Tail Waving

[aSnakeLovinBabe]

Absolutely. I call it tail slapping. I find that any time garter snakes feel their food may be taken from them they will do this! Male or female, big or small... it almost seems that garter snakes KNOW that other garters will steal their food if possible and have developed this as a way to say NO and to distract the other snake. If the tail slap doesn't work then they will pull the full body thrash and flail their whole body around. I also love to watch them lift their head up high and carry their food as far as possible. often this leads to me angrily shouting at a snake as it is zooming across the carpet with a pinky in tow. Seeing as garters often live in close proximity in the wild, I don't find it strange that they would develop this behavior at all! I also find that a female garter snake that is being courted and is unwilling to mate will tail slap shortly before BOLTING to the opposite end of the enclosure.

[aSnakeLovinBabe]

I also have some garters that do what I refer to as "anger eating" The only ones I have ever had that will do it are similis and the florida blue easterns. They get really flippy when eating, and will often strike 8 or 9 times in rapid succession at food, biting it but not taking it. Then they try and flee. I find that snakes that do this, if I pick them up and grasp them firmly (but gently) and offer then the food, the will very angrily snatch it from me and eat it, almost with a vengeance-like attitude!

[ConcinusMan]

I also find that a female that is being courted and is unwilling to mate will tail slap shortly before BOLTING to the opposite end of the enclosure.

Yeah, I've had that happen before. Stings too.