Stefan's garters

[snakehill]

Damn! Beautiful snakes!!!!:D

[guidofatherof5]

Handsome male.;)

[Mommy2many]

What a handsome boy!

[RedSidedSPR]

Awesome snake!!!!

[Stefan-A]

http://koti.mbnet.fi/thamnoph/photos/snakes2011/bigfem-growthrate-weight5.jpg

[RedSidedSPR]

What am I looking at?:confused:

[Stefan-A]

What am I looking at?:confused:
The growth rate of a wandering garter that virtually never misses a meal.

[guidofatherof5]

The growth rate of a wandering garter that virtually never misses a meal.

And you have the evidence to prove it. Very nice.

[RedSidedSPR]

Sweet!

[Stefan-A]

About 8 months after that:

T. e. vagrans big female - 87cm

T. e. vagrans older male - 76cm

About 6 months after that:

T. e. vagrans big female - 90cm
T. e. vagrans older male - 76cm (no change).

[Stefan-A]

A few pictures of one of my wandering garters.

http://koti.mbnet.fi/thamnoph/photos/snakes2011/vagrans-nov-2011-01.jpg

http://koti.mbnet.fi/thamnoph/photos/snakes2011/vagrans-nov-2011-02.jpg

http://koti.mbnet.fi/thamnoph/photos/snakes2011/vagrans-nov-2011-03.jpg

http://koti.mbnet.fi/thamnoph/photos/snakes2011/vagrans-nov-2011-04.jpg

[BUSHSNAKE]

very nice, good pictures

[guidofatherof5]

Look at the scale spread on that mama. No disrespect intended. :D
Beautiful snake.
Great photos by the way.

[kibakiba]

Her face is so cute :D

[Stefan-A]

Look at the scale spread on that mama. No disrespect intended. :D
Beautiful snake.
Great photos by the way.
Yeah, that skin is stretched tight like a drum. About 16 days left, if she sticks to the plan.

[guidofatherof5]

Yeah, that skin is stretched tight like a drum. About 16 days left, if she sticks to the plan.

Remove all sharp objects from that enclosure. :D

Looking forward to seeing the new scrubs in a couple weeks.

[Stefan-A]

Remove all sharp objects from that enclosure. :D
Already did.


Looking forward to seeing the new scrubs in a couple weeks.
Plenty of disasters can still happen.

[RedSidedSPR]

Sweeet!!

[Stefan-A]

Oh yeah, something happened a little over a week ago.


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s2pH_ikrvMk

http://koti.mbnet.fi/thamnoph/photos/snakes2011/vagrans/vagrans-group-01.jpg
The first half of the clutch. Ultimately, there were 25 total, of which 5 were stillborn. Average length of the survivors: 227 mm.



http://koti.mbnet.fi/thamnoph/photos/snakes2011/vagrans/vagrans-baby-01.jpg
The firstborn.

[ConcinusMan]

ooohh... I like the pale ones. Especially the one near the center of the group pic.

[guidofatherof5]

Very nice.

[aSnakeLovinBabe]

the pale one in the middle of that group is awesome!!! I loved that video.... especially seeing twins at the end! Too bad one didn't make it :( Even though I have seen many garter snakes have babies it never gets old to me to watch. I like the fact that you allow the babies to break through the sac on their own.

[ConcinusMan]

I only help them out if they struggle for too long and start to give up. That's few and far between though. I've never had twins, (except with puppies) but it looks like that one is gagging on a mouthful of his sibling.:eek:

[Stefan-A]

I like the fact that you allow the babies to break through the sac on their own.
That's the minimum requirement.


Regarding how they look, it'll take a few sheds before we start seeing their right colors, as you all know.

[EasternGirl]

That was awesome to watch. The twins were so neat....too bad that the one didn't make it. Yes...it was so cool to watch them break out of the sacs on their own...I am going to show the video to my son when he gets home from school.

[aSnakeLovinBabe]

That's the minimum requirement.


It's probably better this way.... similar to how many of us won't cut eggs to help the babies out. if they are not strong enough to make their way into this world... they were not meant to survive. Especially all of those wacked out jungle woma butter spider calico pastel things. Many of those snakes would not exist if the eggs were not routinely cut open.

[RedSidedSPR]

Holy crap I love that one too!! Those look SWEET!

I love wanderings. If they weren't cannibalistic I'd have one by now.

[Stefan-A]

It's probably better this way.... similar to how many of us won't cut eggs to help the babies out. if they are not strong enough to make their way into this world... they were not meant to survive. Especially all of those wacked out jungle woma butter spider calico pastel things. Many of those snakes would not exist if the eggs were not routinely cut open.
Agreed. I can understand why people do it, I just think it's better in the long run to accept some losses. And those wobbly spiders just make me sick.

Just so there's no misunderstanding, none of the stillborn as much as twitched. They didn't just fail to get out.

[EasternGirl]

I noticed that with the twin...poor thing didn't move at all.

[snakehill]

Nice early Christmas presents eh Stefan?!!! :D

[EasternGirl]

Just showed my son the video.

[Stefan-A]

Just showed my son the video.
Well?

[aSnakeLovinBabe]

Agreed. I can understand why people do it, I just think it's better in the long run to accept some losses. And those wobbly spiders just make me sick.Just so there's no misunderstanding, none of the stillborn as much as twitched. They didn't just fail to get out. I have yet to see a baby born alive that failed to come out on its own... I think they would have to be very weak or deformed to not make it out... It does suck to see a fully formed baby come out and then never once move at all...

[EasternGirl]

My son really liked the video...he had watched a video of a snake giving birth before, but he never watched the babies breaking out of the sacs like that before.

[Stefan-A]

My son really liked the video...he had watched a video of a snake giving birth before, but he never watched the babies breaking out of the sacs like that before.
Neat. :)

[infernalis]

Oh yeah, something happened a little over a week ago.

The first half of the clutch. Ultimately, there were 25 total, of which 5 were stillborn. Average length of the survivors: 227 mm..

I just watched this again, this time really paying attention.

That is some superb filming you did there Stefan...

[RedSidedSPR]

Forgot to say. Yes, Stefan, that was excellent photography. Like most of your videos.:) I really enjoy the quality of your videos.

[Stefan-A]

Thank you very much. :)

[infernalis]

Playing it right now on the big screen Bravia, wow!! the clarity... What camera is that Stefan? I want one.

[Stefan-A]

Playing it right now on the big screen Bravia, wow!! the clarity... What camera is that Stefan? I want one.
Panasonic HDC-SD10.

[infernalis]

Thanks!! I just priced that model, I can actually afford one.

The video looked super crisp aven at full screen 1080i 32"

Humbled my 480 SD videos big time.

[Stefan-A]

It actually records at 1080, but I resized it to 720 to get it uploaded during my lifetime.

[RedSidedSPR]

puts my vids to shame too, but mine records 1080p... my computer and TV play 1080p, why is that?

And while I'm at it, why does YouTube only display it as 480p?

Aw, man... I see my problem. I didn't save it as Full HD after Movie Maker, that sucks, because the video on YT isn't as good as it could be.

Wow. It actually can compete with yours. Can't believe I was that clueless.

Anyway...

[ConcinusMan]

It actually records at 1080, but I resized it to 720 to get it uploaded during my lifetime.

Some codecs are more efficient than others. In other words, some waste bit rate. My camera records 720p in a .MOV container (which is a mpeg4 codec) and audio at 48khz sampling rate. If I convert the video to say, .MP4 with h264 codec while converting the audio to 44.1k (mp3)before uploading, it reduces the file size about in half, without sacrificing quality or frame size.;)

[RedSidedSPR]

That post helped me a lot Richard, even if it was intended of Stefan.

[Stefan-A]

Thanks!! I just priced that model, I can actually afford one.

The video looked super crisp aven at full screen 1080i 32"

Humbled my 480 SD videos big time.
I completely forgot. I don't know if it matters to you, but that specific model comes with software that won't work with anything newer than Windows XP. But that's okay with me, since I just copy the .mts files from the memory card, instead of using the software to import them as .m2ts. :rolleyes:

[infernalis]

I still have XP on this machine. win 7 on all the laptops.

I refuse to buy all new software, My HTML editor, video conversion, DVD authoring software is all XP, so I just keep using it.

