? I really like the look of melanistic easterns they are awesome. Im just thinking about getting one to pair with my adult male eastern. He lives in a cozy ten gallon and is always soaking, living the posh life compared to his wild days.

Also have a question about garter genetics. If I breed a melanistic to a normal, would I get all normals in the f1?

[BUSHSNAKE]

F1 would be normal hets, i keep my males and females together the majority of the time and only seperate them when shes gravid. when i keep them in pairs the male and female are always touching, always some sort of contact with their bodies. Theyll seperate, do whatever, and then always come back together.All of my pairs act this way. Some people leave them together even when the female is gravid and gives birth and some people only have them together only when its time to breed. I think its more of a personal choice.

[Magnarock the 2nd]

What about tank size for a pair, would a 10gal with a big water bowl be adequate?

[-MARWOLAETH-]

What dimentions are 10 gallon?

Pairs or small groups will do well in something around 4x2x2' (3' at a push) The general rule with garter housing is getting as big a viv as you can afford or have room for.

[guidofatherof5]

What about tank size for a pair, would a 10gal with a big water bowl be adequate?

I would say for breeding age garters that would be on the small size. A 20 long would be much better.
Just my opinion.

[Greg'sGarters]

Personally, I use 10g for single larger breeders, or smaller breeding pairs. But I use 20L for larger breeding pairs. If you are just keeping the female in a 10 gallon, I would imagine it would be ok to put the male in only to breed and then take him out as soon as you were sure that the female was gravid. As long as you don't keep him in year round you should be ok. Just my opinion, what I do.

[d_virginiana]

For any adult, just housed on their own, I try to have at least a 20 gallon. I know you can go smaller, but I wouldn't like to. I mean, a single goldfish requires at least a 20 gallon tank. Garters will definitely utilize all the space you give them.

[Magnarock the 2nd]

tanks1 004.jpgtanks1 005.jpg Here is my male I just recently got him a bigger water bowl now he is soaking every day all the time. He is freakin aquatic.

[guidofatherof5]

tanks1 004.jpgtanks1 005.jpg Here is my male I just recently got him a bigger water bowl now he is soaking every day all the time. He is freakin aquatic.

Excessive soaking can be a red flag for mites.
Thought I should say something.

[thamneil]

Is that what his enclosure typically looks like? He may be soaking out of insecurity, if not mites. Looks relatively barren and open. He'd appreciate it if you added some hiding places and structure.