Got two new babies!

[xScoutx]

So for a month I had been saving up for a couple of Checkered Garter Snakes that had come in at my local reptile shop. Well... close to local. Anyway, I finally got the okay to get them and brought them home on Thursday!

http://a4.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc6/250482_1857442354757_1201801794_31764731_2608644_n .jpg
http://a2.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-ash4/250482_1857442394758_1201801794_31764732_1461078_n .jpg

The albino is named Naomi and the... I'm not sure if I should call him yellow or greenish, but his name is Milo. Not real sure of their sexes yet but these names kinda fit them to me. They were in the same tank when I bought them, so I think it'll be okay for them to still live together.
Any advise or anything? I have a care-sheet saved on my iPhone but these guys are only the second snakes I own, and I've learned so much from these threads I never would have learned anywhere else. So please, if there's anything anyone could spare me or any criticism I'd be thankful for it!

[NennaMeerkat]

I would advise on seperating them TBH

[xScoutx]

Also, I know the pictures aren't that great or anything, but they were taken while these guys were still in their little 'cup' they got put in. I'll have better pictures later after they've spent a few days being left alone in their new home.

[xScoutx]

Sorry, what's TBH mean? >.<

[LLinz]

TBH= To Be Honest

[infernalis]

I would advise on seperating them TBH


Thamnophis is one of the few species of snakes that actually do just fine housed together.

Virtually every garter snake keeper I know of keeps them two or more in a cage together.

It is necessary to separate them at feeding time, but that's it.

[stephanbakir]

Garters do fantastic together, great lookin snakes man.

[reptile65]

As Wayne said, they'll be fine together. There are a couple types of garters known to be cannibalistic, but checkered garters are not one of them.

[xScoutx]

Whoo! Thanks guys, I hardly have enough money left for these next two weeks to buy another tank. The storekeepers did keep them together and feed them separately, and I heard that garters are calmer in groups... not real sure if that's true or not though. But I'm taking them back to the store Sunday because the first feeding after buying a snake is free, and since these are the first kind I've had since a constrictor I kinda need the feeding lesson. ^^; But on Sunday I'll definitely get cuter pictures, since the ones I have now are pretty blurry.

[NennaMeerkat]

Wow guys I apologize for giving wrong information. Everything I had been told was to keep all snakes seperated cause you can't tell about their poo, if one gets sick both do, stresses on the snakes, and what you had said doesn't happen cannibalism.

So its okay because they don't eat one another to house them together? I am a little confused that the rest of the reasons I have been told do not matter.

[stephanbakir]

But I'm taking them back to the store Sunday because the first feeding after buying a snake is free

Just some advice, if I were you I'd try calling the pet store and asking them if they can just give you the food, travelling with an animal stresses them out which will make them less likely to feed and its not healthy overall.

[stephanbakir]

So its okay because they don't eat one another to house them together? I am a little confused that the rest of the reasons I have been told do not matter.

There are a few types of reptiles that do great in groups, anoles, Cuban Curly tails and Garters to name a few.

[Xochiquetzal]

very nice little snakes , thanks for sharing!

[xScoutx]

Just some advice, if I were you I'd try calling the pet store and asking them if they can just give you the food, travelling with an animal stresses them out which will make them less likely to feed and its not healthy overall.

Thanks! I'll be sure to call them first thing tomorrow and ask. They told me to bring them up there on Sunday to show me how to feed them but hey, what's youtube for, right? These are the first little snakes that I'm going to feed with something other than a mouse, and have different hunting skills than a KSB, so all I have on them right now is to be sure to feed them separately. I do have one question though. Should I keep them separate until the next day after feeding just to be safe? Or should they be fine as soon as they're full?

Wow guys I apologize for giving wrong information. Everything I had been told was to keep all snakes seperated cause you can't tell about their poo, if one gets sick both do, stresses on the snakes, and what you had said doesn't happen cannibalism.

I did look up some stuff after you mentioned that because I agree, those are some good reasons to keep them apart. But all I found was that most cannibalism among checkered garters generally happens if they're not separated during feeding time. Either way I appreciate your advice all the same and thanks for sparing me some at all. ^-^


very nice little snakes , thanks for sharing!

Why thank you very much! =)

[stephanbakir]

Or should they be fine as soon as they're full?

Once they have food in their bellies you can place them back together, but don't handle them too much getting them from point a to point b, stress after eating is never good.

[xScoutx]

Yeah I learned that the hard way once. When Synn(KSB) upgraded from pinkies to fuzzies last year I had no clue it would take her a little longer than a day to digest and tried picking her up twenty-four hours after her first fuzzy, she wasn't too happy with me. >.<

[Ch^4]

Great looking garters, congrats!

[xScoutx]

Thanks! =)

[mistersprinkles]

First feeding after buying snake is free= idiotic. The store you bought these snakes from is being run a by a moron in my opinion. You never move a reptile unless you have to. Especially after just bringing it home. Considering they'll eat worms you can buy for a dime a piece, it's not really worth it.