Happy, Happy, Happy :)

[SkinnyPete]

Well I am a newbie Garter keeper. I hadn't had a garter before a few weeks ago when my father in law sent home "Lexi" with my daughters. (Valley Garter) then the next day he called and asked "Want another?" I said sure... As they both seemed to be girls, everything looked good to me.
I set them up and got them squared away, day one "Lexi" the little one (about 12" long) ate about 5 nightcrawlers and seemed happy. The second day the bigger girl "Berta" (Valley Garter) who is about 50% larger then "Lexi" ate some nightcrawlers. A 3 days later Lexi ate a F/T Pinky cut up into 1/3rds and scented with worms. Berta wouldn't eat again... A few days later Lexi went opaque and shed a few days after that. A perfect shed. :)
A few days after that Berta went opaque and refused food again. She cleared up day before yesterday and this morning at about 10am she shed out. A perfect shed! :) Measured out at 20" long.
At about 2pm I just cut up some garden worms and a fairly large pinky and offered it up. FOOD FRENZY! Berta was hammering worms, and Lexi was enjoying her pinky pieces, until Berta decided she wanted one! Tug 'o war! I wasn't good with that, so I just put my hand in the cage and rubbed on Berta, she let go and Lexi got her pinky. After pouting for a few minutes Berta realized there were more mouses in the dish! She slurped down a pinky head and 3 more worms and is now basking and looking quite content. Lexi is doing the same.
I am so happy that they are both fed, shed and happy.
Berta is still not real big on being held, but she lets me stroke her now. Lexi is curious and crawls around my hands and nuzzles, she isn't so sure about the handling thing, but when I do pick her up she calms down after a few seconds and just cruises around inspecting my hands. I am so happy that we chose to take these girls in. They are truly amazing animals, and I am lucky to have them in my life.
They have also become quite a bonding experience between my daughters ( ages 5 and 8) and I.

WOW, that was a long post. I just wanted to share something :)
Be safe,
Pete

[guidofatherof5]

It was also a great post. Sounds like they are settling in very well.
Garters are great animals. It's great your daughters are involved.
We need photos Pete.;)

[Lisa4john]

So fun! I'm loving the garters too. I am new to them too and we have not had the luck you have... soon I hope. Congrats and enjoy! :)

[SkinnyPete]

Lexi wondering what I am doing:
http://i400.photobucket.com/albums/pp84/Supertex1978/Petes%20Pics/1ACEB353-F5F6-4D8C-8CD4-182AE8135281-2570-0000056904E498BA.jpg

Snake pile:
http://i400.photobucket.com/albums/pp84/Supertex1978/Petes%20Pics/CF90478E-1361-4861-B2DA-BB826D82E605-5260-000008657A1DAF9C.jpg

Chateau Garter:
http://i400.photobucket.com/albums/pp84/Supertex1978/Petes%20Pics/7881B13A-6BFF-4366-A9F0-3209471B86F5-2570-0000056916B6F153.jpg

Shed Time:
http://i400.photobucket.com/albums/pp84/Supertex1978/Petes%20Pics/73613055-8A5F-411A-8446-181C3E98774D-2570-000005690E388656.jpg

Lexi Exploring:
http://i400.photobucket.com/albums/pp84/Supertex1978/Petes%20Pics/EF62D62F-F415-48E2-B2F7-E71B4B3EE69A-2570-000005692EEC0E23.jpg

[guidofatherof5]

Good looking crew.

[snake man]

Nice looking snake, and just a heads up measuring a snake shed can be unaccurate compared to the length of the actual snake.

[SkinnyPete]

Nice looking snake, and just a heads up measuring a snake shed can be unaccurate compared to the length of the actual snake.

I thought so, there is a lot of stretch in there!
I got a gram scale last week and I am going to start weighing them as a more accurate measurement. :)
I also added a nice humid hide today with about 1/2" of Zilla "Jungle earth" in it, they seem to be REALLY enjoying that. I also replaced their shallow water dish with a deeper ziplock "snack" container giving them about 3/4" of water. They are already cruising through that. I am hooked. I am already drawing plans for a multi tier viv setup for next year. :)

[Light of Dae]

I also added a nice humid hide today with about 1/2" of Zilla "Jungle earth" in it, they seem to be REALLY enjoying that. I also replaced their shallow water dish with a deeper ziplock "snack" container giving them about 3/4" of water. They are already cruising through that. I am hooked. I am already drawing plans for a multi tier viv setup for next year. :)


Love humid hides, just keep a close eye on the jungle earth as it may mold quite quick kept wet. Smell it and check it often, It'll start from the bottom. I use Sphagnum moss. It is great, snakes love it, got anti-fungal properties n stuff. :)

Glad to hear your hooked on Garters lol

[jitami]

Congrats on your new babies! Glad you're enjoying them!

[Mommy2many]

Love your new babies! Welcome to the forum!

