Eureka - she did it

[drache]

she did it
she did it
my recalcitant, stubborn like a 2-yr-old concinnus had a pinkiiiiieee
here I am, doggedly trying yet another method
it was the "put the pinkie in the bowl with the live minnows" method
I did thoroughly wash the pinkie with dish soap first to remove all offending smells
but I think what did the trick was the fact that she was really hungry, because for some reason there had been no minnows in any of the stores for over three days, and minnows don't hold you over for as long anyway
anyway - she took all
I'm a happy snake servant

[enigma200316]

congrats to you and your snake, thats great it should start to get easier
from here..............:)

[GarterGuy]

Good to hear that Rhea, hopefully she'll now continue to take them and it wasn't just a one time thing.

[adamanteus]

Great news Rhea. Well done you.

[Sid]

Good news Rhea. After mine started pinkies they generally prefer them over the other food items.

[Stefan-A]

Congratulations, Rhea. :)

[DEKAN]

Congratulations! http://img517.imageshack.us/img517/8631/winnerpn4.gif

[RZL36]

Hi guys (et gals),

Congrats. I too recently got my garters (sirtalis sirtalis) to start eating pinks. I am new to the forum, but not so new to garters.

For years and years I would just feed my garters goldfish, but with this pair I decided to do things right when the time for the switch came. A few nights ago I tried to tease feed some fish scented pinks. They were way too nervous for that. Then I decided to make a little concoction. I put some pinks in a bag with some rosies (you know, made them stink like fish, did not put soap or anything like that on the pinks), dumped them in a bowl, and they actually ate all of the pinks before touching the dying fish.

I thought it was gonna be so hard. Instead I was shocked as to how easy it was. They look so much fatter already.

They are about 1 and half feet long, time for fuzzies?
How do I visually sex these guys? Long tails = males like the rest of my serpents?

Thanks in advance,
RD

[adamanteus]

Hi Richard, and welcome to the forum.:)
Tail length, as with other genera, is a good indicator for gender. Or you could always post a picture and our members will advise you!

[drache]

Good to hear that Rhea, hopefully she'll now continue to take them and it wasn't just a one time thing.
yeah
I hope it's not just a one time thing - it did occur to me as well
even if I can fool her like this again
I still don't think it'll be easy from here on
at least I know it's not entirely impossible to get her to take one
but how the heck do I transition from that to dead pinkie on land with no lively fishies splashing about?
and I would like to beef her up a bit before winter
well, I'll see whether she'll do it again in a few days

[GarterGuy]

but how the heck do I transition from that to dead pinkie on land with no lively fishies splashing about?


One thing that's worked well for me is forcep feeding. Try and see if she'll take a fish from a pair of forceps. After a bit, she'll come to recongnize the forceps with food and should also take a pinky from them. Most of my garters will take anything that I offer to them on forceps.

[RZL36]

Thanks for the welcome James.

I only got headshots of the two (they are so vain and usually book when I come anywhere close to them with a camera). As soon as I take some full body shots I'll post.


Thanks,
RD

[adamanteus]

Let's see those head shots anyway, Richard, just for the sake of it!:D

[RZL36]

How do i upload pictures from my cell phone (my digi died)? Can I email them to you can post them?

[adamanteus]

I have no idea how to load photos from a cell phone onto the PC. If you can figure that part out, this will explain how to post them into a thread.
http://www.thamnophis.com/forum/site-feedback-suggestions-questions/1008-guide-posting-pictures.html

[Lori P]

There may be a better way, but I entered my email address into my cell phone as a contact and then I email the pics to myself. :-)

[RZL36]

Hi folks,

Was able to load a photo from the phone to the site, but not into a post. I didn't see the "copy to clipboard" box. If you want to check out Blue (what I believe to be a juvie Floridian Garter) follow the link. Sorry for the bad quality. Thanks for all the help, Adamanteus (my second favorite rattler species, next to Horridus of course).




http://www.thamnophis.com/thamphotos/showphoto.php?photo=2221&cat=500&ppuser=1958

[adamanteus]

I'll post it for you, Richard.:)

http://www.thamnophis.com/thamphotos/data//500/medium/Garter12.JPG

[zooplan]

St. James:D
we should vote for supporter of the month
BTW: really nice picture

[RZL36]

Thanks for the help. They are chowing down at the moment.

