4 Newcomers

[Finalflash50]

Some people may know about my snake, Lightning. He is doing great, and finally, with his oversized tank, he's about to get 4 new snakes in with him. All garters of the same kind. I just have a few questions. He's been in his tank alone for a while now. It isn't going to bother him that someone new is joining him, is it? I haven't seen them in person yet, and pictures make it difficult to decipher the size, but if I can tell correctly, they are the same size as him, so I don't think there would be any trouble. My main concern is that he might be freaked out that there are new snakes in with him. Oh and also, in feeding time, should I feed them all at once? Or separate them. One thing I am going to do is buy 4 new coconuts from my nearest tropical store. I don't want Lightning being separated from his long-time home. (Yeah, I know one of them will take it sooner or later, but he can just go in a different one. As far as he knows, they are all the same.)

Just for some background information, these are lab snakes that need a home. A science center that my mom is associated with is moving. They are getting rid of animals they don't want, and the nearest thought to be safe place for a snake is far away, so the people of the center thought best if they were given a home. There were 3 more garters, but they were much bigger, and of a different sub-specie. I just gave that bit of information to let everyone know that I'm not harvesting these snakes from the wild. I only did that with Lightning because he had a slim chance of making it, seeing how isolated he was from other snakes, and that there was already snowfall.

Thanks for any advice.

[kibakiba]

You should quarentine them before putting them with your snake. You should also have another tank just in case he doesn't like the company. Snap didn't really enjoy having certain other snakes in with her. Every snake is different.

[guidofatherof5]

What species is Lightning?
Lab snakes? as in how?
Are you going to quarantine the new snakes? I suggest you do.
http://www.thamnophis.com/forum/husb...lk-thread.html
There shouldn't be any trouble housing them together. Lightning might even find some comfort being with others.

[thamneil]

Garters usually don't have a problem with communal housing. Assuming your enclosure is large enough, they should fare well.

As for feeding, I feed all of my snakes together. Just keep an eye on them and be ready to intervene if you have any incidents. Good luch with the new snakes!

[Finalflash50]

Oh of course I have a separate tank in case he doesn't like them. I don't think he would mind though. He barely shows aggression towards his food, let alone another snake. As for the other snakes, they are in a tank together as we speak. What I mean by lab snakes, is that they were born and raised in a lab. Lightning is an Eastern Garter Snake. I will admit that I don't have much evidence concluding that they are also easterns, but they look pretty darn similar, and are identical in size. I was told long ago in this forum that as long as a partner is in the Thamnophis family, they will be able to live together. I'm willing to accept the exception of Lightning or one of the other four snakes not being able to share the space. If this is the case, I will release the others where it is safe. I am not going to put any snake in the world through stress that isn't required.

[kibakiba]

Quarentining is best before you stick them with Lightning. They also need to be the same sex as him.

[Light of Dae]

I would not release those lab raised snakes into the wild if Lightning doesn't like them... They are used to captivity.... at least find then good homes if it doesn't work out.

[katach]

Yes, I agree. In many cases it is illegal to release animals into the wild if they did not come from that location, and as light said, they are used to captivity. There are many people here on the forum that I'm sure would give one or all of them a good home. If it isn't working out just post on the classified section. Let us know how things are going when they arrive.

[guidofatherof5]

Oh of course I have a separate tank in case he doesn't like them. I don't think he would mind though. He barely shows aggression towards his food, let alone another snake. As for the other snakes, they are in a tank together as we speak. What I mean by lab snakes, is that they were born and raised in a lab. Lightning is an Eastern Garter Snake. I will admit that I don't have much evidence concluding that they are also easterns, but they look pretty darn similar, and are identical in size. I was told long ago in this forum that as long as a partner is in the Thamnophis family, they will be able to live together. I'm willing to accept the exception of Lightning or one of the other four snakes not being able to share the space. If this is the case, I will release the others where it is safe. I am not going to put any snake in the world through stress that isn't required.

I don't mean to be a pest but...
This doesn't answer the question about quarantine.
You are right about keeping Thamnophis together but are missing a very important piece of information and that is they need to be the same sex.
Any chance we can see a few photos of Lightning and the others, this way we can try to ID them for you.
I would also be amiss if I didn't say something about you possibly releasing the captive bred snakes. I wouldn't recommend that as the health of the released snakes and any wild snakes in the area are at risk. Pathogens new to both groups could mean the death of all the snakes involved. It would be better to find homes for the captive bred snakes.

[Finalflash50]

Thank you for the information on not releasing lab snakes. I would have probably done that. Anyway I obtained the snakes today, and they are now under quarantine. I don't think they cared for the ride home. My car was very hot, although I had all units of air conditioning on them. Some of the roads were bumpy, and at one point, I had to brake hard due to an ambulance turning. Other than that, the snakes look fine. One of them isn't moving much, but I think he is under slight shock, or he is in the middle of molting.