[Stefan-A]

Comparing some viperine snakes when they were hatched, to what they look like now. The first two hatched in April 2011 and the last one hatched in June.




http://koti.mbnet.fi/thamnoph/photos/snakes2011/viperines/v2-baby2.jpg

http://koti.mbnet.fi/thamnoph/photos/snakes2011/viperines/natrix-maura-male-2011-04-15.jpg





http://koti.mbnet.fi/thamnoph/photos/snakes2011/viperines/v2-baby3-01.jpg

http://koti.mbnet.fi/thamnoph/photos/snakes2011/viperines/natrix-maura-female-2011-04-15.jpg





http://koti.mbnet.fi/thamnoph/photos/snakes2011/viperines/natrix-maura-2011-06-14/natrix-maura-2011-06-14-04.jpg

http://koti.mbnet.fi/thamnoph/photos/snakes2011/viperines/natrix-maura-female-2011-06-14.jpg

[Stefan-A]

And here's their mom, being her pissy self during a cleaning session a couple of weeks ago.

http://koti.mbnet.fi/thamnoph/photos/snakes2011/viperines/natrix-maura-adult-female.jpg

[infernalis]

Those have some nice patterns on them.

[guidofatherof5]

Great photos and awesome snakes.

[snakehill]

Beautiful! I've never seen them before!! :)

[ConcinusMan]

I completely forgot. I don't know if it matters to you, but that specific model comes with software that won't work with anything newer than Windows XP. But that's okay with me, since I just copy the .mts files from the memory card, instead of using the software to import them as .m2ts. :rolleyes:

I never use the crappy software that comes with cameras anyway. I just copy the files to the HDD and work with them from there using other software.

[EasternGirl]

Very pretty snakes...

[RedSidedSPR]

Love those!!

[RedSidedSPR]

I never use the crappy software that comes with cameras anyway. I just copy the files to the HDD and work with them from there using other software.

I started installing it, cancelled it, and tossed the disks.:rolleyes:

[Stefan-A]

http://koti.mbnet.fi/thamnoph/photos/snakes2012/babies/all-minimized.jpg

Obviously it's going to be resized for the forum, but just right-click on the image and pick "View image" (Firefox) or "Open image in new tab" (Chrome) to see it full-size. If you're using Explorer, feel ashamed and mend your wicked ways.

[guidofatherof5]

All looking good. Looks like some of these photos were take after a feed. Plump little scrubs.
Very nice.

[Stefan-A]

All looking good. Looks like some of these photos were take after a feed. Plump little scrubs.
Very nice.
They were all taken within an hour and feeding day was 3 days ago for all of them. Some of them have been better eaters than others. 9, 16 and 17 have been the worst. 3, 7, 15 and 19 have never missed a meal.

[EasternGirl]

They all look great! Thanks for sharing...

[gregmonsta]

Nice ;)

[mikem]

fantastic looking snakes there :eek: i'd love to have some of those, beautiful!

[Stefan-A]

Thanks.

[infernalis]

Wanderings that turn down food??

Great pics Stefan.

[Stefan-A]

About 8 months after that:

T. e. vagrans big female - 87cm
T. e. vagrans small female - 84cm
T. e. vagrans older male - 76cm
T. e. vagrans younger male - 71cm (12 months ago 59cm)

Natrix maura male - 48cm
Natrix maura female - 62cm
Almost a full year later:
(10 months, actually.)

T. e. vagrans big female - 93cm
T. e. vagrans small female - 87cm
T. e. vagrans older male - 76cm
T. e. vagrans younger male - 72cm

Natrix maura male - 49cm
Natrix maura female - 71cm

Thamnophis sirtalis tetrataenia - 95cm

[infernalis]

You keep really good records Stefan, impressive.

[Stefan-A]

Should probably do it more regularly.

[Stefan-A]

http://koti.mbnet.fi/thamnoph/photos/snakes2012/babies/nosey1.jpg

http://koti.mbnet.fi/thamnoph/photos/snakes2012/babies/nosey2.jpg

[guidofatherof5]

Very nice.

[Stefan-A]

A bit bent, though.

[Thamnophis]

Very pretty!!

[Stefan-A]

http://koti.mbnet.fi/thamnoph/photos/snakes2012/tev-2012-04-08a.jpg

http://koti.mbnet.fi/thamnoph/photos/snakes2012/tev-2012-04-08b.jpg

I hate this automatic image resizing so much...

[Natrix]

What is that substrate? Stefan.

[guidofatherof5]

Beautiful as always.

[Stefan-A]

What is that substrate? Stefan.
Coco husk.

[Natrix]

Coco husk.
Thankyou! Looks very natural. Nice snakes too. ;)

[EasternGirl]

Lovely.

[Thamnophis]

Stefan, that cocos husk doesn't mould? Looks very nice.

[Stefan-A]

Thanks.


Stefan, that cocos husk doesn't mould? Looks very nice.
I don't think I've had any such problems with it.

