Pregnant?

[katach]

Hi all. I'm new to the forum and relatively new to garter snake keeping. We have 5 snakes all together. My snake (Willow) is one of our newer snakes. We caught her about two weeks ago. She seems to be rather wide from about 1/3 down her body until her vent. I am wondering if she could be pregnant? Also, she hasn't fed like the others. She shed about 4 days after she was brought home. Any thoughts would be helpful. Thanks!

[RdubSnider]

She looks like she could be and most females you find this time of year are normally gravid/pregnant

[ConcinusMan]

Yes, most northwesterns in western WA are about to have babies. Most females you find are going to be in the late stages. Birthing season is here for northwesterns. Not sure if your girl is gravid or not but it's very likely. It's normal for them to refuse food in the late stages of pregnancy.

[katach]

Thank you! I have her in a separate enclosure now.

[guidofatherof5]

Hello,
If you would like to go to the "Welcome Lounge" and introduce yourself we will give you an official welcome.
Here is a link to that thread and a link to the care sheet.
Welcome Lounge - Garter Snake Forum (http://www.thamnophis.com/forum/welcome-lounge/)

Garter Snake Care Sheet - Caresheets (http://www.thamnophis.com/caresheets/index.php?title=Garter_Snake_Care_Sheet)

Northwestern Garter Snake - Caresheets (http://www.thamnophis.com/caresheets/index.php?title=Northwestern_Garter_Snake)

[snakehill]

Steve why are you not a moderater???:rolleyes:

[Mommy2many]

Welcome to our forum!

[Odie]

Yes, most northwesterns in western WA are about to have babies. Most females you find are going to be in the late stages. Birthing season is here for northwesterns.
One of my charges "Bluff" just had 8 about 6" long 1/8" around just yesterday and "Rush" is about to pop, both are northwesterns :D

[katach]

Here is a couple of better pics of my little girl. I really hope she is pregnant! That would be so exciting!!! If she does have babies I will need to find homes for them.

[guidofatherof5]

She doesn't look that thick yet, Kat.
She may be early in her gestation.
Time will tell.;)

[katach]

Some newer photos. She seems to be getting larger. What do you guys think??

[guidofatherof5]

She's looking pleasingly plump= gravid.
In my opinion.

[katach]

Yeah!!!!!! :d

[kibakiba]

Yep, she's probably gravid. She might pop soon, at least it looks that way to me.

[RedSidedSPR]

Definitely.

I don't know much about this stuff, but i'm pretty darn sure that thing is fat for a reason.

[katach]

So how will I know when it is "time"? Or will I just see babies... We are house-sitting for a week and could only bring one enclosure. I just don't want they others to think that the babies are a tasty snack.

[kibakiba]

Well, if you see contractions then you will know for sure it's time. She looks like Mama did a week before giving birth. I missed most of Mama's birth, I didn't know she was about to have them until I saw them in the tank.

[katach]

Ok, so I'm guess she won't be screaming in pain... lol what do snake contractions look like?

[kibakiba]

It looks like a lump moving down from her middle to her tail, much like a "food lump" but lower.

[katach]

ok. Thank you so much!! This is my first litter so, I'm a little clueless. I love this forum. You all are so helpful, and don't judge at the lack of knowledge.

[kibakiba]

Well, my first litter was 2 months ago... Mama kept gaining weight throughout the year that I've had her, and I kept thinking she was gravid, but she wasn't up until this January.

Your momma snake might also be somewhat restless or pissy before giving birth, that can be up to 3 weeks before, or at least that was the case with Mama. She didn't want me to touch or old her much.

[katach]

She is getting a little aggressive. She is usually very sweet. In her enclosure with the other snakes she was doing a lot digging. I just found a rubbermaid tub and put some newspapers in it with a little bit of water and a hide made out of a little box of cereal. Hopefully she will wait until we get home to pop, but just in case.

[RedSidedSPR]

you think it will happen that soon?

[guidofatherof5]

She is getting a little aggressive. She is usually very sweet. In her enclosure with the other snakes she was doing a lot digging. I just found a rubbermaid tub and put some newspapers in it with a little bit of water and a hide made out of a little box of cereal. Hopefully she will wait until we get home to pop, but just in case.

Best of luck. Baby snakes are a blessing.;)

[RedSidedSPR]

best thing since peanut butter

[katach]

Thanks! I really have no idea what to expect, or when she will go. I just want to be ready when she does. :)

[kibakiba]

You may want to keep the newspaper slightly damp, if it absorbs the liquid from the membrane it can dry it out before the baby can break through. I did an extremely light misting every other hour for Mama, she loved it. I even made myself wake up every other hour for her... ;)

[katach]

Good idea.Thanks!

