I often wonder how intelligent captive raised garters are and how they perceive their keeper and their surroundings... Since it is appropriate to say that part of their natural behavior is based on instinct , part of their behavior is , as in any beast , learned trough flaws and sucess.
Now i am greatly assuming stuff here , but i would like to see if you have similar stuff to post concerning your garters : When they need something , basically anything , mine place their heads on their water bowl. Too [bleep]ty all over the terrarium? Head on a water bowl..Need to change the water ? Heads on the bowl.Hungry ? Heads on the bowl.If i'm very busy , and seem to pass and see them like so , i knw something is wrong. It seems to be the way they ask for assistance.I do belive it as started once one of them had [bleep] in the bowl. they lied there , probably thirsty but unable to drink the foul water... Once the water had dried out ( this summer , very intense heat ) same process...so they must of clicked that such a posture brings forth yours truly. One of them , wich was my favorite , spend so much time with me growing up , that he now litteraly needs the human attention , else he will refuse to eat : he spends is time in the corner , fed or not , going up and down as the newborns do , wich the other , less handle garter does not do anymore at all. His behavior can only be calmed with a few trips outside. he is rather cute , litteraly jumping on me as an hand his put in the terrarium... ( it often frighten's me to what extent he depends on "human attention" or the freedom of exploration it brings , something completly abnormal the other garter doesn't seem to need.
Also...recently , one of them , the independant one , eats like a godmned pig and grows intensely.As a result he [bleep]s more. But startling : he always [bleep]s at the same few points of the terrarium. I was wondering what did that mean and if any of you had ever noticed that in any garter...to have designated "poop spots". Is it a learned factor brought to him by the discomfort of his increase in daily pooping ??? Or do male garters mark their territorY ?( wich i have never heard of !) I do not know if it is a male anyway... I have once read an article about someone who had train garters into doing stuff , so they have that learning capacity ,undoubtably, however none of what i mention is voluntary on my behalf, its basicly the way they've adapted to their world and keeper.
So,that was just a few of their habits i find interresting to report,as a curiosity , if you have any comments ( like "your insane"
or if you have also garters with unusual , funny or intriguing habits , post on !