I make sure I use less than 1/2, maybe 1/3, of the amount of water the package claims is needed to expand the brick. The first time I ended up with coco husk soup instead of substrate.

[InsanePirateDragon]

How big of blocks do they sell it in and how much does it cover out of curiosity?

[Stefan-A]

How big of blocks do they sell it in and how much does it cover out of curiosity?
The brick is the size of a brick and it expands to 7 liters. I use a brick and a half per enclosure, which means 10.5 liters and in a 7.6 x 6.0 dm enclosure, that adds up to a layer of about 2.3 cm.

Math is fun.

[Natrix]

You can buy it on ebay 5ltr, 10ltr, 20ltr bags. Just type in Coco husk ;)

[Thamnophis]

Thanks for the mould-info, Stefan.
I am going to try this cocos...

[InsanePirateDragon]

Same here, might give it a try or mix it with the reptibark.

[Didymus20X6]

4656

[Stefan-A]

Took a few pictures of one of the more impressive specimens.

http://koti.mbnet.fi/thamnoph/photos/snakes2012/babies/tev15-2012-04-12-01.jpg

http://koti.mbnet.fi/thamnoph/photos/snakes2012/babies/tev15-2012-04-12-02.jpg

http://koti.mbnet.fi/thamnoph/photos/snakes2012/babies/tev15-2012-04-12-03.jpg

http://koti.mbnet.fi/thamnoph/photos/snakes2012/babies/tev15-2012-04-12-04.jpg

[guidofatherof5]

Great photos of a gorgeous snake.

[EasternGirl]

Very lovely, Stefan.

[Stefan-A]

Thank you very much.

[Stefan-A]

The females.

http://koti.mbnet.fi/thamnoph/photos/snakes2012/brumator01.jpg
http://koti.mbnet.fi/thamnoph/photos/snakes2012/brumator02.jpg
http://koti.mbnet.fi/thamnoph/photos/snakes2012/brumator03.jpg

[guidofatherof5]

Awesome snakes. A couple radixes would look good in that mix;)

[Stefan-A]

Yeah, my wandering garters would absolutely love them. :D

[guidofatherof5]

Yeah, my wandering garters would absolutely love them. :D

Not funny:mad::D

[Stefan-A]

Oh, I must have misunderstood.

http://koti.mbnet.fi/thamnoph/photos/garbage/prob.jpg

[Stefan-A]

http://koti.mbnet.fi/thamnoph/photos/snakes2012/tev-m08.jpg

http://koti.mbnet.fi/thamnoph/photos/snakes2012/tev-m09.jpg

http://koti.mbnet.fi/thamnoph/photos/snakes2012/tst-f07.jpg

http://koti.mbnet.fi/thamnoph/photos/snakes2012/natrix/nm-f08.jpg

[guidofatherof5]

Very nice photos. I really like #1 and #4.

[ProXimuS]

Cool! What kind is the last picture?

[guidofatherof5]

Cool! What kind is the last picture?

I think that is his female Natrix maura (viperine snake) if I'm not mistaken.

[Invisible Snake]

Cool pics, synchronized shedding?

[ProXimuS]

I think that is his female Natrix maura (viperine snake) if I'm not mistaken.

I didn't think it looked like a garter :p

[Stefan-A]

Very nice photos. I really like #1 and #4.
Thanks.


Cool! What kind is the last picture?
What Steve said:



I think that is his female Natrix maura (viperine snake) if I'm not mistaken.
Correct.


Cool pics, synchronized shedding?
Yeah, lucky coincidence.

[EasternGirl]

Lovely snakes...very cool pics!

[Stefan-A]

Long time blah blah, update blah blah female vagrans outdoors blah blah blah.

http://koti.mbnet.fi/thamnoph/photos/snakes2012/outdoors/outie-bf01.jpg

http://koti.mbnet.fi/thamnoph/photos/snakes2012/outdoors/outie-bf02.jpg

http://koti.mbnet.fi/thamnoph/photos/snakes2012/outdoors/outie-bf03.jpg

http://koti.mbnet.fi/thamnoph/photos/snakes2012/outdoors/outie-bf08.jpg

And I hate autoresize so ****ing much.

[guidofatherof5]

Thanks for the blah blah blah update. The photos are blah blah blah awesome re-sized or not.
Sweet snake.

[ProXimuS]

She looks really cool! Her face looks mad:p

[kibakiba]

She's beautiful. I love her colouring.

