Multiple species in one enclosure

[AntTheDestroyer]

In another one of my threads someone suggested that you could place two garters of different species in one enclosure together. They went on to say that males may even be calmer with another male around. I have been thinking about this and doing a bit of research but still have a few questions. First is do you think this is a good idea at all? I know with most other snakes forums suggest that you should not cohabitate for safety reasons. I know that some garters have huge dens with many snake, but is this the case with all species? Next I know that the snakes should be about the same size, but what exactly does that mean? I already have a California red sided and really like some of the radix morphs, so the finding one the exact same size may be difficult as they would be from different litters. If they must be the same size does it make the most sense to wait until they are both of adult size? Although as baby snakes are more nervous does it make more sense to put them together when they are small? I would also assume that growing up together would help when hormones start to join the party. I want to have a planted vivarium for them, what size tank would you recommend for two garters? I just wanted to pick your brains for any information you may have on this.

[d_virginiana]

Size-wise, I try to make them close enough in size that they would be a pretty even match if a food-fight broke out (of course, this all goes out the window if you put a male and female together to breed since the females are so much bigger lol). Some people on here have even kept Storeria dekayi-- common brown snake-- with garters with no problem.

I still separate my two co-habiting males out for feeding. One is a bit smaller and eats more slowly, and if they're together the other one just chases him down once he finishes his food to try and take it.

I use a 50 gallon long for my two males, but you could probably go a little smaller if you really wanted. The more space the better IMO.

There are probably plenty male snakes out there that don't care whether or not they have a buddy, but when I put them together the one that was always hiding started staying in the open and the one that was pretty much un-handleable would let me pick him up no problem. Like pretty much overnight.

Just so you know, there is still a VERY slight risk of cannibalism. This is more common when there's a big size difference, and usually seems to be a result of a food-fight gone wrong. In all the time I've been on this forum I think I've seen one case of similar-sized snakes cannibalizing each other (couple threads about a non-mother adult cagemate eating newborns). IMO this risk is pretty much negligible, but I just wanted you to know the possible risks.

[slipknot711]

i keep all my males in the same enclosure including a ribbon. its a nice sized tank, a bit smaller than my females but i just make sure i split them gender wise. i have no issues keeping different species. i have a picture of them all cuddling a cpl days ago, ill try to find it

[slipknot711]

obviously a size difference... they get extra special attention during feeding time for the reasons Lora had explainedgroupmales.jpg

[Zdravko092368]

I keep a large storeria dekayi with my males(checkered and sirtalis sirtalis) with no issues, the large dekayi is still smaller than even male garters though but they are fed individually so there's no risk of food fights, never shown any stress or issues with eachother, they all tend to hang out in their own spots and despite the dekayi being known as a nocturnal snake he's out all the time, as much as the sirtalis.




Also you must be sure of the sex of the garters, don't keep different sexes of different species together or you are going to get hybrid babies that will probably be ugly and never sell and would muddy gene pools even if you did sell them, so it's overall frowned upon. Males with males, females with females, unless it's the same specie and you don't mind babies.

[AntTheDestroyer]

Interesting thank you all for your personal experiences and information. I will definitely do my best to make sure I end up with another male. I do not want babies of any kind, be they dirty mutts or pure bred master race. To much work for my liking.

[AntTheDestroyer]

Well the search continues. I am really starting to like the look of a simple checkered garter snake but found one site that stated they were known to be cannibalistic. Is this accurate?

[Tommytradix]

i dont have experience with checkereds but know someone who had a litter 3-4 days ago and he houses them together and has had no probelms

[guidofatherof5]

That's the first I've heard of a T. marcianus being cannibalistic.

[d_virginiana]

There's a difference between a species being actively cannibalistic and feeding accidents that end with one snake eating another. I've never heard of T. marcianus being cannibalistic either. There has been the occasional 'accident' recorded for a lot of garter species, but the only one I know of that is truly cannibalistic is T. vagrans.