Head bobbing...

[Zephyr]

Has anyone else ever seen this? I've noticed it when two garters make body contact, sometimes one of them seems to bob there head and neck rapidly, but the movement is very subtle. Is this related to breeding or just general communication?

[KITKAT]

Have wondered the same thing... perhaps a subtle form of the lizard head bobbing?

[aSnakeLovinBabe]

m garters all do that. it's jsut the way they say hey, im another garter and im not here to hurt you. I noticed all my garters do it, especially when they meet a snake they've never met before.

[GarterGuy]

I've noticed that as well. I wonder if it is really a type of "communication" that they are using. Don't think there's any actual documentation or studies on that in snakes at all. Also wonder if it's just a captive animal thing or they do it in the wild as well. Sounds like a good topic for study.

[adamanteus]

Interesting indeed. I have often seen it but never really given it much consideration before. It could be a form of communication, but for an animal with relatively poor eyesight, visual communication would at first seem inappropriate. Definitely requires further study.

[gregmonsta]

J and Slithers do it all the time

[aSnakeLovinBabe]

it's definately not just a captive thing. take two garters from the wild, and put them in a container together for the first time. I guarantee you they'll do it everytime.

[anji1971]

Oh, I hope I can get a couple more snakes this summer so I can see what you're all talking about!

[enigma200316]

I have seen the same thing with my garters as well, even around feeding time, I think its more just something they do..........

[GarterGuy]

it's definately not just a captive thing. take two garters from the wild, and put them in a container together for the first time. I guarantee you they'll do it everytime.

Yeh, but I wonder if it's something they actually use in the wild. Doesn't seem like they'd be in close contact all that much to have actually developed something like this. Although they do tend to brumate in large groups, wonder if that's maybe where it developed? As far as being visual. Garters are a lot more visual then other snakes, so it wouldn't surprise me to see them using visual signs....such as motion for communication. If I get up to Manitoba this year, I'll have to check things out and see if I can document any of this "bobbing" from snakes at the den sites. I'll also ask the people working there if they know or have heard anything about this.