[Stefan-A]

Thank you all very much. :)

The same snake in about the same spot on the same lawn 4 years ago:


Took another set of photos outdoors.

http://koti.mbnet.fi/thamnoph/photos/snakesies08/2008-07-02-oudoors1.jpg

http://koti.mbnet.fi/thamnoph/photos/snakesies08/2008-07-02-oudoors2.jpg

http://koti.mbnet.fi/thamnoph/photos/snakesies08/2008-07-02-oudoors3.jpg

http://koti.mbnet.fi/thamnoph/photos/snakesies08/2008-07-02-oudoors4.jpg

http://koti.mbnet.fi/thamnoph/photos/snakesies08/2008-07-02-oudoors5.jpg

[guidofatherof5]

Her face has colored up with age.

[Mommy2many]

Stefan, she is really an awesome looking snake. I am so envious :)

[ScimitarX]

Wow, she looks great

[Stefan-A]

Blah blah pleasantries blah blah '09 male.

http://koti.mbnet.fi/thamnoph/photos/snakes2012/outdoors/outie-ym01.jpg

http://koti.mbnet.fi/thamnoph/photos/snakes2012/outdoors/outie-ym02.jpg

http://koti.mbnet.fi/thamnoph/photos/snakes2012/outdoors/outie-ym04.jpg

http://koti.mbnet.fi/thamnoph/photos/snakes2012/outdoors/outie-ym06.jpg

[kibakiba]

He's beautiful, Stefan. You have lots of nice garters. :)

[guidofatherof5]

Snake in the grass for sure. Nice photos.

[ProXimuS]

He is very pretty:) I really like the markings on the top of his head.

[Stefan-A]

Thanks.


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SPfAK5jh4Gc

[guidofatherof5]

Very nice. Ever have to chase him down? He seemed pretty calm.

[Stefan-A]

I don't ever let them move that far from me. Even if they were to make a run for it, I'd still be close enough to grab them.

This one is pretty calm. I've been working with him since day 1. The tetrataenia is the one snake I wouldn't take outside like this. Not only would she be quick to dart off, she won't let herself be handled.

[kibakiba]

Awwww. He's really adorable.

[EasternGirl]

Love the look on the female's face in those first pics. Come to think of it...the male has kind of an angry look on his face in the pics too. Do you stand in front of the snakes and scream obscenities at them to tick them off? :D

Gorgeous snakes!

[Eight]

Very nice. I really like the eyes, the colouring is great. I love the way he almost has a brow thing going on.

[Stefan-A]

Love the look on the female's face in those first pics. Come to think of it...the male has kind of an angry look on his face in the pics too. Do you stand in front of the snakes and scream obscenities at them to tick them off? :D

Aww, it's just their "eyebrows". Wandering garters have fairly well protected eyes.

[Stefan-A]

http://koti.mbnet.fi/thamnoph/photos/snakes2012/babies/sizediff-09122011-23102012.jpg


Guess the age difference.

[Invisible Snake]

Trick question?

I'm guessing they're the same age.

[Stefan-A]

Trick question?

I'm guessing they're the same age.
Yeah. Was actually thinking about adding: "Yes, it's a trick question." :D

[guidofatherof5]

Wow. I have a male red radix that looks like a 1 year old. He's 4. Eats well just doesn't grow.

[Stefan-A]

This one eats just enough to stay alive, but no more than that.

[ProXimuS]

Wow, how old?

[ConcinusMan]

Yeah. Was actually thinking about adding: "Yes, it's a trick question." :D

That's what I thought.:cool: I had a radix that did that. 3 years old and no bigger than your average 4 month old. Kept getting retained sheds too, and eventually dropped dead.

[Stefan-A]

Wow, how old?
Somewhere around 10½ months. Or in case my math is off, it was born on Dec. 9, 2011.

[RedSidedSPR]

I never would have guessed the same age had you not asked.. that's crazy.. looks like she could be his mother...

Btw you have really nice grass :p

[Stefan-A]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KRvPGhUtleU

Shot this video a week or so ago so I posted, why not?

[guidofatherof5]

Great looking girl. Nice close-ups.

[-MARWOLAETH-]

very nice video. What do yo use to heat your vivariums?

[Stefan-A]

very nice video. What do yo use to heat your vivariums?
Heat pads. Big ones, two enclosures per pad.

[Invisible Snake]

Nice video and great looking specimen!

You've had many elegans, I'm curious are they a popular species of garters in Finland? Are they readily available or did you have to import them in?

