Which garter has the best temperament?

[d_virginiana]

Handling as babies does seem to help. I have one that I bought as an adult, who I don't believe was handled very much previously that is very interactive (follows me around the room and begs for food) but flips out if you try to pick him up. I raised all my others from babies, and they are fine with being handled. The nippiest ones are those that tend to get super excited about food; they're fine once they realize I'm not food though.

Honestly male/female seems to make a bigger difference than species as far as temperament goes. Males are more active, and seem more prone to remain jumpy and easily startled. Females tend to be calmer and less energetic; they're the ones that will just sit on you and chill out. That's held true for every garter I've had.

[guidofatherof5]

Handling as babies does seem to help. I have one that I bought as an adult, who I don't believe was handled very much previously that is very interactive (follows me around the room and begs for food) but flips out if you try to pick him up. I raised all my others from babies, and they are fine with being handled. The nippiest ones are those that tend to get super excited about food; they're fine once they realize I'm not food though.

Honestly male/female seems to make a bigger difference than species as far as temperament goes. Males are more active, and seem more prone to remain jumpy and easily startled. Females tend to be calmer and less energetic; they're the ones that will just sit on you and chill out. That's held true for every garter I've had.

Good point to bring up and I agree. The male radixes I have are much less cuddly as my females.

[kueluck]

I never thought about gender. All I have are girls & sweeties they all are, except Jewels, the one I didn't raise from a baby. She can turn on you like a mad dog one second then sweet as southern tea the next.

Handling as babies does seem to help. I have one that I bought as an adult, who I don't believe was handled very much previously that is very interactive (follows me around the room and begs for food) but flips out if you try to pick him up. I raised all my others from babies, and they are fine with being handled. The nippiest ones are those that tend to get super excited about food; they're fine once they realize I'm not food though.

Honestly male/female seems to make a bigger difference than species as far as temperament goes. Males are more active, and seem more prone to remain jumpy and easily startled. Females tend to be calmer and less energetic; they're the ones that will just sit on you and chill out. That's held true for every garter I've had.

[chris-uk]

I've got a couple of really vicious female marcianus... But as a general rule my females are calmer.

My Cuitzeos are probably most nervous. Although the female will happily feed while wrapped around my hand. The male doesn't like being held, in the past he was happier being held by the wife than me though.
My tetrataenia male is confident in the viv but doesn't like being held.
Then I think my cyrtopsis are next most nervous. The female is fine if I dig her out, but I don't often see her out in the open. The male is the only one of mine that has musked me frequently.
My infernalis are skittish when I try to get them out, but do calm down after a minute or so in the hand. Although interestingly they do come the the open doors of their viv quite readily and will check out my hands when I keep outside the viv.
Marcianus can vary depending which way the wind is blowing, my vicious pair are always snappy though, my other two are either really friendly quite skittish.
My three radix are all happy to be held and I don't have any problems with them coming out.

[guidofatherof5]

I've got a couple of really vicious female marcianus... But as a general rule my females are calmer.

My Cuitzeos are probably most nervous. Although the female will happily feed while wrapped around my hand. The male doesn't like being held, in the past he was happier being held by the wife than me though.
My tetrataenia male is confident in the viv but doesn't like being held.
Then I think my cyrtopsis are next most nervous. The female is fine if I dig her out, but I don't often see her out in the open. The male is the only one of mine that has musked me frequently.
My infernalis are skittish when I try to get them out, but do calm down after a minute or so in the hand. Although interestingly they do come the the open doors of their viv quite readily and will check out my hands when I keep outside the viv.
Marcianus can vary depending which way the wind is blowing, my vicious pair are always snappy though, my other two are either really friendly quite skittish.
My three radix are all happy to be held and I don't have any problems with them coming out.

That's not surprising, it's a radix.

[Saji]

Radixs, Ameen!

[Mommy2many]

The puget sound I have "snakesat" for the past 2 years is the most social of all. The radix female loves to come out and my red sided male also has been very interested in coming out to play as well.

[RedSidedSPR]

it also depends on what you mean by best temperament. my eastern is straight from hell and it's awesome.

[kueluck]

You want a female Sybil child to go with yours. She tried to eat my finger while WEARING gloves this morning when feeding her. Trying prying a rubber glove outta the mouth of one determined snake.

it also depends on what you mean by best temperament. my eastern is straight from hell and it's awesome.