Can garter snakes be housed alone?

Can garter snakes be housed alone?

With some garter snake species, there is a risk of cannibalism, and they should be housed individually. This is especially true of the Western Terrestrial Garter Snake (Thamnophis elegans), the most commonly kept subspecies of which are the Wandering Garter Snake (T.

Are garter snakes friendly pets?

Garter snakes are generally gentle and docile in nature–making them a good species of snake to keep as a pet. Most garter snakes won’t bite, instead preferring to spray a musk to ward off danger. They are also small, only growing between 23 to 30 inches long, though some have been known to grow larger than that.

Are garter snakes easy to handle?

Garter snakes are relatively small, which makes them easy to house. It also allows many beginning keepers to handle them more confidently, and it means they don’t present any serious safety issues.

Can you touch garter snakes?

Many garter snakes, particularly if they are captive bred, are gentle and do not mind being handled, and handling them is simply a matter of picking them up and letting them explore your hands. If you have experience handling other snakes, it’s important to remember that garter snakes are not constrictors.

How do you tell if a snake is a garden snake?

They may be easily distinguishable or appear faded. One stripe will run down the center of the snake’s back, the other two on each side of its body. Common colors are yellow, brown or blue. Not all common garter snakes have stripes, so even if you don’t see any stripes, your snake may still be a common garter snake.

Are garden snakes poisonous to dogs?

Garter snakes are considered mildly venomous, meaning a bite from one could cause irritation but shouldn’t be serious. If your pooch has an encounter with a garter snake, his reaction will depend on what kind of interaction he’s had with it. If he killed the snake without ingesting any of it, he should be fine.