Ranch News

[kueluck]

Little cuties......makes me want another one.

[guidofatherof5]

While I worked with Enforcer and the rest of her roommates I allowed Brownie to go on a walkabout.
I no sooner turned my back when I found her on the internet trying to order pinkies.:D

http://www.thamnophis.com/thamphotos/data//500/medium/Brownie2.jpg

[guidofatherof5]

Speckle need a full service cleaning today so I put her in a tub while I did the job. I saw the her flag(tail) was up so I knew she was ready to dump a load and since she had tilapia yesterday I knew it would be messy. It was also a good opportunity for me to see if there was any blood in the stool.
I'm happy to report I saw no blood.
She took her #3 dose of Flagyl and Baytril the other day.

[guidofatherof5]

This was Speckle when I went to put her back in her paddock. She wasn't a very happy snake. Gave me a number of false strikes.

http://www.thamnophis.com/thamphotos/data//627/medium/angry_speckle.jpg

[EKS56]

Chunky...

[guidofatherof5]

Chunky...

She's always been a full figured girl but for this photo she tried flattening herself out to look more intimidating. It didn't work, "I ain't scared of no radix"

[Foxrun402]

So they do that as a form of intimidation? to make themselves appear bigger? I have seen Suzi do this before but had no clue what to make of it... it was only for a short duration changing her water then she was normal again lol...?

[guidofatherof5]

The Ranch has taken on a few snakes. Two small groups: Douglas Co. Ne. red radixes (Thanks Dan72) and some Douglas Co. Ne. B/W (Thanks Mark)
All are eating well and settling in nicely. Photos to follow.

[guidofatherof5]

Here are those photos of the Douglas Co. Nebraska red radixes and Douglas Co. Nebraska azanthics.

http://www.thamnophis.com/thamphotos/data//821/medium/lesser_reds.jpg

http://www.thamnophis.com/thamphotos/data//821/medium/ne_axanthics.jpg

[Foxrun402]

Those look sweet! I can't believe I have not seen them around here at all, which part of the state do they dwell in do yah know? Anywho, very cool looking radix group!

[guidofatherof5]

Silver, het albino female T.s.parietalis - Red Sided garter is just coming out of opaque phase (shedding phase). Somehow the hide was pushed off of the heat spot. That didn't make any difference to this big girl. I don't usually find my big snakes in this configuration. :D

http://www.thamnophis.com/thamphotos/data//773/medium/silver2.jpg

[Foxrun402]

Wow she is a beauty! Is she gravid at all?

[guidofatherof5]

Wow she is a beauty! Is she gravid at all?

Nope, just a full figured girl. Big snake.

[guidofatherof5]

The search is on for a large female radix that has made her way into the basement. She has been living in the unfinished ceiling in the laundry area. I found garter snake crap all over my new WiFi router and in the surrounding area. I'm going to set a little box trap for her. She spends much of her time on top of the cold air ducting above the router. How do I know that you ask?
Well, I reached my hand up there and found a large amount of wet garter poo.:D There's also a partial shed up there. Looks like she goes out to feed and comes back to rest in the house.
I've got to meet this smart girl.

[MasSalvaje]

The search is on for a large female radix that has made her way into the basement. She has been living in the unfinished ceiling in the laundry area. I found garter snake crap all over my new WiFi router and in the surrounding area. I'm going to set a little box trap for her. She spends much of her time on top of the cold air ducting above the router. How do I know that you ask?
Well, I reached my hand up there and found a large amount of wet garter poo.:D There's also a partial shed up there. Looks like she goes out to feed and comes back to rest in the house.
I've got to meet this smart girl.

Steve I think she just wants to use your Wi-Fi

-Thomas

[NickB]

Steve I think she just wants to use your Wi-Fi

-Thomas

In that case, perhaps she will post some 'selfies' here hahahaha

[guidofatherof5]

I did not set a trap for her and have paid the price for that. I thinks she's taunting me. While I worked outside she set down some new crap. I placed something clean there to see how recent she's been around (photos to follow) This is getting personal.

"She tasks me. She tasks me and I shall have her! I'll chase her 'round the moons of Nibia and 'round the Antares Maelstrom and 'round Perdition's flames before I give him up!"

