When is the point when I NEED to let her go?

[Bongo Shrimp]

Now you may have seen my other thread about my really big garter: Click Here (http://www.thamnophis.com/forum/general-talk/5784-few-questions.html)

I really like this snake because she is soo big and soo calm and I REALLY REALLY want to keep her. The only problem is that she will not eat! WILL NOT

Knowing that she may be pregnant, and that they sometimes/always don't eat when pregnant and about to have babies. I need to know how long it usually takes once they stop eating for them to have babies.

Main question: How long can I wait for her to have babies or to start eating before I need to let her go?

Please give me some advice because I don't know what to do.

[jere000]

I would say give her a couple more weeks.And what are you offering her?

[Bongo Shrimp]

I'm offering small green leopard frogs, worms dug from the ground, and maybe some small feeder fish.

My other smaller garter will take all of the above without even thinking about it.

[Stefan-A]

Why not just let her go?

[Bongo Shrimp]

Because I'm considering letting my other smaller snake go if everything works out with the larger one. The smaller one is a bit hyper and can't sit still, she's just kinda crazy.

And c'mon, how many garters that big have you ever seen. And icing on the cake- one that is really calm and ok with being handled straight out of the wild.

But that's beside the point- Can we get back to the original question???

[jere000]

Well are the fish in water?If not try to put them on a plate flopping around to get her to feed.

[mustang]

u dont have to let her go it takes tdhem a long time before thyll eat now pm me if u want to know how my wc learned to eat

[Bongo Shrimp]

Thanks for all the advice but she ate a very small leopard frog I gave her today! I tried worms but it was a no. I have yet to try fish though.

Since she ate, does it mean she may not be pregnant?

[jere000]

Thanks for all the advice but she ate a very small leopard frog I gave her today! I tried worms but it was a no. I have yet to try fish though.

Since she ate, does it mean she may not be pregnant?
no since it was a small meal from the looks of her she could just be ready to give birth too i think

[Bongo Shrimp]

Gee I sure hope so! But I haven't heard that they start eating again before giving birth, can anyone back that up?

(not that I don't trust you jere000, just want to be sure)

[jere000]

Gee I sure hope so! But I haven't heard that they start eating again before giving birth, can anyone back that up?

(not that I don't trust you jere000, just want to be sure)
ive known boas to eat while their pregnant because it was a small litter but it could just mean shes not pregnant but im not positive and no offense taken:D

[mustang]

well now u nkow what she eats so color a pinky the same color as the frog she ate, attatch a little bit of string to the tail and jerk it up and down to mimic the frog!!(attatch to tail but make sure u can slip it off or get big tweezers)

[aSnakeLovinBabe]

MOST garters will stop feeding at some point through being gravid and then will not feed again until they give birth and get a few day's rest. Some of them will still eat though, right on up until the time they give birth. I have had quite a few females do this! I know Steve mentioned in another thread he actually had a female willing to eat during birthing.

[Snake lover 3-25]

i've had wc garters that ate the day before they gave birth...

[Mommy2many]

Not so much unlike humans mothers... You will have some of us who'll eat up to the birth, want to eat during the birth, directly after (That's me, cause I've been starving up until then!!!) Or stop a few days before (cause you don't feel quite right) I'm sure there is a snake on every point of that spectrum at some time or another. All you can do is watch and pay attention. If your snake is gravid and due soon, then she may not want to eat. It may be very uncomfortable or she may regurgitate. Not something I like to do personally... If she eats, fine. I've been known to pound a couple Ben & Jerry's right before (oopps, TMI???) Anyways, I think it's all individual. Like with people. :D

[Didymus20X6]

Father Guido posted on another thread that one of his snakes ate WHILE giving birth.

[Bongo Shrimp]

Look what I found today!

http://i635.photobucket.com/albums/uu79/SXM50/SANY0006.jpg

http://i635.photobucket.com/albums/uu79/SXM50/SANY0007-1.jpg


The only thing is, is there's only one baby. She still looks very large so I think there may be more on the way. Anyone had this happen before?

[Mommy2many]

This is from your snake?

[Bongo Shrimp]

Yeah, my XXL garter. Guess I wasn't clear on that one, sorry. But is only one normal? Do you think there are more on the way considering she doesn't look any thinner?

[Mommy2many]

Your snake is a good foot longer than mine and mine just had at least 9 babies this afternoon. I would have to hazard a guess that there are more to come.

[guidofatherof5]

Great looking little scrubs. Keep us posted on the count.

[Bongo Shrimp]

I will but I just hope there is a count... past one that is.

[mustang]

wow awsome!!!!