[enigma200316]

I'll post it for you, Richard.:)

http://www.thamnophis.com/thamphotos/data//500/medium/Garter12.JPG

I would say it is T. s. similis- Florida bluestripe, as it looks a lot like the the baby similis's that I have.................:)

[adamanteus]

I would say it is T. s. similis- Florida bluestripe, as it looks a lot like the the baby similis's that I have.................:)

You think similis, Justin? I'm not so sure about that, it looks sirtalis to me.:)

[enigma200316]

You think similis, Justin? I'm not so sure about that, it looks sirtalis to me.:)


it looks like the baby similis I have, the markings and all are quite close...
and its a sub-species of sirtalis so it would have some like traits wouldn't,
pluse I didn't think sirtalis had the short snout like that...........I could be wrong though lord knows that...........:rolleyes:

oh yea do some scale counting, both sirtalis, and similis have 19 scale rows, however sirtalis side stripe is on the 3rd and 4th row, and similis is on the 2nd and 3rd rows........I did a caresheet update for similis under common garter check it out,
thanks.............:¬p

[adamanteus]

I guess we need a clearer photograph.;)

[RZL36]

Hey guys, I'll get one up as soon as I can.

Thanks for the help.

A little advance: Their bellies are blue/green, but they are not like the similis I though existed. I probably shouldn't being saying this, but I got them to be kingsnake food at a local petstore and couldn'y do it. Now they are probably my favorite snakes. So quick and crazy. Awww

I'll better pictures soon

[Lulu Bennett]

I probably shouldn't being saying this, but I got them to be kingsnake food at a local petstore and couldn'y do it

that is horrible :(

[adamanteus]

that is horrible :(

But necessary, Lulu. A mouse keeper would think you were horrible too!

[RZL36]

Hi folks,

Yeah, they were going to be food. Not too sure if that is horrible though. It is just a part of the natural world, but if it makes you feel any better, I couldn't do it. Now they are my favorite snakes. Here is another picture (not the best picture). As soon as i remember to get a nice digital from my bro or gf, I will post some better ones.

Please don't be mad about the feeding thing. I obviously decided against it.


http://www.thamnophis.com/thamphotos/data//500/medium/Garter21.JPG

[adamanteus]

It still doesn't look like T. s. similis to me. I would say s. sirtalis, maybe Florida Blue, but s. sirtalis.

[RZL36]

Yeah, it has to be sirtalis. Sorry about the bad typing before. The boss was over my shoulder and really shouldn't be doing this at work, but snakes are way cooler than work.

I'll post a pic of the anal plate so that I can get some help determining sex..
Thanks again for all your help. Good forum here.

RD

[adamanteus]

I'll post a pic of the anal plate so that I can get some help determining sex..

A good side view of the whole cloacal region, including a good portion of the tail, would be most helpful.:)

[enigma200316]

It still doesn't look like T. s. similis to me. I would say s. sirtalis, maybe Florida Blue, but s. sirtalis.

from that shot and view I would have to say sirtalis to James......but I still
say do the side stripe and tell us where it fall what scale row......:)

[Lulu Bennett]

Please don't be mad about the feeding thing. I obviously decided against it.


I'm not mad. i do understand the whole food chain thing lol i am not that oblivious to the world around me lol although i may seem it sometimes lol :D

[enigma200316]

I'm not mad. i do understand the whole food chain thing lol i am not that oblivious to the world around me lol although i may seem it sometimes lol :D


Lulu your no more oblivious than the rest of us( excluding Stefan...lol)
I don't think we're on his level.......hahahaha:D

[Lulu Bennett]

pmsl :D:D:D

[enigma200316]

pmsl :D:D:D


well ya better go change than..........lol:D

[Stefan-A]

Lulu your no more oblivious than the rest of us( excluding Stefan...lol)
I don't think we're on his level.......hahahaha:D
Huh, what? :D

Dammit, I'm not THAT oblivious. :D

[enigma200316]

Huh, what? :D

Dammit, I'm not THAT oblivious. :D


thats the whole point!!!!!! your not oblivious like us.............:D

[Stefan-A]

Now what's that supposed to mean? :D

[enigma200316]

Now what's that supposed to mean? :D


well your the lord and master enough said.............:rolleyes: