Not quite a garter

[Benji-le3]

Firstly sorry if I'm in the wrong place this is my first post and I'm still getting use to this site but was suggested to come here by a friend. I have what I believe to be a gravid florida water snake and I worked it out that she should be giving birth today or tomorrow. Just that today she mounded up all of her aspen and buried herself in it which she's never done in the entire time I've owned my pair. Could this be possible "nesting"? and would there be any other signs to look out for??

[katach]

Found this info page. FLMNH - Florida Water Snake (Nerodia fasciata pictiventris) (http://www.flmnh.ufl.edu/herpetology/fl-guide/Nerodiafpictiventris.htm)
Looks like you'll be very busy. I can only speak of experience with garters, but they both give live birth, so I would imagine it would be similar behavior. My girl was also making little round aspen mounds before the birth. She became restless and started "pacing" her tank. I also noticed her vent was slightly open a day or two before. Hope this helps. Good luck and welcome to the forum!

[Benji-le3]

Thanks for the reply katach, I was thinking maybe it's the same sort of behaviour as garters but I really don't know any one working with them over this side of the pond. she's still inside the aspen mound not sure if i should disturb her to check for babies or leave her alone? what do you think?

[guidofatherof5]

Best of luck with the impending babies?
I would be interested in knowing how you figured a birth date. Was this a captive breed snake?
We would love to see a photo or two and help identify your snake.
Be sure to go to the "Welcome Lounge" and post so we can give you an official welcome.
Welcome Lounge (http://www.thamnophis.com/forum/welcome-lounge/)

[Benji-le3]

They're captive bred Albino Florida water snakes, and the dates were my estimate from the first locks and possible pre lay shed

[guidofatherof5]

Very good. Thanks.

[EasternGirl]

My female eastern garter started digging and moving her substrate around and burrowing a lot before she gave birth. She also became extremely restless and began refusing food. Good luck! I love little baby snakes!

[Benji-le3]

She seems to be going phases, she comes out of her little hill goes crazy around her viv and appears to be working stuff down to her vent then she just stops and acts normal :confused: Really questioning myself if she is gravid lol

[katach]

She is probably "dropping" The closer they get to birth they will move the babies down closer to the vent. Happened with my girl. That is when her vent became slightly open.

[Invisible Snake]

Good luck on a healthy litter, any chance we can see some pics of the snakes?

[Benji-le3]

Here's one of the male! 5598

[Benji-le3]

She is probably "dropping" The closer they get to birth they will move the babies down closer to the vent. Happened with my girl. That is when her vent became slightly open.

Any idea how long after this she will lay?

[Invisible Snake]

Here's one of the male! 5598

Thanks for posting the pic, he looks great!

[mikem]

:eek: Amazing! Thanks for sharing.

[guidofatherof5]

Beautiful and it appears he has retained some of that water snake attitude for the looks of the photo.

[katach]

Any idea how long after this she will lay?

My girl gave birth about a week after I noticed her vent slightly open.

[ProXimuS]

Ooh daddy's pretty. Congrats on the impending litter:)

[Benji-le3]

:eek: Amazing! Thanks for sharing.

I'm glad you like him, really wish I could get my hands on a hypo florida water snake over here would make for an interesting breeding project


Ooh daddy's pretty. Congrats on the impending litter:)

Thank you :)

[Benji-le3]

does any one on here know how i would possibly go about getting a hypo water snake over here??

[Steveo]

Check out market.kingsnake.com under "Garter & water snakes". I see some water snakes listed there from time to time. I feel like I saw a hypo listed there recently, but I could be making that up. Most of them are offered by businesses and might be willing to export, though it'd be a bit pricy I'm sure.

[Benji-le3]

yeah the only problem with that is you need to make a big order for any of them to consider shipping to the uk :(. Hope you appreciate how lucky you lot are in the states lol!

[Invisible Snake]

Check out Reptile Forums UK - Care, Pictures, Classifieds & More (http://www.reptileforums.co.uk/forums/)

[Benji-le3]

Check out Reptile Forums UK - Care, Pictures, Classifieds & More (http://www.reptileforums.co.uk/forums/)

Been a member on there for years and apart from a very small handful no one has any water snakes

[katach]

Perhaps there is someone over there that will be making a trip to the states and could bring one back for you if you were able to find one.

[Benji-le3]

Yeah that does seem to be my only option at the moment also will be loading a few pictures of the female in a short while just uploading them now but they are from my iphone so are not the best

[Benji-le3]

So here's two picture of the female see if people here would agree she's gravid

56165617

[guidofatherof5]

I know that water snakes are thick but from the looks of that scale spread I wouldn't let that snake around any sharp objects.

[Benji-le3]

Here's one of her in her little mound that she decided to make and now has gone back into
5618

[katach]

That is cute with her little face poking out.

[Benji-le3]

That is cute with her little face poking out.

I just hope she is about to have some babies so I can look and see a few faces poking out at me.

[Invisible Snake]

Yeah man she is about to burst with babies :)

[Benji-le3]

Hopefully although I'm not expecting to many babies as it's only her first ever breeding

[kibakiba]

Her little face is adorable!

[FireRedGarters]

Wow that makes me want one their very similar to garters

[Benji-le3]

Yeah they're very similar to garters, Sadly she doesn't seem so swollen any more so I'm doubting she's gravid and officially have no idea what's going on. So much simpler with egg layers :p

[Benji-le3]

Would love to here peoples views on the matter

[Benji-le3]

Quick update*** Female pushed out a lot of clear liquid, not to sure what it is (anyone have any ideas?) seems abit thinner but fatter just above her vent

[guidofatherof5]

Could be birth time. No real way to know . Time will tell. Clear liquid could be urates.

[Benji-le3]

No it wasn't urates, really is annoying not knowing lol