Now I'm "that" poster... Sorry.

[i_heart_sneakie_snakes]

I see posts here often where people request opinions on if their snake is gravid. It always seems so obvious to me. They are all plump and baby filled. But now I am that person. My two wild caught Fitchi, Flickabee and Salem, are looking a little round in the right places. I was just going with a wait and see kind-of attitude. I mean eventually I would get my answer :) But then I read a post that scared the absolute hell out of me. The posters wild caught snake was actually sick and dying. Now I can't get that out of my head.

I have no history for these two girls at all. Just that a man who breeds and sells Pythons caught them in his yard in Couer D'Alene Idaho about a month ago. They are both very, very calm and sweet. They have both eaten well, fish only. Silversides and live guppies. They seem perfectly normal, doing regular Garter Snake things. So please let me know what you think. Should I prepare for 2 litters of tiny babies (I have had babies before), or prepare for the worst??

Here's my girls...
This is a top shot of Flickabee.
6304

And here are both girls together. Salem is the more balled up one on the right. Flickabee is the more stretched out one.
6305

And one of Flickabee eating, just cuz it's cute :)
6306

[snake man]

Looks gavid to me good luck

[mikem]

Flickabee definitely looks gravid to me. :)

[-MARWOLAETH-]

I think the fist one is gravid.Best way to tell is to weigh her regularly and see if there is a significant gain in weight.Good luck with the babas:)...Or she could just be full of Shite;)

[guidofatherof5]

I think it would be best to prepare for babies. This would be prime birthing time.

[ConcinusMan]

Are these WC snakes caught this season? Better get ready for babies then. It's time.


I think the fist one is gravid.Best way to tell is to weigh her regularly and see if there is a significant gain in weight.

A little late for that. These are northwest snakes and as such, are already maxed out on the weight gain, and ready to give birth any day now. Mine are. They quit gaining weight two weeks ago. Two snakes I shipped out had babies this week. It's birthing time for NW snakes. Actually, they're a little late this year. Late July to early August is normal but can happen as late as late august. The downright cold, wet spring has them set to birth in August this year. I wouldn't be surprised if a few held out until early Sept.

[Mommy2many]

Here's hoping for lots of babies!

[ConcinusMan]

Beautiful fitchii

[ProXimuS]

Beautiful fitchii

Yes, very very pretty! Can't wait to see the babies:)

[sandviper23]

The 3rd image, I love it!

[i_heart_sneakie_snakes]

Are these WC snakes caught this season?

Yes, these are both wild caught. They were captured about a month or so ago. I didn't catch them myself, so I don't know the exact date. Both girls look the same as far as "fatness" goes.

Thanks for all the responses, I feel better now. Updates once babies appear :)

[ConcinusMan]

Yes, these are both wild caught. They were captured about a month or so ago. I didn't catch them myself, so I don't know the exact date.

Exact date doesn't matter. Caught a month ago, females will be likely gravid and due any day now.:)

[i_heart_sneakie_snakes]

I am keeping a close eye on them. No funny business yet :)

[EasternGirl]

The first one is definitely gravid...no doubt in my mind. The other one looks to be as well. Another thing to keep in mind is that garters can store sperm for a while...up to two years someone told me. I would def prepare for babies! Good luck and keep us posted. Beautiful snakes. Oh and don't worry...I did the same thing when Cee Cee was gravid...it can be hard to tell if you have never had a gravid snake before.

[Invisible Snake]

Any updates? o.o

[i_heart_sneakie_snakes]

Any updates? o.o Nothing new to report. Both are eating normally. They very much enjoy live guppies. I put them in very little water so they are not TOO hard to catch. They will catch and eat the guppies while I am holding them (the snakes).

No new sheds. Hoping something exciting happens soon. I have only ever had Concinnus babies. Are these comparable in size you think??

[i_heart_sneakie_snakes]

Salem finally shed today. She is just so pretty now. I'm hoping this will be her pre-birth shed. She is noticeably heavy when I hold her. I have my fingers crossed that all goes easy for her. Here she is today after her shed. 6476

[Invisible Snake]

Looking good! :)

[ProXimuS]

She's so pretty! I love her rosy cheeks:)

[i_heart_sneakie_snakes]

Babies!!! We have BABIES!!!! It was Flickabee who dropped, not Salem. I'm thinking Salem won't be far behind. There is 6 live babies and one stillborn. One of the live babies has a kinked tail. Is this survivable??
On to the pictures :)
6487 64886489 Here is the kinked tail on the baby... 6490 And another baby :) 6491

[-MARWOLAETH-]

Congratulation on the new arrivals.I wish Mam and the babies all the best:)

[EasternGirl]

Congrats on the babies!!! I'm not sure about the one with the kinked tail...it depends what is going on there. Is the baby moving normally and acting okay despite the kink?

