Chris's garter snake

[StrmChasr]

Been a while since I put up any pictures of Napolean. I hate to break it everyone but I have the best looking girl on the forum :p She is becoming quite comfortable around me and is defiantly developing her own personality. She knows when I wake up and when I get home always slithering over to the glass to say hi. She doesn't have any problems eating in front of me now and she has raven eaten a worm out of my hand once. I'm hoping this summer I can get her a cage mate as I had to separate her from my northern brown because she is about twice it's size. Don't want any accidents. She has shed twice since I got her in September and is growing faster than I thought she would. She is also starting to show more bluish-green coloring with every shed.

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[snake man]

Nice looking snake. How often and what do you feed her?

[StrmChasr]

Nice looking snake. How often and what do you feed her?

I feed her one big night crawler cut up into three pieces every 3-4 days.

[StrmChasr]

A video of her eating today.

http://youtu.be/xRTubeNGN-M

[snake man]

About how long would you say she is? She looks awsome by the way.

[StrmChasr]

About how long would you say she is? She looks awsome by the way.

She is about an inch longer than a paper towel tube. 14" maybe.

[StrmChasr]

I made a little snake maze out of all my wrapping paper tubes.
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[Invisible Snake]

I made a little snake maze out of all my wrapping paper tubes.
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Cool idea.

[kueluck]

huh.........I wonder if dryer hose would work well. They could be connected together and laided out thoughout the house. Kinda like a giant hamster tube thingy.

[ConcinusMan]

Habitrail for snakes?

[StrmChasr]

Up before me this morning as usual.
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[StrmChasr]

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[CrazyHedgehog]

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wow! love the yellow on this one!

[adamanteus]

Nice looking snake.:)

[Greg'sGarters]

Beautiful Snake! Love the pattern!

[StrmChasr]

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Best friends

[Greg'sGarters]

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You should enter that in this months photo contest!

[StrmChasr]

You should enter that in this months photo contest!

ive already submitted a different picture.

[StrmChasr]

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Ive noticed she's been climbing a lot the last couple of days. Usually it's my brown snake that does all the climbing.

[guidofatherof5]

Looking good. Nice to see you on Chris.

[StrmChasr]

Looking good. Nice to see you on Chris.

Thanks. Been a lot crazy over the last couple of months.

[StrmChasr]

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Apparently I make too much noise in the mornings.

[guidofatherof5]

Love that photo.

[StrmChasr]

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Lazy day under the lamp

[guidofatherof5]

Beautiful. Looks like someone is getting ready to shed.

[StrmChasr]

Beautiful. Looks like someone is getting ready to shed.

Yes she is. I just noticed her eyes going blue this morning.

[StrmChasr]

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Another successful shed. She's so colorful after she sheds.

[StrmChasr]

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Heres a couple pics from a few weeks ago.

[StrmChasr]

Update time. Took these photos tonight.
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[guidofatherof5]

Napolean is dynamite.:D

[Tarzier]

Beautiful snake. What kind is she?

[StrmChasr]

Beautiful snake. What kind is she?
Eastern Garter

[StrmChasr]

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I think they like each other. Hope they get along with each other. I'm having to jump through some hoops with ODNR to get the proper licensing before the vet will see them though.

[guidofatherof5]

Love the light phase one.

[StrmChasr]

Love the light phase one.

Me too. I'm not sure if she will darken up as she gets older.

[guidofatherof5]

Me too. I'm not sure if she will darken up as she gets older.

I doubt it.

[StrmChasr]

I doubt it.

Interesting how two snakes caught in the same exact spot can be so different.

[guidofatherof5]

Interesting how two snakes caught in the same exact spot can be so different.

The variety that Thamnophis comes in is one of the awesome things about them. Among the plethora of other awesomeness.

[ConcinusMan]

Interesting how two snakes caught in the same exact spot can be so different.

Polymorphism

[StrmChasr]

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She's such a curious girl. Been watching me for 10 minutes.

[ConcinusMan]

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She's such a curious girl. Been watching me for 10 minutes.

Yeah, they tend to do that when they figure out that the "giant thing" moving around in the distance is what brings food. Instead of watching for the slight movement of a small frog or rodent and fleeing from the "giant thing" they watch for the "giant thing" to bring them food. I know that's an oversimplification but every time I "domesticate" a WC or deal with newborn CB litters I can't help but think that there's no other thing they could be thinking.

I just had about 15-20 newborns take their first meal today (very cautiously / with trepidation) Before that meal they were so nervous and flighty of my approach that they would literally leap a few centimeters up into the air in hopes they could get away from my shadow. ONLY the individuals that have eaten, now watch me and even come to investigate my presence. Coincedence? I don't think so. it's intelligence. Many people perceive most dogs as being more intelligent than any snake. It's obvious to me that they are at least equally intelligent even if they aren't willing to "do tricks" for their their treat. Dogs only do that because pleasing their keeper = survival. I've seen wild garters do it out of pure curiosity. I personally, have not a chance to witness a snake species/genus displaying equally inquisitive intelligence besides the indigo family. Those are like "giant garters"

Your garters watch you for the same reason a wild one watches the surface of a drying pool full of tadpoles. Because they know if they watch long enough, a meal opportunity will come. Clearly this contributed and continues to contribute to their evolutionary success. Maybe that's why we like them so much. They're like hominids in that intelligence pays off.

[jwolfe152]

wow i really like that explanation

[StrmChasr]

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After working most of last night, and waking me up a couple of times, Cleopatra finally got her favorite hide cleared out to her liking. I think she is still mad at me for changing the substrate and messing up all her tunnels.

[jwolfe152]

yea she looks a little mad but just tell her she can make some new ones lol she should understand but i doubt it :rolleyes: go figure

[EKS56]

Pretty!!! :)

[StrmChasr]

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Napoleon taking advantage of one of the tunnels Cleopatra made.

[guidofatherof5]

Very nice.