New guy

[ConcinusMan]

I agree entirely with your disagreement. I always find wild garters together... garters that have no reason to be together as they are not mating.

Of course I'm sure it has nothing to do with the fact that they are sharing the best basking, hunting, and hiding spots. I really don't think they come together for the company.

[guidofatherof5]

Of course I'm sure it has nothing to do with the fact that they are sharing the best basking, hunting, and hiding spots. I really don't think they come together for the company.

Eat, drink, poop, breed. Right Richard.

Oh ye of little faith.

[kibakiba]

All of my snakes like to share one spot, and that isn't a basking spot, since I dont put the basking lamps on while its over the 70s.All of them, including Snap, lay together.

My babies did the cutest thing ever the other day... About 3 of them, Silver, Specks and Spots were all facing each other in a circle and they were looking at each other, one would flick their tongue at the one next to them, then one would flick their tongue at the other. It looked like they were talking. Of course, there's always one who likes to interrupt everyone or try to join in. That one would be Dots. He came slithering over them flicking his tongue like crazy... they the all slithered away. Haha. I can imagine Dots being the geeky kid trying to fit in at school or something and going "hey! Hey guys! GUYS! Wanna come over to my house and watch Star wars? Maybe some Star Trek too?!"

[Didymus20X6]

All the snakes I've kept (not many, mind you) have tended to cuddle up in the same hide, even when I've put multiple hides in the enclosure. When I kept three that one summer, all three of them frequently shared the same hide.

Also, that one year that stampede of garters came through our yard, I could swear they were bunching up together and following a "leader", not like they all just happened to be going the same way, but like they were deliberately traveling together.

[ConcinusMan]

Also, that one year that stampede of garters came through our yard, I could swear they were bunching up together and following a "leader", not like they all just happened to be going the same way, but like they were deliberately traveling together.

Yeah, the leader a receptive female, the followers, horny males. Nothing unusual about that.

All the snakes I've kept (not many, mind you) have tended to cuddle up in the same hide, even when I've put multiple hides in the enclosure. When I kept three that one summer, all three of them frequently shared the same hide.

No they don't. I don't believe you.

[RicMartin]

Steve, my snakes seem to enjoy company too, so I keep them in pairs or groups, not all alone. Other than for disease spread prevention, I don't see a real need for isolation so far.

[ConcinusMan]

Eat, drink, poop, breed. Right Richard.

Oh ye of little faith.

Oh C'mon Steve, don't be so quick to anthropomorphise. I think we can agree that there are similarities in both physiology, and behavior, between reptiles and birds. Birds flock together at a great advantage against predator attack. Did it not occur that the old adage "there is safety in numbers" might apply here? You said yourself that they seem calmer and not as nervous/ more "outgoing" in groups. And yet it never occurred to you that this might be because there is security against predators for the individual when there is a group formed?

I think it boils down to a feeling of safety and security, which as I mentioned before, can be achieved simply by providing more vegetation and cover for an individual instead of being all out in the open. The individual snake is safer against predator attack when it is either well hidden and secure, or if the individual is part of a group instead of being alone. A predator will focus on one snake. Particularly the slowest one in the group when they all decide it's time to flee.

Just saying that there are equally compelling arguments that the change in behavior is not due to them having "company" and that their gathering together could just as easily be a strategy against predator attack, therefore making them feel safer and more secure when they are in groups.

It could very well be that they do not necessarily "enjoy" each others company, but instead prefer the safety that comes with numbers.

When I'm out herping I see individual snakes on their own out foraging, or when I do find groups of them, it's simply because they are sharing a suitable hiding/basking place. I see no evidence that they seek out each others company outside of breeding / brumating season. They simply come together because a certain spot meets their mutual needs.

In that picture I posted above, it's no surprise that one snakes favorite hiding place is also favored by the others. I really don't think they are all in there just for the sake of being together and I do not believe they get "lonely" if kept singly. Just my opinion.

It depends on the snake. They are like people when it comes to this

And that's where the mistake lies. They are nothing like people so stop attributing human characteristics, motivation or behavior to snakes.

What motivates their behaviors is not necessarily the same things that motivate our behavior.

Actually, It's not my place to tell you to stop doing that. It actually helps for us to enjoy them more but it's not necessarily what is actually happening.

[kibakiba]

Then why does Snakey immediately refuse food when he's alone, and start eating right when I place someone in with him? He started eating so much better when I got Mama and put them together.

And perhaps, for me, since I have no friends I tend to anthropomorphise them because they are truly my only real friends.

[ConcinusMan]

Then why does Snakey immediately refuse food when he's alone, and start eating right when I place someone in with him? He started eating so much better when I got Mama and put them together.

Competition. If you want to anthropomorphise anything, then that's it. Competitive nature. We have it. Maybe they do too. Or else it could again boil down to security. Feeding activity makes a snake vulnerable at that moment. The moment when they are eating. No snake is in the mood to eat when it feels unsafe. Having other snakes around makes them feel safer.

And perhaps, for me, since I have no friends I tend to anthropomorphise them because they are truly my only real friends.

And I would have to come right out and say you are wrong. You do have friends. Human friends. Don't let that rain storm that is following you around, cloud your vision Chantel. Been there, done that. I understand more than you know. What you're feeling now is not real. The feeling that you are alone and have no friends is an illusion. Don't let the the rain cloud above your head beat you. It's lying to you in attempt to beat you into submission. You're stronger than that. It will get better. The sun will come out and you'll see things much clearer. The cloud is a lie. The sun is shining brightly. You just can't see it because the cloud is over your head.

[kibakiba]

I have online friends, I consider a lot of people on here and people on games to be true friends, but in a physical sense, I don't have anyone to talk to, or to hug if I feel down. That is why I anthropomorphise, I can talk to Mama and believe she listens to me, I can hug her and I can bring her into my room and lay with her, and usually, she'll stay right on my chest or on my pillow.