[SkinnyPete]

Love humid hides, just keep a close eye on the jungle earth as it may mold quite quick kept wet. Smell it and check it often, It'll start from the bottom. I use Sphagnum moss. It is great, snakes love it, got anti-fungal properties n stuff. :)

Glad to hear your hooked on Garters lol

Nice! I will look into the sphagnum, I bought the Jungle stuff because it had fir bark, peat moss and sphagnum. It seems like a constant search to find something that holds moisture for a good amount of time (a few days at least) before needing a re-charge of water. I actually made a new humi hide a few nights ago by painting the ziplock container and making one corner hole on top. Both the girls have already been in there having fun. Silly snakies! :)

[SkinnyPete]

Pics of the new humid hide and water dish/pool :)
http://i400.photobucket.com/albums/pp84/Supertex1978/Petes%20Pics/02761476-36B1-4DBB-B174-B17042B7C757-3425-00000780E45C80B8.jpg

The Ladies:
http://i400.photobucket.com/albums/pp84/Supertex1978/Petes%20Pics/56467B4D-7C02-46FC-BD4C-14D070658133-3425-00000780CFB0E370.jpg

[i_heart_sneakie_snakes]

They look good. I love Fitchi's :)

[SkinnyPete]

The girls are eating like hoglets!
They are both taking whole day old F/T pinkies. They each at 2 last feeding.
I am just so happy.
:)

[ProXimuS]

Nice lookin little ones:) Are they Valley garters?

[guidofatherof5]

Nice lookin little ones:) Are they Valley garters?

Like totally, for sure.:D

Sorry, I just had to.

[RedSidedSPR]

Legit bruh. :D

[SkinnyPete]

Like totally, for sure.:D

Sorry, I just had to.

EXACTLY what I think every time I write "Valley Garter".... I call them the "valley girls" LOL! I wouldn't blame them if they bite me for it one day. I probably have it coming from that nick-name :)

[SkinnyPete]

Well, my girls are spoiled rotten.. Dad went to the store to buy a couple pinkies, and well. Came home with some furniture too!

Picked up a nice branch and some foliage!
http://i400.photobucket.com/albums/pp84/Supertex1978/Petes%20Pics/635D644F-9488-4D5B-A70D-274F7743D0BE-5669-00000AF0B062B07F.jpg

Already up and enjoying it! I think this is "Thank you" snake style!
http://i400.photobucket.com/albums/pp84/Supertex1978/Petes%20Pics/C8641A43-AE96-4AD9-A8A9-0E8167F3A560-5669-00000AF0B86FF77E.jpg

[Lisa4john]

Nice, looks like she likes it. :)

[RedSidedSPR]

Foliage is mandatory far as I'm concerned. Nice set up

[kueluck]

They look like VERY happy healthy garters, but I think YOU might be the happiest one in your home.

[SkinnyPete]

Well the girls got weighed today.
Lexi- is 11gr
Berta- is 15gr
I think this is an accurate weight, tomorrow is feeding day, so they are fairly "empty" :)
They both decided to protest by peeing on me... True love... <3
Pinkies for dinner tomorrow! :)

[ProXimuS]

They're so cute! I have that same vine thing for my baby Earthsnake:)

[SkinnyPete]

More pics of the "Valley Girls" from today. Little Lexi completed her second shed with me today. Nice and clean. They are eating pinkies and worms like champs. I am alternating worms and pinkies as food. They seem to like the variety. I see a new enclosure in the near future though. I am not liking the aquarium, I would prefer to be able to access the front of the viv, and not reach in from the top and freak them out. Overall they are settled right in and content.
" Berta" basking and digesting her pinkie...
http://i400.photobucket.com/albums/pp84/Supertex1978/Petes%20Pics/19FFFF72-A754-4291-A892-1F509986B068-1511-0000022940595391.jpg

Closeup:
http://i400.photobucket.com/albums/pp84/Supertex1978/Petes%20Pics/F53664C4-47B6-402E-A4D6-DA171371E195-1511-00000229465F8267.jpg

Lexi chillin on her buddy:
http://i400.photobucket.com/albums/pp84/Supertex1978/Petes%20Pics/F86BF42B-BEC6-4732-96D0-757BCF85C12A-1511-0000022950880357.jpg

[Invisible Snake]

Nice looking group.

A couple of members have aquarium tanks placed on its side so that it has a front access.

[ProXimuS]

Nice looking group.

A couple of members have aquarium tanks placed on its side so that it has a front access.

I want to mention, I do believe it only works with locking lid enclosures.;)


Such cute and beautiful girls!

[EasternGirl]

Beautiful fitchi girls! Nice set up too. I'm glad you are enjoying garters so much. I take pics of mine and show them off like I show off pics of my son...people think I'm nuts, but I don't care! I have that exact plant for my big girls...they love it.

[SkinnyPete]

Well the girls are well! :)
Weigh in was yesterday as was pretty surprising!
Lexi (smaller one) weighed in at 16g! up 5g from last month!

Berta (my hogglet!) is up to 22g from 16g last month!
They are eating 2 newborn F/T pinkies ea. every other day. Both are very outgoing now, and come and see me everytime I open the viv.
So happy they are happy!