[RedSidedSPR]

lookin' forward to the babies. Good luck with her. (them)

[katach]

Thanks! You know I'm going to go camera crazy when they are born... :D

[RedSidedSPR]

Good :D

[ConcinusMan]

Well, my first litter was 2 months ago...

How do you manage to nurse more than two at a time? :p

[kibakiba]

Simple... One at a time. :) They get whiney but after they're done, they hush up and sleep.

:D

[Mommy2many]

So how will I know when it is "time"? Or will I just see babies...


I came home to 11 babies one afternoon! So that can happen.

[katach]

The "load" seems to have shifted downward. I think we may be almost ready.

[RedSidedSPR]

Awesome!

[katach]

Ok. I have a dumb question, please forgive my ignorance.
I know that when human woman are close to giving birth they have a pinkish discharge. Does this happen with garters??? Sorry if this is a dumb question.

[kibakiba]

I haven't heard of any snakes having discharge when they're close. It''s not a stupid question, there aren't any stupid questions and it's normal to wonder about these things since it's new to you.

[katach]

Thanks Chantel!

[RedSidedSPR]

I can't think of a dumb question... Hmmm I guess, "are they slimy?"...... :D

Seriously, ask.

[guidofatherof5]

Ok. I have a dumb question, please forgive my ignorance.
I know that when human woman are close to giving birth they have a pinkish discharge. Does this happen with garters??? Sorry if this is a dumb question.

Are you talking about when a woman's water breaks?(dumb question, maybe)
If so, In have witnessed a watery fluid come out just before a baby is pushed out.
I think it happens when the egg sack is broken while still inside the female.
Otherwise I can't say I've seen any fluid, just a clear egg sack holding a little scrub.

y6WeE_EklAw

[RedSidedSPR]

Steve, why were you picking up the babies as it happened? Is there somewhere you wanted them, or did you just not want them in there... Just curious...

[snakehill]

Wow! Great video! :D

[guidofatherof5]

Steve, why were you picking up the babies as it happened? Is there somewhere you wanted them, or did you just not want them in there... Just curious...

I move them to a birthing container.
A container with damp paper towel.
This way they won't dry out and I can assist them if there is any problems.
I also don't want them getting crushed or injured by an adult or mom.

[RedSidedSPR]

Thought it was something like that. Thanks.

[Mrs N1ntndo]

My Pheobe is pregnant also. Maybe theyll have theres on the same day. Now when they go to shed while there pregnant. How may do they do. Pheobe has shed 1 other time this month and ready for the second.

[RedSidedSPR]

I'm sure it just depends. It's different for ever my snake. There's not a certain amount of sheds between the snake being gravid and giving birth

There's no way you can tell exactly when shell pop.

[ConcinusMan]

They don't have shells, and even if they did, they wouldn't pop. :p

[RedSidedSPR]

Gee, I didn't know that. Never mind :p

[katach]

Ok, so this is what Willow's vent looks like right now. Is this normal? Is this an indication of babies soon?

[guidofatherof5]

Could be that or she may be preparing to poop.;)
Have noticed any contraction?

[katach]

Her vent has looked like this since yesterday. She's moving a lot more and I've seen her rub her nose on her body several times.

[guidofatherof5]

From what I could see from that photo she has some scale spread going on.
Time will tell.
You might want to have everything ready before the blessed day arrives.;)

[katach]

Yeah I noticed the scale spreading the other day too.
Can babies eat pinkie parts right from the start, or should I start with worms? I know they will be full of yolk for the first few days though.
I have some shopping to do for the nursery. :D

[guidofatherof5]

Yeah I noticed the scale spreading the other day too.
Can babies eat pinkie parts right from the start, or should I start with worms? I know they will be full of yolk for the first few days though.
I have some shopping to do for the nursery. :D

All you can do is offer them.
I usually start my babies on worms but pinky parts are good for them also.

[katach]

Thanks. I don't want them to go until they are on pinkies and through their first shed.

[jitami]

My two captive bred kids that were started on everything all at once (pinky parts, worms, & fish fillet) still eat anything I put in front of them. It seems they get used to the different tastes and textures right away and you don't have to go through 'switching' them to something else later.

