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View Full Version : Some photos of wandering garters from Wyoming :)



MCwyo
07-08-2012, 06:54 PM
Over the last few weeks my daughter and I have been catching & releasing garters in our area. I thought I'd share a few photos :D We may end up keeping one or two eventually. I miss having a pet garter.

This one we nicknamed "Checkers". She spent a few days keeping us company, chowed down a bit food, and then we let her go. I loved her patterning! I believe she was gravid, I hope she passes on the patterning to her offspring.

http://img560.imageshack.us/img560/9161/checkers1.jpg (http://imageshack.us/photo/my-images/560/checkers1.jpg/)
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This girl we nicknamed "Dragon". We found her on a bike path which has very high retaining walls. It's a bit of a death trap for garters, the walls make it difficult for the snakes to get back into their habitat and there is allot of bike traffic on the path. She is shedding as we speak and will probably give birth soon. We will release her and her babies in the same general area we found her, but far away from the path.


http://img59.imageshack.us/img59/2827/dragon1l.jpg (http://imageshack.us/photo/my-images/59/dragon1l.jpg/)
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http://img210.imageshack.us/img210/576/dragon2l.jpg (http://imageshack.us/photo/my-images/210/dragon2l.jpg/)
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More photos to come...

thamneil
07-08-2012, 06:58 PM
Beautiful snakes! Again, you're very lucky to live around vagrans. Thanks for putting up these pics :)

MCwyo
07-08-2012, 07:03 PM
This little guy we found along the same retaining walls today. Looks like he's just under a year old? The camera really dose not do his coloration justice, his spots are a rusty copper color. The usual colors I find are black and shades of grey. We've nicknamed him "Copper". He might be a keeper.

http://img689.imageshack.us/img689/275/copper1x.jpg (http://imageshack.us/photo/my-images/689/copper1x.jpg/)
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Finally, we found this baby today in a storm drain. He is super sweet, mellow, just an awesome little guy. He already chowed down two pieces of worm and had a nice refreshing drink. He's too cute to resist! I have never seen so much bright yellow coloration in any of the local snakes...

http://img593.imageshack.us/img593/5451/baby2d.jpg (http://imageshack.us/photo/my-images/593/baby2d.jpg/)
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http://img189.imageshack.us/img189/3065/baby1cl.jpg (http://imageshack.us/photo/my-images/189/baby1cl.jpg/)
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thamneil
07-08-2012, 07:18 PM
Cute baby! He should be a keeper. :D

guidofatherof5
07-08-2012, 07:36 PM
Nice photos and awesome snakes. Thanks for posting them. Looking forward to more.

ssssnakeluvr
07-08-2012, 08:07 PM
awesome! we have tons of wanderings here in SLC. I have a super checkered one I need to post new pics of...she chows on mice! I have a yearling female with copper spots like yours...just barely got her to eat live fish.... post more pics if you find them!!!

Invisible Snake
07-08-2012, 08:15 PM
Neat looking vagrans, that baby is a keeper!!

i_heart_sneakie_snakes
07-08-2012, 09:11 PM
They are all nice looking, but that baby looks too, too sweet to let go. I'd keep him forever!!! That copper colored one is stunning too. I wish I found more Wanderings around my place. I love 'em!!!

ProXimuS
07-09-2012, 01:11 AM
Very nice pics! I especially like "Copper":)

Selkielass
07-09-2012, 04:24 AM
Beautiful snakes. Great pictures.

gazzamann
07-09-2012, 12:21 PM
nice !!

Dan72
07-09-2012, 05:43 PM
Thanks for sharing the pics. Dragon seemed very fitting for the one, I could almost picture wings to go with that profile of her head. Cute little ones.

MCwyo
07-14-2012, 11:08 PM
Just a quick update. I ended up releasing Copper today, even though I loved his coloring and would have loved to keep him. He was just too stressed out. Broke my heart to see him freak out every time I went near his cage. I let him go in a great garter spot and he was very happy to go home :)

Dragon completed her shed and is fatter than ever. She woofs down her meals like crazy. I'm starting to get pretty attached to her. She comes over to see me whenever I sit by her tank :) She's very curious and watches everything. I made her a bigger "swimming pool" and she spends quite a bit of time soaking and swimming around.

The little baby is eating like a champ and is currently in shed phase. I think he's actually a she.

AND a new snake... I found a male garter that has an injury on his side :( Some scales seem to be missing and there's a slight bump. I will post a photo of it tomorrow to see what you guys think.

guidofatherof5
07-15-2012, 09:49 AM
Releasing was probably for the best.

Dragon sounds like a good snake.

ssssnakeluvr
07-15-2012, 09:59 PM
http://sphotos-a.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ash4/c68.0.403.403/p403x403/426867_427195823985396_799360110_n.jpg
My big gravid wandering girl.

MCwyo
07-15-2012, 10:23 PM
Beautiful! I love her large spotting. Please post pics of her babies when she has them.

Our little baby completed her shed this morning. And she got a name... Ember. I have a feeling she will end up being a keeper. I redesigned her baby cage to be more natural and fun for her until I can transfer her to a better enclosure.

http://img195.imageshack.us/img195/2334/ember1e.jpg (http://imageshack.us/photo/my-images/195/ember1e.jpg/)
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Chillaxin' in the pool :cool:

http://img401.imageshack.us/img401/5614/ember2v.jpg (http://imageshack.us/photo/my-images/401/ember2v.jpg/)
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She has a really dark tummy!

http://img856.imageshack.us/img856/1648/emberblackbelly.jpg (http://imageshack.us/photo/my-images/856/emberblackbelly.jpg/)
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Wheat
07-15-2012, 10:27 PM
Really cool looking snakes. I like Ember's belly!

guidofatherof5
07-15-2012, 10:27 PM
Where is dry land?

MCwyo
07-15-2012, 10:49 PM
Her current cage is a Kritter Keeper, and I converted it to about 1/3 water, 2/3 dry land. I made a divider by cutting out a sturdy piece of plastic from an old shoe box tupperware. As you can see from the photo I used the rim section of the tupperware so that there would not be any sharp edges for her to rub on. I glued the divider in and sealed it. I placed a small ammount of gravel at the bottom of the pool side, and then filled the other side up with a layer of gravel, with some large smooth stones on top. There is an artificial plant and a piece of driftwood for her to climb on. The driftwood also creates a hide for her underneath. When I was taking the photos she was only interested in being in the water :p It's temporary, but she seems to like it. Heating is via lamp and I do feed her in a separate container.

Invisible Snake
07-16-2012, 12:45 AM
Cool pics. She does appear to like the pool, maybe she's lying around in it waiting for a fish to appear.

MCwyo
07-29-2012, 08:22 PM
Ember's colors seem to be getting brighter.
http://img12.imageshack.us/img12/1304/picture213d.jpg (http://imageshack.us/photo/my-images/12/picture213d.jpg/)
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http://img196.imageshack.us/img196/7172/picture215w.jpg (http://imageshack.us/photo/my-images/196/picture215w.jpg/)
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Wondering if I have her sexed correctly? Opinions?
http://img266.imageshack.us/img266/4939/picture234m.jpg (http://imageshack.us/photo/my-images/266/picture234m.jpg/)
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guidofatherof5
07-29-2012, 08:52 PM
We need to see the bottom/belly of the vent/tail area, not a profile.;)

MCwyo
07-29-2012, 09:09 PM
Here ya go:
http://img207.imageshack.us/img207/1280/picture236e.jpg (http://imageshack.us/photo/my-images/207/picture236e.jpg/)
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guidofatherof5
07-29-2012, 09:17 PM
I would say female. It is not what I would call an easy sexing. Very borderline call.

MCwyo
07-29-2012, 09:27 PM
Thanks for the input. That is how I feel as well... I keep second guessing back & forth. "She" is growing like a weed. I am wondering how I went all these years without a garter? Lol.

Invisible Snake
07-29-2012, 10:04 PM
Ember looks great, her color does appear to be getting brighter. As for the sexing, it's hard to tell because of her belly markings/color, it could go either way.

guidofatherof5
07-30-2012, 07:11 AM
Thanks for the input. That is how I feel as well... I keep second guessing back & forth. "She" is growing like a weed. I am wondering how I went all these years without a garter? Lol.

The more I look at it the more I think female. Nice steady taper even before the vent. Yes, female.

