My first Garter

[Eight]

I took a little drive to get this guy today. I wasn't too sure about getting a checkered, but as soon as I saw this little guy it completely made up my mind. Its eyes are stunning. I'm unsure of the sex, and its yet to be named (if I name it). I also came home with another kingsnake, but that's a tale for a different forum lol.

Any how, here's the little guy :) (and please excuse my bad fingers, I've spent the last couple of hours cleaning cage equipment lol)

http://i557.photobucket.com/albums/ss11/SamHack/Forum Photos/_MG_3838.jpg

http://i557.photobucket.com/albums/ss11/SamHack/Forum Photos/_MG_3842.jpg

http://i557.photobucket.com/albums/ss11/SamHack/Forum Photos/_MG_3841.jpg

[EasternGirl]

Well...he's a looker! I think you will name him/her....:).

[Eight]

I think I will too :) I'll wait for the little guy to get bigger then have it sexed, and while I'm waiting I'm sure its character will help me name it :)

[Thamnophis]

Pretty little checkered garter! Beautiful species. Congratulations with your first real snake ;)

[Eight]

I'm going to wait for this guy to grow before I get any more. Hopefully in a few years I'll have a nice viv setup with a few species (same sex) all co habiting. I'm so amazed by the markings, Photo's just don't do them justice :)

[guidofatherof5]

Good looking little scrub.

[chris-uk]

Great looking marcianus, congratulations! I love the pattern of checkereds, and they are so underrated.

Roughly what size is s/he? If you can get some reasonable tail pics we should be able to have a pretty good "guess" at the sex.

[Eight]

I'll upload a couple of photo's for size and tail shortly. Is it a similar method that is used to sex corns? as in the way the tail tapers down? I'll be getting it probed either way, its always better to get it confirmed multiple times :)

[Eight]

Also did you want a tail pic of the top or underside?

[chris-uk]

Underside is what we need to sex it. And yes, it's the way the tail tapers that gives the game away.

I've not had any of our garters probed. It's simply that I don't trust anyone enough to let them probe my snakes, especially my blacknecks which have really delicate tails ends, or my Cuitzeos which are too rare (and given they've locked up I don't have any doubts about them). A checkered is a more sturdy garter, but I think they are also amongst the easiest to sex visually, so I've not had any need to have either of mine probed. Add on the number of times the person probing gets it wrong, especially with snakes like garters that few people are aren't accustomed to, and I don't see much point in probing.

[guidofatherof5]

Underside please.

[Eight]

I've decided to give it a few days to settle in and calm down. Its a little flighty right now so I'll let him/her work out that I'm a good guy first. I'll be sure to get them up soon though :)

[Eight]

I did get a couple of photo's before anyone said underside though, one of its size and one of the top of the tail. I know they won't help but here they are anyway.

http://i557.photobucket.com/albums/ss11/SamHack/Forum%20Photos/_MG_3852.jpg

http://i557.photobucket.com/albums/ss11/SamHack/Forum%20Photos/_MG_3853.jpg

[guidofatherof5]

Waiting is probably best. Good call.
Here's a link to a thread that will help you sex the snake yourself or show you what kind of photos to post.

http://www.thamnophis.com/forum/breeding/5069-sexing-pics.html

[Eight]

awesome looks to be pretty much the same as kings and corns/rats. Shouldn't be a problem. Thanks :)

[kibakiba]

Honestly you don't need to get it probed. Garters are really easy to sex.

[guidofatherof5]

Honestly you don't need to get it probed. Garters are really easy to sex.

Agreed.

[kibakiba]

I also think that probing with garters can be unreliable, because not many people even do it. Just my opinion.
And, it'd just stress the poor little guy out.