[i_heart_sneakie_snakes]

Yes Marnie, s/he is actually the most active and seems to be perfectly normal except that one thing. All of the kinks are after the vent. I hope that means there won't be any serious internal issues.

[mikem]

Congrats on the babies! I'd be concerned about any twists or pinching of the digestive tract or reproductive organs, but if it's far enough down past the vent, then that shouldn't be an issue. Shedding may be the only trouble it will have. I just don't have enough experience and knowledge with kinking to say anything for sure.

[Invisible Snake]

Congrats on the little ones! The kinked baby looks fine but he/she most likely will have trouble breeding as an adult.

[ProXimuS]

Congratulations! Such cute babies:) Can't wait for litter #2!

[Mommy2many]

Congratulations on the babies!

[i_heart_sneakie_snakes]

Thanks everyone, I think they are totally adorable!!! They all seem healthy and active. I tried feeding them chopped earthworms today and one dived right in. I was pleased at least one ate on the first feeding attempt.
One of the babies appears to be very obviously a boy. Can they actually be visually sexed this early??

[kerensa]

Many years ago I has a corn snake (cali sunshine) who had a badly kinked tail below her vent. the only trouble she ever had was with sheds, the kink did not shed completely a single time. always had to soak and remove that area myself. otherwise it just looked bad like some one had shut her in a door. I'd say time will tell with your kinky scrub. Either way does getting stressed about it now help? Nope. soooooo be aware and enjoy until trouble arrives... theres always plenty of time to cry later.

[Tiffany]

So cute! I have to stop myself from handling our babies all the time. The adorableness can be overwhelming. Is kinked tail the one you think is male?

[i_heart_sneakie_snakes]

Is kinked tail the one you think is male?
No, it was a different baby who looked male. If I had to guess, I'd say kinked tail is a little girlie :)

[i_heart_sneakie_snakes]

Well Salem finally had her babies!!! She had 8 healthy little ones. So we have 14 total. So far everyone is eating well. Some like the chopped up worms and some like the live baby guppies. As long as they are eating, I'm happy :) Even little Chubby Checker (the little one who's doing the twist) has eaten. I'll be watching him/her closely to see if anything weird happens while digesting.
Salem's doing great. She ate and rested and seems perfectly normal.
A have not been able to get all 14 in a single shot yet.6676
You can see the twist in Chubby Checkers tail. S/he is the one in the middle looking awy from the camera.6677Right after I put the worm slop in. Everyone showed interest right away.6678
This little one is a great fisherman or woman ;)6679
Yum, worms!!6680

[-MARWOLAETH-]

Cute little bunch:).It's good to their eating for you.I love their rosy cheeks reminds me concinnus​.

[guidofatherof5]

Good looking little eaters.

[ProXimuS]

Yay! Congrats on the second litter:D Lookin good!

[ConcinusMan]

Cute little bunch:).It's good to their eating for you.I love their rosy cheeks reminds me concinnus​.

Well I have a bunch of babies right now and if you put them together with those fitchii you wouldn't be able to tell which is which. They're looking awesome! congrats!

[Mandi0284]

Awww...they are so cute.

[i_heart_sneakie_snakes]

Just a little baby update. All 14 babies have eaten and everyone seems good and healthy. The little kinked baby hasn't seemed to have any trouble with digesting or going potty. So I think we are off to a good start. I have even found a home for one of them. Yay, that only leaves me with 13!!! Anyone looking for a baby?? :)

[guidofatherof5]

Nice update. Thanks.

[snake man]

Always god to hear.

[mikem]

Love the babies! Congrats on the new additions :cool:

[i_heart_sneakie_snakes]

Thank You :) I now only have 4 babies who are looking for homes. I am keeping the baby with the kinky tail. Here is a cute little shot I got of one of the little girls (I think).
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[-MARWOLAETH-]

Forget OMGcat OMGfitchii is way better:D

[Invisible Snake]

Thank You :) I now only have 4 babies who are looking for homes. I am keeping the baby with the kinky tail. Here is a cute little shot I got of one of the little girls (I think).
6993

That's a really cool picture, was she in the process of being fed?

[snake man]

I imagine you will have no problem finding these guys a home.

[i_heart_sneakie_snakes]

That's a really cool picture, was she in the process of being fed?
It was so dang cute. Here is what went down :)
She was fishing for guppies in a shallow dish. She caught one and dragged it there by the glass. She had the fish sideways and used the glass right there to push the guppy into the correct position for swallowing. Once the fish was down she just kept "sniffing" and opening her mouth like she was gonna catch a fish, right there on the glass. :) This was the best of the pictures I took. Now I wish i'd have taken a video!!!

[Greg'sGarters]

A lot of times, wild caught ones will be gravid. 2 out of the last 3 I caught were females, both of them were gravid. She definitely looks gravid.