[Stefan-A]

Nice video and great looking specimen!

You've had many elegans, I'm curious are they a popular species of garters in Finland? Are they readily available or did you have to import them in?
Thank you.

I don't know if they're popular, they're pretty much the only ones anyone breeds. That "anyone" is me. I'm the only one breeding garters in the whole country, judging by the amount of ads for garters on the Finnish forums. That's how it's been since 2009 (or was it 2007?), when I saw one ad for baby garters, that wasn't posted by me.

I suppose most people buy them in pet stores, where they aren't readily available (every now and then you come across someone who's found one), or at the Hamm show in Germany (which is where I got mine back in 2007 and 2008). Either way, garters are rare. The infernalis, parietalis, radix, proximus, marcianus, melanistic sirtalis and Florida blue specimens (comprehensive list of observed non-vagrans species) we have here are in the low single digits, best I can tell.

[ConcinusMan]

Makes me wonder...

How does one end up being a moderator for a garter snake forum while living in a country with so few, and only owning a few himself. I do realize that owning garters isn't a prerequisite. Just seems strange.

[Stefan-A]

Makes me wonder...

How does one end up being a moderator for a garter snake forum while living in a country with so few, and only owning a few himself. I do realize that owning garters isn't a prerequisite. Just seems strange.
Ask Boots. I know the circumstances, I'm less sure about the reasons why I was offered the job (I never asked for it).

[ConcinusMan]

Still also wondering why Shannon was made a moderator only to disappear and rarely participate in the forum, let alone moderate it.

[Stefan-A]

Still also wondering why Shannon was made a moderator only to disappear and rarely participate in the forum, let alone moderate it.
The other people we asked declined and we were looking specifically for a US member. The rest of you we didn't trust as far as we could throw you.

[ConcinusMan]

Hahaha, funny. Oh well, you got Wayne now.

[Stefan-A]

Hahaha, funny. Oh well, you got Wayne now.
Not one part of what I said was intended as a joke.

[ConcinusMan]

It was still funny

[Stefan-A]

Speaking of funny.

http://koti.mbnet.fi/thamnoph/photos/snakes2012/tetra-gone.jpg

October 7, 2012.


This is a rough translation and summary of the necropsy report I got this morning. Took a lot longer than expected to get it.


Result:
1. Extreme anemia.
2. Fatal internal bleeding.

Specific findings:
-The snake is severely anemic and was severely anemic before the internal bleeding.
-Mucous membranes in the mouth extremely white.
-Large amounts of bloody fluids in the body cavity. 3 cm long blood clot along the oviduct.
-Bloody fluids in the membrane around the oviduct and the intestines.
-The liver is pale, some minor hematomas. Multifocal necrosis. The histological changes probably caused by lack of oxygen.
-No signs of infection.
-No changes in lungs, heart, brains or kidneys.

Now all that remains is to find a cause for the cause of death. :rolleyes:

[guidofatherof5]

Glad you finally got the results back but it looks like it's only raised more question. At least those questions are more focused now.

[Selkielass]

Www. What a shame.
maybe something went wrong w follicle development?

[Stefan-A]

Www. What a shame.
maybe something went wrong w follicle development?

My thinking right now, is that it is related to this problem from 2010:


A couple of pictures from July.

http://koti.mbnet.fi/thamnoph/photos/snakes10/tetraproblem/33398_394003907713_248001822713_4298561_6483390_n. jpg

http://koti.mbnet.fi/thamnoph/photos/snakes10/tetraproblem/33398_394003912713_248001822713_4298562_8102177_n. jpg

The pictures were taken by the vet. I stole them from their facebook page.


The vet had mentioned a constriction around the oviduct back then. She's thrown slugs twice since then without any visible problems, but I guess that second time did some damage she couldn't recover from. I want to emphasize that this is just a guess.

[gregmonsta]

My thinking right now, is that it is related to this problem from 2010:




The vet had mentioned a constriction around the oviduct back then. She's thrown slugs twice since then without any visible problems, but I guess that second time did some damage she couldn't recover from. I want to emphasize that this is just a guess.

I'd say that's a logical conclusion. It's a shame mate.

[-MARWOLAETH-]

Such a shame:(

[Stefan-A]

A shame indeed.


I'd say that's a logical conclusion.
Nah, it's just a guess. :D I'm not a vet and I can't think of any other reasons based on what little I know of veterinary medicine. I might end up consulting a vet.

