The garter commune

[Lori P]

Hey guys, I know we've talked about this before, but bear with me. Is there any reason that I can't move Curious and Reed (garter and ribbon) into the 55 gallon tank with Miriam and Mordecai (the pugets)?? Would there be any kind of transition necessary, any kind of introduction? Now, Reed is bigger than all of them, but he lives so peacefully with Curious, who is in between the size of M & M.

I don't have to combine them into one tank... just was looking how I could save some space, and also thought it would be nice to see them all in one place. So basically the only reason for doing it is my own selfishness, thought it would be neat to see them all interact. So if you tell me no, I won't.

They have all been through parasite treatment, so this would be a good time to do it, kind of starting them out "fresh and clean" so to speak.

Thanks guys!!!!!!!!!!!

[zooplan]

My point of view is to keep only male or only females of different species together.
You can never be sure that hybrids are not possible only because you know no report of it.

If they life together in harmony is a question of the individual characters.

[Zephyr]

I've currently got my 5 easterns and 3 checkereds living together, and I've seen no problems with the biggest eastern at around 20 inches and the biggest checkered a little over 2 feet. The other two checkereds are around 8 inches. :P
Just make sure if you're feeding them communally that everyone has something in their mouth at the same time, and if they're taking scented items, worms or fish, make sure to get all the smell off them via rinsing.

[anji1971]

Lori, a lot of people keep multiple garters together in larger tanks. Seems to be more a matter of keeping them separate at feeding time, and yes, you would probably want to keep only one sex together in the tank.......unless oodles of garters is your goal!!

Out of curiosity, Kyle,
How big is your enclosure for the 8 snakes? I'm trying to figure out how large a tank I would eventually have to get to keep my snakes together as I collect them. I'm aiming to have 6-8 in the next couple years.

[Lori P]

Oodles of garters!!! LOL

Good point on them breeding. We're pretty sure Reed and Curious are male (right Reed?) but I don't know about M & M. I don't want oodles of garters... so... hmmm. Needs more thought.

[adamanteus]

If feeding times are very closely supervised, the only other issue, as Udo has already stated, is the possibility of unwanted matings. But generally, on a day to day basis there should be no problem.

Personally, I keep all my species/sub-species separately.... but that's just my preference.

[Loren]

Originally Posted by adamanteus

Personally, I keep all my species/sub-species separately.... but that's just my preference.

I also prefer to keep them separate. Its just easier for me. I used to keep a few garters together, and feeding time was a headache. Different species seem to have different levels of feeding aggresiveness, so one just pounds the food, and looks for more, while another needs a little coaxing, but by then, the first one is attacking the second one's meal...
But if you separate them for feeding, and they will still eat ok after being moved into a different container, then it can work ok. The only garter I am familiar with being potentially dangerous to cagemates would be western terrestrial garters, if they are bigger than the others, although feeding accidents can happen with any snake.

[Stefan-A]

The only snakes I keep together right now, are the vagrans twins and you definitely have to make sure they don't go after each other's food. I've broken them up twice after the smaller latched onto the bigger one by accident, both times during the first two months I had them. They haven't calmed down yet, but they've started to run away if the other snake approaches them while they're still swallowing their food. Of course I keep a close eye and I intervene the second I see the either of them show interest in the other one's food item.

Of course it's more time consuming if you have more than one group of snakes to feed, but I only have one set that needs to be monitored.

[ssssnakeluvr]

I don't see any problems as long as you make sure to monitor them at feeding time so no one gets accidently eaten. if they aren't brumated, breeding is rare but can happen. keep a good eye on them.

[Loren]

well, if you end up with unwanted hybrids, just remember, you do have a hungry kingsnake!!