[Foxrun402]

Clever girl! this would be a time to try and set a box trap with some of your male or female garter poo and try scenting her into it! lol!

[guidofatherof5]

I'll scent her with night crawlers.

The first photo is of the first evidence I found. I covered that area with a piece of plastic this morning. While I was outside working this was the new fresh evidence (photo #2)
Photo #3 shows the cold air duct with skid marks.:D

http://www.thamnophis.com/thamphotos/data//821/medium/poo_evidence.jpg

http://www.thamnophis.com/thamphotos/data//821/medium/poo_evidence1.jpg

http://www.thamnophis.com/thamphotos/data//821/medium/poo_evidence2.jpg

[Foxrun402]

Ahhhh even better a food source! The hunt begins!

[ChareiHeals]

LOL, Poolly... Like Polly with an extra O. Keep him guessing Polly! This could get interesting.

[ConcinusMan]

Silver, het albino female T.s.parietalis - Red Sided garter is just coming out of opaque phase (shedding phase). Somehow the hide was pushed off of the heat spot. That didn't make any difference to this big girl. I don't usually find my big snakes in this configuration. :D

http://www.thamnophis.com/thamphotos/data//773/medium/silver2.jpg

How is this different than a normal red sided? I'm at a loss to see any difference.

[guidofatherof5]

Silver is the snakes name.;)

[NickB]

Silver is the snakes name.;)

I'm curious, how do you think up your names? Are all your snakes named or do you just name a few of the personalities?

[guidofatherof5]

I'm curious, how do you think up your names? Are all your snakes named or do you just name a few of the personalities?

I would say 40% are named. Not sure what to tell you about the names, it just comes to me.

[guidofatherof5]

Made a new friend outside today. I was working around the deck when I spotter an opaque male radix watching me from the siding. I had my daughter Hailee bring me a couple night crawlers and a pair of hemostats. I offered the first worm to him when he was behind the siding. I guess I should say someone grabbed it and pulled it in. I required him to come out and get the second worm, which he did. He was very opaque but apparently very hungry. I love being able to have a relationship with my wild snakes.

[ConcinusMan]

Silver is the snakes name.;)

http://images3.wikia.nocookie.net/__cb20100310193340/lossimpson/es/images/e/e1/Doh.jpg

[guidofatherof5]

The search is on for a large female radix that has made her way into the basement. She has been living in the unfinished ceiling in the laundry area. I found garter snake crap all over my new WiFi router and in the surrounding area. I'm going to set a little box trap for her. She spends much of her time on top of the cold air ducting above the router. How do I know that you ask?
Well, I reached my hand up there and found a large amount of wet garter poo.:D There's also a partial shed up there. Looks like she goes out to feed and comes back to rest in the house.
I've got to meet this smart girl.


I did not set a trap for her and have paid the price for that. I thinks she's taunting me. While I worked outside she set down some new crap. I placed something clean there to see how recent she's been around (photos to follow) This is getting personal.

"She tasks me. She tasks me and I shall have her! I'll chase her 'round the moons of Nibia and 'round the Antares Maelstrom and 'round Perdition's flames before I give him up!"

Victory is mine. No trap needed. I caught her dumping a load off the edge of the duct work. I simply reached up and grabbed her, she of course finished dumping her load when I did. She is a beautiful gravid girl. I took her out for some photos and in natural light she is gorgeous. She'll be staying on the Ranch, I want to take a look at her babies. They will be released around the deck later. Should be a smaller litter and she's not a big girl yet.

http://www.thamnophis.com/thamphotos/data//821/medium/gravid_2012_june_16_female.jpg

http://www.thamnophis.com/thamphotos/data//821/medium/gravid_2012_june_16_female1.jpg

[Foxrun402]

Thats awesome!!! Those little scrubs are in good hands now! :D

[ChareiHeals]

OMG so excited! I love the gravid girls, they're so pretty! I'm impatiently waiting for mine to drop off her babies. :( I'm glad you caught her, and not her poo on your head, lol!

