Garter snake quarantine

Wxdzy · 05-20-17, 05:57 AM

I am getting two different species of garter snake, red sided, and black necked garters. Both female. I was wondering if I should quarantine them from each other before including them both inside their shared enclosure.

marina322 · 06-04-17, 09:17 AM

I think that would best, just in case one has something wrong that could be passed to the other. Just to be on the safe side I would.

Albert Clark · 06-04-17, 09:56 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Wxdzy

I am getting two different species of garter snake, red sided, and black necked garters. Both female. I was wondering if I should quarantine them from each other before including them both inside their shared enclosure.

Nice additions! Grats. It's always best to do a ninety day quarantine on any new animal coming into your established collection.

bigsnakegirl785 · 06-05-17, 06:53 PM

Best case scenario, they stay separated, but if you really want to put them together a quarantine is a must. I wouldn't recommend cohabitation, though, as a risk for cannibalization, spread of illness, and stress is always a high possibility.

dannybgoode · 06-06-17, 06:58 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bigsnakegirl785

Best case scenario, they stay separated, but if you really want to put them together a quarantine is a must. I wouldn't recommend cohabitation, though, as a risk for cannibalization, spread of illness, and stress is always a high possibility.

Garters are one of the few snakes that do fantastically well cohabiting. Indeed I know keepers that will only keep garters in groups and it is certainly what I'll be doing when I get some.

bigsnakegirl785 · 06-06-17, 07:29 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by dannybgoode

Garters are one of the few snakes that do fantastically well cohabiting. Indeed I know keepers that will only keep garters in groups and it is certainly what I'll be doing when I get some.

I'm aware they're commonly kept together, but the risks still apply even with garters. They are not naturally gregarious, only gathering in brumation dens and during the breeding frenzy right after warm weather begins. The rest of the year they're solitary.