First Wild Garter of Kansas

[InsanePirateDragon]

Finally! Thought I was never going to see any at all until the fall at least, and I wasn't even trying to find snakes at 11:00 at night.

I was actually rounding up some snails and worms for Miss Lightning when I found what I believe what I think is a female and I quickly grabbed her. Almost stepped on her and I felt her go over my feet. I'm one of those 'if I can, I'm going barefoot' so I was at least quick to respond.

Probably helped that it looked that she was in blue phase.

And I've officially been musked by my first garter, so now I'm official. And she did try to grab me, but I was quick enough to move my hand and sort of dropped her in the tub I have her in at the moment and took some pictures with a bit of light from an LED flashlight so I can get a quick sex of it.

I actually caught it not far from where I released that big one I found so it might be the same one.

Working on uploading pictures now.

[InsanePirateDragon]

Not the greatest of pictures, I was using my ipod so bare with me a bit;

http://i73.photobucket.com/albums/i234/InsanePirateDragon/IMG_20120612_233253.jpg

http://i73.photobucket.com/albums/i234/InsanePirateDragon/IMG_20120612_233331.jpg

http://i73.photobucket.com/albums/i234/InsanePirateDragon/IMG_20120612_233340.jpg

http://i73.photobucket.com/albums/i234/InsanePirateDragon/IMG_20120612_233416.jpg

http://i73.photobucket.com/albums/i234/InsanePirateDragon/IMG_20120612_233524.jpg

[ProXimuS]

Nice:) What is she? T.s. sirtalis?

[InsanePirateDragon]

No, I she's a parietalils, not as red as Marley but it might be due to being ready to shed and it being nearly midnight when I tried to take pictures, you can see a bit of the red.

I'm going to sit on her a couple of days to see what happens and if I can get a conformation on sex out of curiosity. I'd hate to have to board another snake and I don't want to stick her or the 2 foot Marley in a little dinky 10 gallon and Sully is still under quarantine though he's almost half Marley's size still don't want to risk anything for the time being.

And I certainly don't want to plop her into the 40 gallon so she's in a rubbermaid tub at the moment outside near the turtle pen.

[kibakiba]

Definitely female from what I can see.

[katach]

I agree, female. You will post pics after she sheds. :D I'm very sure she will be a stunner!

[guidofatherof5]

Female for sure.

[ssssnakeluvr]

yep, female. Love parietalis!

[ssssnakeluvr]

yep, definitely female. I love parietalis and need to get me some! "somewhere you never heard of in Kansas"? try me :D My mom grew up in Kansas in St John, and now has moved back, lives over in Cherryvale :cool:

[InsanePirateDragon]

We'll see if she sheds and settles down during the week. Right now she had no problem camping out under the porch near the turtle pen in a makeshift house under there and out of the sun.

Right now the herp vet is out of town for the month which really stinks so I'm not sure what to do with her, I don't want to contaminate the other reps at the lizard store or maybe I'm just paranoid.

But she didn't strike or run when I was putting water in a bowl for her. I probably won't be able to get my hands on her again until at least Friday.

[InsanePirateDragon]

I agree, female. You will post pics after she sheds. :D I'm very sure she will be a stunner!

I hope to, I know I'm wishing that I took pics of the big one I found in August, she was about the same area where I found it.

Right now it's hard to tell if she has the same bleeding red like what Marley has. Now if she does, I'll see if I can make room. I'm just hoping she's not Marley's momma.

And is it bad that I sort of started calling her Santana...

[InsanePirateDragon]

Ever heard of Bonner then? That's where I live.But not my gang, right now it looks like I'm sitting on the pretty ones right now, so...Nenernenrnener... Just playing.

[InsanePirateDragon]

Okay, I checked on the wild girl tonight after I got home tonight from work.

And boy, I'm not sure if its because she can't see because of the shed coming or what, but she's got ATTITUDE!

She musked me again and tried to strike at me repeatedly over and over again. She might be getting released, but I sort of want to see what she's like after a shed which hopefully won't be much longer.

[katach]

If her eyes are still cloudy, then my guess would be she can't see you. If she has cleared then she is just a feisty one. You should just give her a little time to settle in and then see how her temperament is. Offer her some food, maybe that will show her you aren't going to eat her :D.

[InsanePirateDragon]

Yeah still cloudly, so I know she's shedding soon hopefully, I know Marley gets a bit skittish and hides when he's about to shed, but he's always been a gentleman.

I did offer her a worm this morning before I headed out, lets just say I was glad I decided to put on a glove, she struck out and grabbed onto the glove and she struck at the worm as well and keeps flattening out her neck as well.

[katach]

Oooo she is mad! Hopefully she'll get better once she can see.

[InsanePirateDragon]

Well... I don't have to worry about her now.

Went to go Round 3 with the firecracker only to find the tub empty, she managed to find a way out, more than likely because the lid of the tub didn't snap on all the way and I didn't put a brick on it like I should have and she released herself.

Thats fine with me though, she was fiesty and I really didn't have a setup for her yet, and plus she'd have to be boarded and it probably would have really stressed her out.

Hopefully I'll see her around the house again.