[guidofatherof5]

Born May 8th of this year, this little radix has completed 2 sheds since birth. Look at the color already. None of her siblings are even close to this red. Glad I posted this photo or I might have missed that retained tail shed. She probably would have got it off herself as it almost feel off when I removed it.
This ones mother was a red phase and I'm guessing the father was also. Hoping her siblings will color up as time goes by. I love her olive green head and the red body colors. She will be stunning as an adult.

http://www.thamnophis.com/thamphotos/data//726/medium/little_red_cutie.jpg

[ProXimuS]

Very unique coloring!

[RicMartin]

That's RED! Congrats!:)

[rickymar81]

congrats steve. Stuning:)

[jwolfe152]

wow that little one is so red they are awsome

[guidofatherof5]

Reports are I will be getting an albino garter any day now in connection with a rescue being done. Probably an albino Checkered - T. marcianus but then it could also be a albino Plains - T. radix or even a Red Sided - T. s. parietalis.
Photos as soon as it arrives.

[jwolfe152]

way cool

[guidofatherof5]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9xmeGmNxlSM

[guidofatherof5]

Victory is mine. No trap needed. I caught her dumping a load off the edge of the duct work. I simply reached up and grabbed her, she of course finished dumping her load when I did. She is a beautiful gravid girl. I took her out for some photos and in natural light she is gorgeous. She'll be staying on the Ranch, I want to take a look at her babies. They will be released around the deck later. Should be a smaller litter and she's not a big girl yet.

http://www.thamnophis.com/thamphotos/data//821/medium/gravid_2012_june_16_female.jpg

http://www.thamnophis.com/thamphotos/data//821/medium/gravid_2012_june_16_female1.jpg

She's doing fine and getting wider. I expect little scrubs any day now.

[guidofatherof5]

She is very restless this morning. I think babies are going to pop today.

[guidofatherof5]

This girl is holding onto those babies. No more guessing on my part. I'll post when she has them.:D

[Dan72]

Still waiting..... :rolleyes:.

[ConcinusMan]

I have one girl doing that now. Hurry up already! :mad:

[EasternGirl]

Waiting to see pics of the babies and the albino....:)

[ConcinusMan]

I have one girl doing that now. Hurry up already! :mad:

She must have read my demand. She had 9 overnight.:D

[guidofatherof5]

My WiFi pooping radix had her babies last night. 9 total (8-healthy 1- stillborn) For her size I think this was a good litter.
Mom's doing fine and babies are getting a good soaking.
Photos to follow.

[Mommy2many]

waiting...

[guidofatherof5]

Yeah, yeah, yeah.:D
Suffering with a bad lower back at the moment. Having trouble moving, should be better in a few days.;)

[Mommy2many]

Sorry to hear about your back. How does that affect your picture taking finger? :)
Get better soon!

[rickymar81]

Sorry to hear about your back. How does that affect your picture taking finger? :)
Get better soon!
LMAO...... Get better Steve

[guidofatherof5]

Sorry to hear about your back. How does that affect your picture taking finger? :)
Get better soon!

Moving and getting to the basement and back up the stairs is the biggest issue at this point.

[jwolfe152]

hell just go get a motorized stair lift then you wont have anything to worry about other than falling out of it lol

[guidofatherof5]

Without further delay. All are eating and doing well.

http://www.thamnophis.com/thamphotos/data//821/scrubicons.jpg

[jwolfe152]

wow they are nice looking scrubs, to bad i cant have any more.

[rickymar81]

Looking good :D

[Mommy2many]

wow they are nice looking scrubs, to bad i cant have any more.


I won't tell anyone...:)

[jwolfe152]

yea but i still think i should just stick to my 4 easterners and see about other species like some red sided, plains, maybe a san fran if i can find any from someone that didn't just pluck it from cali and ship it out ya know something legal. i just really don't like breaking the law like that, regardless of how impossibly stupid it is for a snake that extremely common, now if it was a concerned or endangered, i could see the reasoning behind it. i mean they are completely harmless and abundant so whatever.:rolleyes:

[Mommy2many]

Well if you're gonna go contraband you might as well get a San Francisco. :)

[chris-uk]

maybe a san fran if i can find any from someone that didn't just pluck it from cali and ship it out ya know something legal.

