Reptile & Amphibian Forums

Hello everyone!

I recently adopted a 25" long Coastal garter Snake form my grandmother's house. I am only keeping him for about 3 weeks becase he looks liek he was attacked by a turkey.

I have had a pet CA Red-Sided garter for about 3 months who is about 9" long.

I am wondering if it wouldbe safe to ptu them in a cage together and would the big one eat the ltitle one? Thanks!

I would advise against that. Coast garters are one of the few thamnophis that are well known for cannibalism - especially since it's the larger of the two.

Other good reasons for going against it are parasites and disease. Wildcaught snakes should always be quarantined away from a collection or other snakes to prevent outbreaks. You wouldn't want the WC snake to pick up anything from your captive either if it is headed back for the wild. This could possibly end up hurting wild populations of snakes. Not that cannibalism itself isn't a good enough reason, but those are a few more.
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Andy Maddox
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Houston Herp Key
The Reptizone

"A yellow ribbon instead of a swastika. Nothin' proper about ya propaganda. Fools follow rules when the set commands ya. Said it was blue when ya blood was red. That's how ya got a bullet blasted through ya head"- Rage Against the Machine

Like many snakes it can be easy to trigger a feeding response in a Garter. They can be like sharks in frenzy attempting to eat anything within range, including cagemates or your finger. You risk losing one or both of your snakes if you are not careful even if they are the same species. Some Garters can be housed together if certain feeding precautions are taken, but I agree with the previous post, not with a Coast Garter as they can be cannibalistic. I had to separate my Red-Spotted Garters but my Florida Blues (similis) do well together. Most of my 30 or so Garters are housed separately. I find that small (same size)Garters on a fish diet are easier to house together if enough food is introduced at any given time. Those on a rodent diet tend to compete more as less food items are present.