[ConcinusMan]

Now all that remains is to find a cause for the cause of death. :rolleyes:

My guess is that "fatal internal bleeding" would cause death.:cool:

But I wonder what caused the anemia.

[Stefan-A]

My guess is that "fatal internal bleeding" would cause death.:cool:



The cause of death is not the same thing as the cause of the cause of death.

[ConcinusMan]

I know. I was being facetious.;)

[Stefan-A]

Almost a full year later:
(10 months, actually.)

T. e. vagrans big female - 93cm
T. e. vagrans small female - 87cm
T. e. vagrans older male - 76cm
T. e. vagrans younger male - 72cm

Natrix maura male - 49cm
Natrix maura female - 71cm

Thamnophis sirtalis tetrataenia - 95cm
About one year later:

T. e. vagrans 07 big female - 91cm (obviously this isn't an accurate way of measuring snakes)
T. e. vagrans 07 small female - 88.5cm
T. e. vagrans 08 male - 76.5cm
T. e. vagrans 09 male - 73cm
T. e. vagrans 11 male - 62cm

Natrix maura 08 male - 52cm
Natrix maura 08 female - 77.5cm
Natrix maura 11 female - 59cm

[chris-uk]

(obviously this isn't an accurate way of measuring snakes)


Unless you've been cutting bits off your snakes' tails? :D

[Stefan-A]

I don't remember doing that. ;)

[chris-uk]

I don't remember doing that. ;)

I'm sure you would have remembered. You can't even liken it to humans where compaction of the spine can cause us to shrink over the years - not much gravity compacting a snake's spine.

[Stefan-A]

Indeed.

[Stefan-A]

Two new videos:

I2mQIqyBVxU
Male viperine snake showing interest in a couple of branches from the females' enclosure.


vsrG6jUldU8
Wandering garter snake eating and defecating.

[guidofatherof5]

Good stuff.

[Ctah_Lu]

Those snakes are beautiful, whit what kind of fish do you feed your T. Elegans?

[Stefan-A]

Those snakes are beautiful, whit what kind of fish do you feed your T. Elegans?
Thanks. Coregonus albula.

[Stefan-A]

http://koti.mbnet.fi/thamnoph/photos/snakes2013/surpise_baby.jpg

So, one of my wandering garters is throwing slugs and one of these popped out. She hasn't mated since August 2011.

[guidofatherof5]

Sorry to hear that. Looks like it is time for them to come out.

[Stefan-A]

Sorry to hear that. Looks like it is time for them to come out.
That clutch dropped in December 2011. This is something new.

[infernalis]

Stefan, that is very odd.... and interesting.

[Stefan-A]

Stefan, that is very odd.... and interesting.
Stored sperm or parthenogenesis.

[infernalis]

Stored sperm or parthenogenesis.

Precisely what I was going to post.

[MasSalvaje]

Stored sperm or parthenogenesis.

If you were a bit closer I would ask for tissue samples and test out which of the two was the culprit. I have recently been working on DNA analysis of Pituophis. It would be a nice change of pace to work on garter DNA.

Either way very interesting!

-Thomas Wilder

[Stefan-A]

All I got this season. The one on the right.

http://koti.mbnet.fi/thamnoph/photos/snakes2013/lonemaura2013.jpg

It was originally a clutch of 10 eggs. 3 of them were fertilized, 2 of those died because the cage mate flipped them because she was looking for a spot to lay her own (unfertilized) eggs, while I was waiting for the gravid female to lay her last egg, which turned out to be stuck and needed a vet to extract it.

Well, at least I learned that viperine snakes that are kept together will synchronize their egg-laying.

[guidofatherof5]

Sweet looking little scrub. Congrats.

[chris-uk]

Beautiful scrub. Natrix maura?

[Stefan-A]

Beautiful scrub. Natrix maura?

Thanks and correct.

[Stefan-A]

So I picked up a couple of new garters.

0.1 T. sirtalis infernalis.
http://koti.mbnet.fi/thamnoph/photos/snakes2013/infernalis.jpg

And 0.1 T. s. tetrataenia x T. s. infernalis hybrid.
http://koti.mbnet.fi/thamnoph/photos/snakes2013/tetra-infernalis-hybrid.jpg
Both pictures were taken by the former owner.


I got them as a package deal. My opinions on hybrids haven't changed one bit.