My understanding is that the "something legal" and "San Fran" don't go in the same sentence if you live in the US. I could send you my San Fran, that has been CB in Europe with lines traceable back for generations, and it would still be illegal. And with San Frans it's federal law, not state laws you'd be breaking. Someone state-side who knows the laws protecting tetrataenia can probably expand on my basic understanding.

[guidofatherof5]

There is no "legal" way to have one here in the States. Unless you are a zoo that has written permission.

[ConcinusMan]

And with San Frans it's federal law, not state laws you'd be breaking. Someone state-side who knows the laws protecting tetrataenia can probably expand on my basic understanding.

Exactly. San Frans are protected by the Federal Endangered Species Act. No matter what U.S. state you are in when caught, it is enforceable. You will have to go to Federal court and if you're sentenced to do any time it will be in a Federal facility. Penalties for possessing an endangered species are severe.

State laws are different and only enforceable within the State. For example, Pugets have never been legal to collect in WA and the south end of Puget Sound in WA is the only place where the blues occur and yet they openly available in the pet trade. All pugets in the pet trade were collected illegally or are descended from illegally collected animals.(as far as the state is concerned, CB descendants are also illegal to possess) However, it's the collector or person possessing them within the state of WA who is subject to enforcement. Once that snake leaves the state, the law is unenforceable. Someone in say, Iowa can receive a WC puget and not be breaking any law. That person won't be subject to enforcement or get in any trouble so long as he is not breaking any laws of his state. State penalties for possessing said snake within the state are fairly light too, compared to Federal penalties for possessing an endangered species.

Bottom line Jwolfe, it's very illegal to possess a SF garter anywhere in the U.S. or it's territories. If you simply receive a non-endangered snake illegally collected and shipped out of another state, they can't touch you.


There is no "legal" way to have one here in the States. Unless you are a zoo that has written permission.

I read an article recently that said zoos didn't keep up with captive breeding and eventually not even the SF zoo had any SF garters for several years. Well, they do now and the snakes came from the Netherlands. The zoos are allowed to have them but cannot get them from the wild. It's still unclear to me if they are even allowed to breed them in captivity but I think it's probable that the answer is no. I think the SF zoo is the only zoo that is even allowed to have them but they get them from CB stock out of the Netherlands.

[guidofatherof5]

Any idea how old that article is Richard? A couple years ago I tried to barter a trade of S.F. garters for the European Garter Snake Association. I contacted the S.F. Zoo and spoke to the person in charge of their S.F. garter program. To make a long story short a trade would have done the E.G.S.A. no good as the captive bloodline the zoo had is the bloodline from Europe(Netherlands) At the time of my call they had no native T. s. tetrataenia (San Francisco garter snake). The guy I spoke to said they were working with the Gov. to get any injured snake sent to the zoo for rehab and possible breeding.

[jwolfe152]

ok wow i for some dumb *** reason i thought it was only state endangered not federally but i have not looked into it much so...but thanks for the info i know a little more than yesterday now :cool:

[ConcinusMan]

ok wow i for some dumb *** reason i thought it was only state endangered not federally but i have not looked into it much so...but thanks for the info i know a little more than yesterday now :cool:

Nope. They're Federally listed. However, marcianus is on California's state threatened list. That's the main reason that garters are illegal to collect in Riverside County. There's only a small but stable population of checkered garters in California, in east Riverside county. They can only be found in an oasis/riparian zone habitat out there in the middle of the desert.

And Steve, this is what I was talking about. "The captive population, once thriving in the 1990's, went extinct in 2003 when the last remaining snake in captivity died at the San Francisco Zoo, where they were once considered the jewels of the collection." I do believe they are back at the zoo now and the snakes they have now were imported from the Netherlands. Genetically speaking they are useless for breed and release but for zoo specimens/education they are perfect since they can't collect them from the wild to be kept permanently in captivity. The snakes in Europe are descended from the same captive snakes that the zoo allowed to go extinct in 2003 and those are descended from legally collected (by the zoo) snakes before they went on the endangered list in the 1960's.. Feature Stories, San Francisco Garter Snake Returns To Its Namesake City (http://www.fws.gov/sacramento/outreach/featured-stories/sf-garter-snake/outreach_featured-stories_sf-garter-snake.htm)

[jwolfe152]

ok what if an individual had collected a handful of them in say the 50's (in the U.S.) and bred them and still has a good population of them would it still be illegal for him to have them or to sell them? i dont know anyone who has them its just an odd question that popped in my head

[guidofatherof5]

I don't think there is a "grandfather clause" for federally protected species.

