Which garter has the best temperament?

[lupegirl8]

So there doesn't seem to be much information about garter snakes out there, and especially about their temperament. Do most garters have the same basic temperament or is there considerable difference between species? I'm curious to hear from the experiences of those who have actually kept different species of garter. Which are the most active, which hide more, which interact the most, which can be handled the easiest?

[Saji]

Thamnophis don't differ a whole lot IMO. I like T. radix.

[kueluck]

I really don't know if it matters. I have 2 Easterns (Thamnophis sirtalis parietalis) , one melanistic who is super friendly and just wants to hang out around your neck, and the other erythristic who is more on the shy side but not fearfull. I also have a Red sided (Thamnophis sirtalis parietalis) who is my best friend one moment, then the next will chew on you until your husband comes along with a pair of tongs to pry her mouth open so you can get your hand, finger or whatever body part she's grabbed out of her mouth. Also have a tiny baby Florida Blue (Thamnophis sirtalis similis)but to early to tell, but she's calming down day by day. All mine are active during the day, always looking to see what's going on in the world around them. One of the reasons I love these critters.

[guidofatherof5]

From my experience I would say T. radix - Plains Garter is the most interactive and easy going. This is a very biased opinion though I've kept 12 different species and still stand by my original statement.

[lupegirl8]

Does how often they are handled/interacted with as a baby have any impact, or is it mostly just individual personality?

[guidofatherof5]

I would think the more familiar your snake is with you the less stress they will feel. That isn't always the case as some snakes are naturally nervous and don't calm down. This is a rare circumstance in my experience.

[BLUESIRTALIS]

I knew this was coming! lol! All of my garters have a great temper except for a few wc animals.

From my experience I would say T. radix - Plains Garter is the most interactive and easy going. This is a very biased opinion though I've kept 12 different species and still stand by my original statement.

[guidofatherof5]

I knew this was coming! lol! All of my garters have a great temper except for a few wc animals.

From my experience I would say T. radix - Plains Garter is the most interactive and easy going. This is a very biased opinion though I've kept 12 different species and still stand by my original statement.

What?

[kueluck]

I'm not sure if it matters or not, but the ones I have that were just a few weeks/days old are much sweeter. I guess it also depends how the "handling" experience goes for them also. If it's a constant "run-away the giant is gonna eat me mode", then not so much. Some say not to over handle, but when mine were babies I handled them every day, sometime twice. I've got one (2 years old) that comes right to the door when I open it, then proceeds up my arm and around me neck. I'm no expert on this, this is just my input

Does how often they are handled/interacted with as a baby have any impact, or is it mostly just individual personality?

[Saji]

I have a six month old Radix I don't handle often. She will strike at me a few times I take the punishment and then she will sit in my lap four an hour. I am pretty sure if I handled her every other day from the beginning she wouldn't strike. Their bites don't hurt even adults IMO...but I've been tagged by a puff adder:-)