Pictures of Sammy and questions

[Sssssnakey]

Here are some pictures of Sammy. I think he is actually a she, but here is a picture so that I can get some help identifying the gender.

http://photos-d.ak.fbcdn.net/photos-ak-snc1/v4457/207/13/1203192755/n1203192755_30528347_7557814.jpg

Here is Sammy out of her habitat slithering around on the rug today.

http://photos-h.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc1/hs050.snc1/4457_1177828204874_1203192755_30528343_1652586_n.j pg

Here is Sammy up close with her tongue sniffing the air.

http://photos-a.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc1/hs010.snc1/4457_1177828244875_1203192755_30528344_2005437_n.j pg

Her eyes aren't blue anymore. I had a fish tank lid on her aquarium and it wasn't letting in any fresh air so the tank was quite humid. Yesterday I got a grate and a uva and uvb lamp so she can get fresh air and get the rays she needs. By this morning her eyes weren't blue anymore. I'm not sure if that means she won't be shedding right now or if now it's too dry. Tonight I sprayed her with some warm water, she didn't like it much. She has plenty of fresh water in her swimming pool, but hasn't taken a dip lately. I'm not sure why.

Here is a picture of Sammy's home.

http://photos-e.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc1/hs010.snc1/4457_1177832004969_1203192755_30528348_4285102_n.j pg

Here is a picture of Sammy right after being misted with warm water.

http://photos-c.ak.fbcdn.net/photos-ak-snc1/v4457/207/13/1203192755/n1203192755_30528346_4176207.jpg

Isn't she beautiful! Thanksssss for looking and for any help with my questions.

[aSnakeLovinBabe]

Sammy, is a very lovely she-snake :D

[Sssssnakey]

Cool! We decided she'll be Samantha, but Sammy for short.

Here are a couple more pictures.

Me with Sammy in my sleeve.

http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y11/fluttering_fairy_princess/Sammy_sleeving.jpg

Sammy's bump. Does this look like a scar or a parasite? She has several of these, but the picture isn't really showing it that well.

http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y11/fluttering_fairy_princess/Sammy_bump.jpg

[ssssnakeluvr]

that looks like a scar. her (yes, it's a her) eyes clear up 2 days before she sheds. she doesn't need uva and uvb....snakes are fine without it. you do need to keep the cage dry, just a decent water bowl to soak in.

[Sssssnakey]

Wow! I'm learning so much! Thanks everyone for all your help! I leave on Thursday to be gone for a week, but my kids will be here to take care of her. My mother-in-law will be with them, but she's afraid of snakes so I'm going to ask my neighbor to help my kids feed Sammy while I'm gone. I hope she sheds Tuesday so I can see it, and make sure it's complete.

I wish I hadn't bought the lamps, but the Petco guy told me she needed it to help her digest her food and to help with her shed. Sigh, oh well.

Thanks again!

[guidofatherof5]

Nice looking girl.

[ssssnakeluvr]

they are only there to make a buck....the internet is the best source these days....pet stores do hire a lot of kids, don't know anything....

[Sssssnakey]

they are only there to make a buck....the internet is the best source these days....pet stores do hire a lot of kids, don't know anything....

Sounds about right.

[Sssssnakey]

Oh, one last question (for tonight). How do I figure her age? I'll have to measure her tomorrow, but I think she's about 20 inches long.

[k2l3d4]

I am not sure on that one. /they are diurnal snakes after all. Mine seem to eat mor when /i use the uvb lamp. Since they are not getting any sunlight I like to give them the option of having the uv rays if they so want.

[prattypus]

Oh, one last question (for tonight). How do I figure her age? I'll have to measure her tomorrow, but I think she's about 20 inches long.
You have to cut her in half and count the rings. :D JUST KIDDING, please don't!! I heard that from my biology teacher in the ninth grade. He didn't have a straight answer to give either.

[Stefan-A]

You have to cut her in half and count the rings. :D JUST KIDDING, please don't!! I heard that from my biology teacher in the ninth grade. He didn't have a straight answer to give either.
That's exactly how you do it, if you want an accurate age. :p

[k2l3d4]

That's exactly how you do it, if you want an accurate age. :p


Really? :eek: Pray tell, explain please.