[jwolfe152]

i done a google search for "Federally Protected species grandfather clause" and there is one according to this document on page one "https://www.google.com/url?sa=t&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&source=web&cd=5&ved=0CFAQFjAE&url=http%3A%2F%2Flabsg.org%2FNHPBB12.doc&ei=5wMZUqiXJufA2QXM0oF4&usg=AFQjCNFeyyGYUcW-RkzvPFA4NldpTNsMdA&bvm=bv.51156542,d.aWM" this link will download the document only

i dont know how official it is or if it only is in regards to primates

[ConcinusMan]

ok what if an individual had collected a handful of them in say the 50's (in the U.S.) and bred them and still has a good population of them would it still be illegal for him to have them or to sell them?

Yes. Once they were listed on the Federal endangered species list they became contraband for anyone posessing them in the U.S. or it's territories. The Problem is there's no way of knowing if that snake you have was illegally collected or if it is captive bred descendent of legally collected animals.

[guidofatherof5]

Nope. They're Federally listed. However, marcianus is on California's state threatened list. That's the main reason that garters are illegal to collect in Riverside County. There's only a small but stable population of checkered garters in California, in east Riverside county. They can only be found in an oasis/riparian zone habitat out there in the middle of the desert.

And Steve, this is what I was talking about. "The captive population, once thriving in the 1990's, went extinct in 2003 when the last remaining snake in captivity died at the San Francisco Zoo, where they were once considered the jewels of the collection." I do believe they are back at the zoo now and the snakes they have now were imported from the Netherlands. Genetically speaking they are useless for breed and release but for zoo specimens/education they are perfect since they can't collect them from the wild to be kept permanently in captivity. The snakes in Europe are descended from the same captive snakes that the zoo allowed to go extinct in 2003 and those are descended from legally collected (by the zoo) snakes before they went on the endangered list in the 1960's.. Feature Stories, San Francisco Garter Snake Returns To Its Namesake City (http://www.fws.gov/sacramento/outreach/featured-stories/sf-garter-snake/outreach_featured-stories_sf-garter-snake.htm)

I have to take issue with that statement with regards to T. marcianus - Checkered garter.

According to this current pdf. They can be collected.

California Laws Regarding Reptiles and Amphibians (http://www.californiaherps.com/info/herpinglaws.html)

The following was cut and pasted from the regulation pdf above.

5.60. Reptiles. (http://www.dfg.ca.gov/regulations/FreshFish-Mar2011/ccr-t14-ch2-art4-sec5_60.html) (Page 20-22)


(a) General Provisions: Only the following reptiles may be taken under the authority of a sportfishing license, subject to the restrictions in this section. No sportfishing license is required for the sport take of any rattlesnake, but bag and possession limits do apply. No reptiles shall be taken from ecological reserves designated by the commission in Section 630 or from state parks, or national parks or monuments.

(b) Limit: The limit for each of the species listed below is two, unless otherwise provided. Limit, as used in this section, means daily bag and possession limit.


(43) Common garter snake (Thamnophis sirtalis), except San Francisco garter snake (Thamnophis sirtalis tetrataenia) and South Coast garter snake (Thamnophis sirtalis sp.): See Special Closure (f )(10)
(44) Terrestrial garter snake (Thamnophis elegans)
(45) Western aquatic (Sierra) garter snake (Thamnophis couchii)
(46) Pacific coast aquatic garter snake (Thamnophis atratus)
(47) Northwestern garter snake (Thamnophis ordinoides)
(48) Checkered garter snake (Thamnophis marcianus)

This link also states that this snake in not list as a special concern.
Thamnophis marcianus marcianus - Marcy's Checkered Gartersnake (http://www.californiaherps.com/snakes/pages/t.m.marcianus.html#status)




Conservation Status



The following status listings come from the Special Animals List (http://www.californiaherps.com/info/specialstatusinformation.html) which is published by the California Department of Fish and Wildlife.

