I’ve heard/read from several sources that garters (and other natricines) are prone to just randomly dying for no apparent reason sometimes. It’s one thing that kinda turned me off from wanting to keep them myself (as well as the fact that most wild garters I’ve encountered have been extremely defensive and strikey, though that doesn’t seem to be the reputation they have as pets).
Whatever the reason, it’s a bummer. But at least you still have your other garters who seem to be healthy and thriving, and are now in a more secure enclosure!
Yeah, these four were adopted from Snake Discovery so I’m very aware of the Natricine habit of just randomly croaking. That’s why I hadn’t named any of them just yet, I was waiting until they hit adulthood and were slightly less likely to pass on me. Bit foolish to think it wouldn’t happen to me, but I guess given any amount of time in the hobby, it would have been inevitable. My only worry now is when they reach sexual maturity, I might have to split them up again or risk hybrids, depending on genders. Guess I’ll have to keep an eye out for another common.
They’re great animals once they get used to being handled. You will likely be musked on when they’re little, but if you keep at the handling, as they grow they settle.
I’m sure they make lovely pets, I’ve heard that once socialized they’re typically docile and curious and fun. I don’t know why the wild ones I’ve encountered are always so spicy. They’re WAAAAAY more defensive than any gopher, king, or even rattle snake I’ve encountered.
I mean, consider the size comparison of a garter to the other snakes listed. They’re much smaller and easier prey for many things, usually that strike from above. Most people pick them up from above, or the tail. The first thing they’re gonna do is try to get you to drop them. Biting and musking are the main ways they do that. Even with wild garters, usually if you handle them for more than a couple of minutes, they’ll realize you don’t want to eat them and just calm right down.
They were my favourite species as a kid, since they were easy to find. I went to a summer camp that was held at what was, in winter, a ski lodge. They had an outdoor hot tub that was slightly off its foundation, and the garters would live under it and come up to bask in the daylight. My parents got called more than once because I had been bitten by garters and had to be given Benadryl.
Well, there’s a not so great update to this story: Houdini’s direct sibling has refused to eat essentially since the day I discovered them deceased. I was a little afraid of this happening as they were always together. The Checkered garters are totally fine, which is how I’m quite sure it’s not an illness. Barring some sort of turnaround, I feel like the sibling may follow soon.
All of my garters were housed together, so they still have two companions. It seems that doesn’t overcome the loss of a sibling bond. I’m doing all i can for this one, but it just seems to have given up.
I was quite sure with how floppy they were yesterday that it was a mere matter of time, and I was right. I have moved the Checkereds into a smaller enclosure again since there’s only two. It sucks, but not much to be done, really.
Oh dear, I’m sorry. It does seem sometimes that when living things decide its time, there’s really nothing you can do. Not that it makes it feel any better
Awwwww man! I am so very sorry about little Houdini and Kevin!
What a testimony to the snake species that we as snake owners already know, and that is that some snakes do feel loss/mourn for their cage mates! Even to the point of mourning themselves to death! RIP little Houdini and little Kevin……
In a positive update, the pair of checkered garters remains wholly unaffected by recent events. They’re back to hiding in their fake plants and stealthily gorging themselves. If anything they seem to be acting even more normal than they had since Houdini passed. Go figure.
Oh, I’m so sorry to hear this. Poor Kevin. That’s rough on you too, after losing Houdini recently. You know, there are so many people who would be shocked at such a bond between snakes.
I’m happy that your checkered garter pair is thriving.
I think far too many people are taught that reptiles are cold and unfeeling. Houdini and Kevin were one of the best examples I’ve personally seen of how some species most definitely bond and get mutual comfort out of interaction. They were inseparable, I’d often find them sleeping just stacked atop one another. It’s why I wasn’t really surprised that Kevin wasn’t right after Houdini died. Even with the Checkereds there, it wasn’t the same relationship. They did not interact as closely.
