Garter Behaviour?

[jeanette]

Hi, Just got my first pair of Garters.
they are only a couple of months old and i dont know much about them just they were listed as checkered garters.
ive had them health checked and sexed and i have a female and a male.
i will post some pics soon.
the question i wanted to ask is........
when i fed them (first feed, i was so excited),
the female ate hers as quick as possible and then chased the male around to try to steal his, the male then seemed to whip her with his tale....is this normal? could i have been imagining it?
Another thing i would like to know is there somewhere i could get some general information on garter behaviour? they are so unlike any other snake ive ever come into contact with and im fascinated.
Also garters are opportunistic feeders right? should i be worried about over feeding them?

[adamanteus]

The tail whipping thing is quite normal... it is a form of 'distraction', the idea is the competing snake will investigate the tail rather than the food in the first snakes' mouth!
Garter behaviour is fascinating and complex.... and I don't think it's been fully discussed in any written work as yet. Rossman's book 'The Garter Snakes, Evolution and Ecology' covers many topics, but the best way to learn it is from experience... and asking your specific questions right here.
Over feeding can be a problem, but it's more of a long-term issue. I wouldn't worry about it just yet.
Looking forward to those photos!

[jeanette]

thanks adamanteus
will definately be asking lots of questions as time goes on i think lol.