This snake is not included on the Special Animals List, which indicates that there are no significant conservation concerns for it in California.


Organization
Status Listing


U.S. Endangered Species Act (ESA)
None



California Endangered Species Act (CESA)
None



California Department of Fish and Wildlife
None



Bureau of Land Management
None



USDA Forest Service
None



Natureserve Global Conservation Status Ranks




World Conservation Union - IUCN Red List

[ConcinusMan]

That's odd that they even put it on the list. They only occur where it's not legal to collect garters, or any other reptile for that matter. It's illegal to collect any reptiles fro Riverside or San Diego counties. It's possible with the recent changes that marcianus is no longer considered threatened. However, unless riverside county lifted their ban on collecting reptiles, then it doesn't matter of California allows collecting them. If you can only find them in a county where collecting is illegal, then good luck collecting any legally.

[guidofatherof5]

I just searched San Diego and Riverside Co. home pages and can't find anything mentioning Thamnophis marcianus - Checekered Garter. Plenty about Thamnophis hammondii (Two-Striped Garter Snake).
Help me out here Richard. Do you have a link to the code section because I'm just not seeing/finding it.
Can you send me a PM as this thread has gotten far off the tracks:D

[jwolfe152]

sorry bout that:p

And now back to your regularly scheduled thread.

How are they doing, good i hope?

[guidofatherof5]

The newborns are begging and eating all the time.

[ConcinusMan]

They are there. I've been to the places / habitats shown in pics on CA herps and caught marcianus' in east Riverside Co They got it right. Thamnophis marcianus marcianus - Marcy's Checkered Gartersnake (http://www.californiaherps.com/snakes/pages/t.m.marcianus.html)

I looked into it around 1989 and at that time the state prohibited collecting them. Now they specifically don't but the counties where they occur do (or did) prohibit all native herp collecting so "back to square 1"

[ConcinusMan]

The newborns are begging and eating all the time.

Same here. Eating excessively, growth spurts, and a rash of frequent sheddings plague my litters. Oh what to do?:p

[guidofatherof5]

Same here. Eating excessively, growth spurts, and a rash of frequent sheddings plague my litters. Oh what to do?:p

Sit back and smile!

[ConcinusMan]

...and be mindful of your fingers.:cool:

[guidofatherof5]

Happy 5th Birthday to Tank Gilfillan. After waking up this afternoon he promptly peed on the living room carpet. Then wants to go back to bed.
He then decided some water would be nice. He also had his steak and shrimp birthday meal.

[ConcinusMan]

I don't even get steak and shrimp on my birthday. More like a 6 pack of hef and a burger. :(

[guidofatherof5]

Today or last night 7 beautiful T. radix scrubs were born here. I love having babies born but in the dead of Winter it's even better.
They are the sunshine the Ranch needed.:) Photos to come.

[slipknot711]

i want some babies!!!!!! lol i fgured out what my lil loves prefer eating out of nw too... ive learned so much these past few months... im striving to be a good garter mommy. garters have been in my life since i was a young tomboy catching snakes and turtles and frogs. and now im old enough to keep them and got the money to proide the best i can for them.

[guidofatherof5]

i want some babies!!!!!! lol i fgured out what my lil loves prefer eating out of nw too... ive learned so much these past few months... im striving to be a good garter mommy. garters have been in my life since i was a young tomboy catching snakes and turtles and frogs. and now im old enough to keep them and got the money to proide the best i can for them.

Babies are a whole new level of responsibility and care. Don't rush in. Take your time and absorb all you can from the posts that the awesome members have made.