[ConcinusMan]

just not quite as nice as even the least attractive individuals of the original subspecies' is it? But that's a nice infernalis there for sure. They look half starved too, better feed them lol :rolleyes:

[Stefan-A]

just not quite as nice as even the least attractive individuals of the original subspecies' is it? But that's a nice infernalis there for sure. They look half starved too, better feed them lol http://www.thamnophis.com/forum/images/smilies/rolleyes.gif
Yeah. I suspect that she got those colors from a particularly drab line of infernalis.

http://koti.mbnet.fi/thamnoph/photos/snakes2013/tetra-infernalis-hybrid2.jpg

That hybrid is pretty decent in size. 107 cm / 42" at 3 years of age. She gave me a friendly headbutt when I prepared to take this photo, won't be long before she tags me. Oh how I've missed the joy of having to avoid pissing off snakes. I fear my hypertolerant wandering garters have made me complacent. That's the Rossman et al. book without the dust jacket, by the way.

[guidofatherof5]

Very nice.

[gibble888]

Sure look healthy...the infernalis is a beauty and i wouldnt pass up the hybrid as a keepsake:) its good she is in your hands

[infernalis]

They are both sharp looking snakes.

[Stefan-A]

That hybrid just took a dump in the water bowl, waited until I had cleaned it and then took another.


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8vY-4zWKsJM

[guidofatherof5]

Classic, in more ways then one.

[BLUESIRTALIS]

Agreed!
They are both sharp looking snakes.

[Stefan-A]

Enclosure time.


One freshly shed hybrid hiding in plain sight and one infernalis behind the fern.

http://koti.mbnet.fi/thamnoph/photos/snakes2013/enclosures/sirtland.jpg




Spot the wandering garter. Because I sure as hell couldn't when I took the photo. It's in there somewhere.

http://koti.mbnet.fi/thamnoph/photos/snakes2013/enclosures/vagland.jpg

Potted plants, straw pellet substrate.

[Foxrun402]

your viv's are simple but yet they look awesome! And I cannot spot that garter.... Hmmmmph

[gregmonsta]

That hybrid just took a dump in the water bowl, waited until I had cleaned it and then took another.



Several of mine have similar fresh-water etiquette :O

[BLUESIRTALIS]

looking good! Nice setup!

[Stefan-A]

Thanks.

[ConcinusMan]

Shannon Hammer (aSnakeLovinBabe) gets the credit for this one...


http://i44.tinypic.com/2hqyzv7.jpg

[Stefan-A]

"Someone" has been pestering me about these photos, so here they are.


http://koti.mbnet.fi/thamnoph/photos/snakes2014/natrix/snakesurprise.jpg

http://koti.mbnet.fi/thamnoph/photos/snakes2014/natrix/snakesurprise3.jpg

Natrix maura.

[guidofatherof5]

Awesome.
I wonder who would pester you:rolleyes:

[Saji]

What type is that?

[guidofatherof5]

What type is that?

Natrix maura - Viperine Snake

Natrix maura - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Natrix_maura)

[guidofatherof5]

Well, well, well. Look who made The Reptile Report. Congrats.

Tiny Twins | The Reptile Report (http://thereptilereport.com/tiny-twins-4/)

[slipknot711]

tiny twins | the reptile report (http://thereptilereport.com/tiny-twins-4/)

very nice!

[Shanty]

Fraternal twins? The markings, the ones I can see with my myopic eyes, look a tad different. And I see you use straight vermiculite as an incubation medium. I used the same for years with my Colubrids and Leopard geckos. Later changed over to plastic inserts for my deli-cups that suspended the eggs over the medium in use--either vermic or perlite. I liked the old way best, even though the incidence of mold was partially mitigated. But what do you expect from an old guy?

Nice photos, too, Stefan.

[Stefan-A]

Fraternal twins? The markings, the ones I can see with my myopic eyes, look a tad different. And I see you use straight vermiculite as an incubation medium. I used the same for years with my Colubrids and Leopard geckos. Later changed over to plastic inserts for my deli-cups that suspended the eggs over the medium in use--either vermic or perlite. I liked the old way best, even though the incidence of mold was partially mitigated. But what do you expect from an old guy?

Nice photos, too, Stefan.

The markings are very different. It seems that one of the twins has the typical zigzag pattern (although it looks more blotched) and the other is going to turn out striped ("striped" means that it will have a couple of stripes in addition to the zigzag pattern).

http://koti.mbnet.fi/thamnoph/photos/snakes2014/natrix/snakesurprise2.jpg