When to separate out gravid females?

[d_virginiana]

I'm pretty sure my first attempt at getting my garters to mate was successful. You can't really tell for sure yet, but the male went from being completely interested in the female to not caring at all pretty quickly, so my guess is she's gravid.

Anyway, my question is when should I separate her out and start keeping her away from the male? They seem fine together for right now, but I imagine the male should be removed before the babies arrive. Just wondering if there was a specific point when it would benefit the female to be alone.

[guidofatherof5]

I'd leave the male in for a few more weeks to a month. Just because you saw a lock up doesn't mean he scored a bulls-eye. They might lock up again and they're certainly isn't much risk by having them together. Just my opinion.

[Tommytradix]

my opinion is the same as steves cause thats what i do lol i leave my male in there until the female is confirmed to be gravid even if it takes months ahaha they breed eventually

[d_virginiana]

Alright, the male is still in there with her, I just didn't know if it would be stressful to the female to have them together while she's gravid. I'll leave him in another month or so.

Bad news is I think the younger male (the smaller one) tried courting her, but I never saw a lockup so the backup male is the one she's been with the longest. I think he may have been too young/small :( He'll just have to wait till next year to pass his genes on I guess.

[Tommytradix]

what species?

[d_virginiana]

Eastern garters.

[slipknot711]

i love easterns, keep us updated! try taking a picture of her now and again maybe in a month or two, and keep taking pics, they keep growing when gravid but i know with me you dont see the change in the body, having pics for yourself may help, and of course i like pictures. may we see the pair thats has locked?

[guidofatherof5]

I think if he's mature enough to smell a ready female his size means nothing. He'll have to take his lumps just like the bigger males. Hang on until the ride is over boy.

[Tommytradix]

I think if he's mature enough to smell a ready female his size means nothing. He'll have to take his lumps just like the bigger males. Hang on until the ride is over boy.

hahahaa!!!

[Tommytradix]

​thats so true steve the females drag them around first time i seen it i though she was gonna break his junk

[d_virginiana]

Well, the smaller one had the first shot at mating and then went back in a couple times after that. The one that's been in with her since both males seemed to lose interest and I stopped seeing mating behavior has been my second choice guy.

[guidofatherof5]

​thats so true steve the females drag them around first time i seen it i though she was gonna break his junk

The males look so pathetic. All I can do is laugh, especially when the female takes them in the water for a little spin cycle. The look on their face is like "HELP". It's easy to understand why they have 2 tools. I've found wild males with injured, dead junk hanging off them. A quick snip and they are fine. Well, as fine as you can be in that situation.

[Tommytradix]

​like this steve lol11904

[Tommytradix]

119051190611907​its scary seeing that for the first time hahaha

[Tommytradix]

​ive seen it happen twice i poured sugar on it and it went back in11908

[guidofatherof5]

​ive seen it happen twice i poured sugar on it and it went back in11908

Great photo Tommy. The ones I found where dried up like beef jerky, covered in dirt. Dried out and dead. When I clipped them there wasn't even any bleeding. They would have fallen off soon if I hadn't intervened.
Why sugar, anything to do with osmotic pressure? Just curious.

[d_virginiana]

I believe it has to do with an ion concentration gradient in the cells (so osmotic pressure). I think the sugar pulls water out of the cells, reducing swelling and allowing it to go back in. I've seen the same thing recommended to treat intestinal prolapses in frogs and ball pythons.

[Tommytradix]

Great photo Tommy. The ones I found where dried up like beef jerky, covered in dirt. Dried out and dead. When I clipped them there wasn't even any bleeding. They would have fallen off soon if I hadn't intervened.
Why sugar, anything to do with osmotic pressure? Just curious.

yes she answered for me lol