P.S. If I'm wrong then I'll go with male.:D

Thamnophis
07-30-2012, 10:07 AM
Looks very pretty!

norcalj
07-30-2012, 12:04 PM
Did you any of you guys see the picture of the Vagrans that was in the book 'The Garter Snakes:Evolution and Ecology'? That's the most beautiful wandering garter that I've ever seen! That specimen was from Utah though.

guidofatherof5
07-30-2012, 12:38 PM
I have the book and will have to check it out.

Stefan-A
07-30-2012, 12:38 PM
Did you any of you guys see the picture of the Vagrans that was in the book 'The Garter Snakes:Evolution and Ecology'? That's the most beautiful wandering garter that I've ever seen! That specimen was from Utah though.
There was a picture of a similar one posted on kingsnake.com years ago. Some time between 2005 and 2008.

norcalj
07-30-2012, 04:19 PM
Here's a pic of the Utah vagran. It's not the best pic, but it gives you an idea of what I'm talking about. I've never seen a blue Vagran's before.6147

Steveo
07-30-2012, 04:25 PM
Ooh. want.

guidofatherof5
07-30-2012, 04:29 PM
Beautiful.

ssssnakeluvr
07-30-2012, 09:30 PM
Here's a pic of the Utah vagran. It's not the best pic, but it gives you an idea of what I'm talking about. I've never seen a blue Vagran's before.6147

tint is a little off...they are gray here in Utah have a large gravid female that looks like that, along with gray babies.... pics will be posted later (the babies are available for anyone interested, just working on their first meal)

norcalj
07-30-2012, 10:54 PM
That snake was photographed in Cache county, just north of you. Perhaps different populations have slightly different coloration?


tint is a little off...they are gray here in Utah have a large gravid female that looks like that, along with gray babies.... pics will be posted later (the babies are available for anyone interested, just working on their first meal)

norcalj
07-31-2012, 12:15 AM
Here's another pic of a bluish Wandering Garter. 6148

ssssnakeluvr
07-31-2012, 07:26 AM
That snake was photographed in Cache county, just north of you. Perhaps different populations have slightly different coloration?

2 of my gravid girls are from Cache county. they vary even there..... they have quite a variety of variations, I have a gravid girl that bred this year that was found a block from my house. she has a brownish background color and an exaggerated checkered pattern. will have to get some pics this weekend and post them =)

BLUESIRTALIS
07-31-2012, 07:57 AM
That is a nice looking snake!

here's another pic of a bluish wandering garter. 6148

mikem
07-31-2012, 11:34 AM
:eek: Love that blue coloring! Gorgeous :eek:

MCwyo
07-31-2012, 08:01 PM
LOVE that blue vagrans! Most of ours here are very earth toned with only mild spotting and generally more faded yellow dorsal stripes.

norcalj
07-31-2012, 08:56 PM
2 of my gravid girls are from Cache county. they vary even there..... they have quite a variety of variations


Yeah, I know what you mean. Around here, Coast Garters (Elegans Terrestris) have that same kinda variation. Along the outer coast they're usually either a bright crimson red, or a dull brick red. Heading East in the flatlands, specimens are usually black/w yellow stripes or black with with a suffusion of red or orange spots along their lateral stripes. The latter bears a strong resemblance to the 'Flame' T.s.sirtalis from the East Coast. When you go further inland up in the hills, they tend to be brownish. For someone who isn't familiar with garters, these animals can look like totally different species.

FireRedGarters
08-01-2012, 02:06 PM
Hey guys i have a couple vagrans and they are rely agressive eaters they case after anything that move which makes them rely hard to handle they chase my hand and bite me daily is there any way i can stop this behaiver

guidofatherof5
08-01-2012, 02:22 PM
Send them to their hide without dinner.:D

Not sure what to tell you, I don't have any wanderings at the Ranch. Don't know much about them.

Stefan-A
08-01-2012, 06:20 PM
Hey guys i have a couple vagrans and they are rely agressive eaters they case after anything that move which makes them rely hard to handle they chase my hand and bite me daily is there any way i can stop this behaiver
No, just watch your fingers and be happy that you have such well-functioning snakes.

That's what I do. Haven't been bitten yet, in the 5 years that I've kept vagrans.

norcalj
08-01-2012, 08:23 PM
Hey guys i have a couple vagrans and they are rely agressive eaters they case after anything that move which makes them rely hard to handle they chase my hand and bite me daily is there any way i can stop this behaiver

I'm not sure that there's anything that you can do to change their aggressive behavior. But to prevent them from biting you during feeding, you can use tongs.