[Stefan-A]

Really? :eek: Pray tell, explain please.
It's called skeletochronology, the reading of growth layers in bones. :)

There's an article on the subject, Determining the age of garter snakes
(Thamnophis spp.) by means of skeletochronology (Heather L. Waye and Patrick T. Gregory).

[k2l3d4]

Well that is just a messed up way to age a snake..... just like a tree.

[drache]

that is one of the draw-backs with science - often the subjects end up dead sooner than they would have, had they not met the scientist

[Stefan-A]

that is one of the draw-backs with science - often the subjects end up dead sooner than they would have, had they not met the scientist
Depends on how you look at it. The data collected may save entire species.

[jitami]

Just wanted to say that Sammy is a gorgeous snake. Looks quite pampered, too. I love it. Great job Mom!

btw, the neighborhood boys brought home our first garter and now I have 4 :)

[ssssnakeluvr]

there's no way to tell a snake's age unless you raise it from birth....


skeletochronology....that's funny!!

[Sid]

I have to agree aboout the age, no way other than scientifically to know for certain. I would guess that at 20" she would more than likely be an '07 birth, but that is only a guess. Great looking girl by the way.

[Sssssnakey]

Just wanted to say that Sammy is a gorgeous snake. Looks quite pampered, too. I love it. Great job Mom!

btw, the neighborhood boys brought home our first garter and now I have 4 :)

Thanks! I like pampering her! btw I may be getting another one tomorrow. The neighbors I rescued Sammy from found another one and are saving it for me. The kids are all for snake rescue now. I'm just glad that since I couldn't go get it tonight that their mom let them keep it until tomorrow. Who knows maybe I'll hook my friend (their mom) into keeping a garter someday, but I'm not counting on it as she's kind of freaked out by snakes. I can't see why, they're beautiful and so fascinating!

Sammy completed her first shed in captivity tonight. I didn't get to see her, but when Toria went into her room at bed time she came out screaming, "she shed, she shed, she shed!" We all went running in there and Sammy was really active and happy again. We got her out and played with her for awhile. She's so much fun!

They shed was complete, the eye caps were there and the whole tail. She is so soft now and her colors are much more vivid and her markings are more distinct.

I'm really wondering if my neighbors found a male that could be one of her previous mates since it's from the same yard, and I think in the same spot. Who knows, maybe I'll have to get a breeder's permit. Although I think I'll wait on that for now. I'm still learning so much. I've got a long way to go.

If it is a male and I keep them in the same cage will they mate even though they've both likely been out of brumation for awhile?

[ssssnakeluvr]

no, they won't breed, but, she might already be gravid...garters mate right after coming out of brumation....

[Sssssnakey]

Hmmm, how long is gestation?

[ssssnakeluvr]

90-120 days....be watching for the back third of her body to get fat...the scales parting.... she will go off feed a week or 2 before shedding (generally, but not always, my orange eastern fed right up until time to pop), she will also shed a week or so before giving birth.

[Sssssnakey]

Thanks! I'm nervous already. I wonder if she is gravid. Now I think I'll go have dreams of baby snakies.

[guidofatherof5]

Now I think I'll go have dreams of baby snakies.

That's crazy talk. Dreams about snakes, who ever heard of such a thing:rolleyes:

[Sssssnakey]

I think dreaming of baby snakes could be considered less crazy than my random idea the other day of a water park for garter snakes. Then I had an even more "interesting" (another way to say crazy) idea of snake races.

In the snake races each snake handler would have a identical, long, twisted, clear tube that could be adjusted differently for each race. Multiple handlers would put their snake into their tube. Then they'd each put their snake's favorite food in the opposite end and turn on a fan that would blow the scent back through the tube to their snake enticing it to come get it's prey. Then the race would be on to see whose snake was the fastest at getting to their prey. lol

I think I have way to much driving time on my hands (taxi mom) and too little entertainment in my suv.

[guidofatherof5]

Snake Races? Well I never.

You are going to fit in just fine with the rest of us nuts(speaking only for myself and maybe Greg:D)
Sorry Greg, I saw an opportunity and I took it.:D I figure with the mental strain your under right now, you wouldn't care.

[Sssssnakey]

Hey this could become the newest hit for betting in Vegas. ;) lol Or you could just call it the coping mechanism of a bored mind (when driving kids everywhere) that is experiencing mild sleep deprivation.