[ConcinusMan]

Yeah I noticed the scale spreading the other day too.
Can babies eat pinkie parts right from the start, or should I start with worms? I know they will be full of yolk for the first few days though.
I have some shopping to do for the nursery. :D

I would start with worms full of nice "filthy" dirt. It's a good source of probiotics and enzymes to help them digest, then move on to more solid foods.

What species are we talking about here. If they're northwesterns they will probably take a while before they eat. (a week or two. almost never eat within a day or two) When they start eating give them worms for the first week or two, then start mixing in pinky parts.

Once they're feeding very well they'll take just about anything. It's important to introduce pinkies, fish, or whatever, while they're just getting started and still very young.

[katach]

Yes she is a NW. That sounds like a good plan. Thanks!

[ConcinusMan]

Make darn sure they have a nice moist pile of damp moss or paper towels to go to when mom pops. They need moist places especially the first couple of days. If conditions are too dry during the birth, the membranes tend to dry quickly and they can get stuck inside or they will have trouble shedding that first shed. They will start shedding immediately upon birth. If it's too dry, they'll have trouble and that could be fatal.

What I do is make a small box hide and keep it lined with moist paper towels. Mom will usually choose that spot to have her babies. If you're there for the birth, it doesn't hurt to lightly mist them. DO NOT use distilled water. Tap water is fine. This box hide had a lid (closed box with hole on side for mom to get inside) and when I opened it to moisten and check on mom, this is what I found:

F_YuaplPYH8


After that, keep just one corner or one hide moist by misting it. Once they are a few weeks old, it's not all that critical and you can keep them dry with moderate humidity. Baby northwesterns just can't handle a lot of heat or very dry conditions. Low 80s on the warm side is fine and occasional misting to bring up humidity. At the same time, you don't want overly damp conditions all over the tank or they will develop blister disease rather quickly. It's a balancing act.

[katach]

So if they are having trouble breaking the membrane on their own should I help them or should I just let them be?

[kibakiba]

I would help them. Just make sure the membrane isn't drying out, that can kill them pretty easily.

[katach]

Ok. Thanks!

[Mrs N1ntndo]

Pheobe like u know is pergnant also and shes an Eastern garter. How long for her babies does it take for them to start eating. Ive never raised babies and I dont wanna do something wrong.

[kibakiba]

It can take up to two weeks. Just keep offering food every couple days if you want.

[katach]

Ive never raised babies and I dont wanna do something wrong.

I hear ya. I will be on here as much as I can after they are here. I hope I don't annoy anyone with my questions. :o

[kibakiba]

Asking a lot of questions is a good thing. I think many of the members on here would prefer you asking a lot of questions, so you can care for the snakes properly ;)

[Mrs N1ntndo]

Thats why I love this forum. The people are soooo helpful and nice. I love that. I have another question. Lol ... Right now Pheobe is in a 20 gallon take and I have a 10 gallon I plan to keep the babies in. Is that ok for the babie and how long can I do it if its ok? Also what would be a cheap way to make a lid for the 10 tank. Cause I have cats and I dont want the babies hurt or getting away. I cant afford much right this sec so Im trying to figure that out.

[ConcinusMan]

So if they are having trouble breaking the membrane on their own should I help them or should I just let them be?

Don't mess with them. Just keep an eye on them. Give them a couple of minutes to break out on their own. Once in a while one will have trouble and can't get his head out to take a breath. If they seem to struggle too long and start to panic, you can take something like the pointed tip of sharp scissors or a small pocket knife and cut it open. You'll have to get ahold of the membrane and shove something sharp through it. Take care not to hit the baby or umbillical cord. Some have a bit of yolk left and are still attached to it. You don't want to cut that. Membranes are rather tough and stretchy. If you can manage to cut it you can just pull it off of them.

Most of the time they don't have any trouble. It's OK to give them a chance to get out on their own. They have several minutes at least, before they get low on oxygen and need to breathe. Watch some more video to familiarize yourself with the process so you know what's normal, and what warrants intervention. I'm sure Steve can dig up some good video too. Here you can see one struggling, breaking through. Then they take a breath and rest. Pretty normal. However, if the struggling goes on too long, you might have to cut the membrane so they can get the head out and breathe.

h5BBguYlcT8

[katach]

Thanks Richard. You are so helpful, I appreciate it!

[Mrs N1ntndo]

When they are ready to have there babies how far down is the lump I guess I will call it be. Also what does her hood look like right before. Is it still flush to the rest of her like normal. Im just wondering so I know what I can be looking for on Pheobe. How do they look right b4?