[slipknot711]

I am im concentrating on my two i have now that ive set up their tank better. if all goes well and everyone stays happy and healthy ill look into new ones late spring maybe. im in no rush

[HazAnga]

Congratz Steve. I'm super jealous, I miss my garters. Only having my one Brazilian Rainbow Boa has been fine, but having a few adult garters and like 20 babies to feed was always a joy.
@ slipknot711 I'm with Steve, take your time with your current garters an over time once they breed or you buy some babies you'll realize the amount of work that actually goes into having baby garters.
I had babies surprise me when i had gotten home from vacationing at the cottage. Didn't realize they had mated and ended up with a dozen or more scrubs. I had to rip the cage apart to find them all. That summer i'm pretty sure I had something like 30 little scrubs from the two females i had. My survival rate the next year was much better after doing extensive research and reading through all the threads that have been created on this amazing Forum.

I hope to import some garters in the coming years, but for now I'll be sticking to my almost 200 Gram Brazilian Rainbow girl.

[guidofatherof5]

Babies got another bath today. Going to put a shorter water dish in for them as the all showed signs of being very thirsty. I will offer food today also.
Sweet little scrubs.

http://www.thamnophis.com/thamphotos/data//847/medium/12014_baby_radix.jpg

[rickymar81]

Great looking scrubs...:D

[slipknot711]

adorable. i love babies :)... not human babies tho haha

[guidofatherof5]

The babies are being slow to eat but mom is back pounding down the food.

[mikem]

Congrats on the little ones! :cool:

[GarterGuy17]

Awesome little ones you got there !!!

[guidofatherof5]

Some of the scrubs are eating.

[indigoman]

Good news. Steve!

[guidofatherof5]

Good news. Steve!

Yes it is. They are being shy at the moment and only eating from under their hide.

[kueluck]

Only the Garter Guru would have babies born in the dead of winter. :D They sure are some cuties.

[Selkielass]

Babies?
awwwwww!!!
a little bit of summer in the midst of all this icy cold- how wonderful!

[guidofatherof5]

So far this year weather wise has been an interesting one(cooler and more wet) As far as nature goes we've had a rabbit and squirrel explosion and now a cricket explosion. Anyone else seeing this trend in their area?

[RedSidedSPR]

actually my neighbor and I have five or six rabbits we see around that we never saw last year. There was a nest earlier too but my dog slaughtered them all.

[Mommy2many]

I have noticed more squirrels this year. Not as many rabbits in our area but definitely more squirrels!

[ObsidianDragon]

Definite cricket explosion, and we had our fair share of rabbits, too.

[guidofatherof5]

I've always wanted an in indoor pool and I guess I can keep wanting.
This is Tank's new enclosure. 300 gallon Rubbermaid Stock Tank. Looks like I'll need to find a new place for the Christmas tree. This thing will take up one corner of the living room.

http://www.thamnophis.com/thamphotos/data//751/medium/tank_s_tank.jpg

[chris-uk]

You want an indoor pool? You could always throw on your Speedos and join Tank in there. :D

[guidofatherof5]

It is with a saddened heart I report that our girl Lucky has passed away. She came to us as a newborn wild caught female T. radix - Plains Garter. Lucky was the most sociable garter I've ever seen. Her story would make a great children's book.
For the last month she was eating well but losing weight. I've seen this before in old snake and Lucky was 8 years old. She lived a full life with us and was a joy to know
Here's Lucky with her mom. My Gabby and Lucky were best friends.
I was wrong on her age. Lucky was 10.
She will be missed. R.I.P. my Lucky girl.

http://www.thamnophis.com/thamphotos/data//628/mom_and_lucky2.jpg

[chris-uk]

Sad to loose such a special snake. :-(

[BLUESIRTALIS]

Sorry to hear this! Give Gabby or condolences.

[guidofatherof5]

On a good note, I still have one of her offspring(LG- Lucky's Girl) She's a big strong female with her dad's(Scar) attitude.

[kueluck]

:(

[ScimitarX]

Sorry to hear, RIP Lucky :(

[Dan72]

Bummer news, I remember Lucky from my visit to the ranch, she left an impression for sure.

[Boots]

Very sorry to read the sad new.

Jason

[Mommy2many]

So sorry to hear of her passing. She was beautiful!

[guidofatherof5]

Thank you everyone for all your kind words.:)

[rickymar81]

I'm very sorry that you lost a special friend steve.
RIP Lucky