Willow's Babies!!!!

[katach]

Willow had her babies today!! She had 8 healthy scrubs and 1 slug.
They are so freaking adorable!!

[kibakiba]

Congrats!

[guidofatherof5]

Sweet looking little ones.;)

How's mom doing?

[katach]

Mom is doing good. She is in her hide resting. She is so skinny looking now...

[kibakiba]

Mama was too when she was done. We couldn't believe it was her. She barely looked like the same snake, you know, without the big chubby "hips" :D

[katach]

It's almost scary how thin she looks with all her loose pregnant skin.

[kibakiba]

I'd offer her some food later, or tomorrow.

[katach]

She ate yesterday, should I still offer her some?

[kibakiba]

Yeah, I would at least. New mama's need to gain some weight that they lost. I wouldn't offer too much, just a worm or two perhaps.

[guidofatherof5]

It's almost scary how thin she looks with all her loose pregnant skin.

A few meals and she'll be back to normal.
Same thing occurs with my radixes.
After they slam down a few fuzzies they take their normal shape again.
She deserves a special treat or at least extras.;)

[katach]

I feel a couple guppies in her near future!! :)

[charles parenteau]

Congratulation!

[RedSidedSPR]

Yay!! Congrats!! They're awesome!

[katach]

Thanks!! They are sooooo cute!!!

[RedSidedSPR]

Well, so is just about every baby garter I've ever seen :p

But yes, they're awesome!

[kibakiba]

One of them looks like Silvers brother/sister :D

[Hornets23]

Very cute! Congrats!

[Josh_r]

Awww they are cuuuuuute!!!!!!!

[BLUESIRTALIS]

Congrats!!!

[snakehill]

BEAUTIFUL babies!!! :)

[jitami]

Adorable! Congratulations!

[katach]

Babies are all doing great today! They are moving and climbing and being curious. Willow is is her enclosure right next to them, she hasn't taken her eyes off of them. There is one clear "bold" one. Climbs right into your hand and is by far the most curious. My husband wants to keep that one but I think 5 is enough for us, we'll see though.

[Mrs N1ntndo]

Awesome looking babies. They look kinda like Pheobes...lol that awesome. Ya I kept 5 also but Im raising 2 extras cause mom wants some too. Congrats to Willow and her beauties.

[katach]

So is there an easy way to tell which ones are boys a which are girls? The larger snakes I can tell, but these guys are so tiny.

[RedSidedSPR]

It's hard with babies... i don't know other than popping etc which i wouldn't do.

[katach]

Yeah, I'm not comfortable with my knowledge to pop or probe. I don't want to hurt them or make them mad.

[Mrs N1ntndo]

My babies are tiny too and I cant tell either. I asked steve and he said something like ..he waits until there big enough.



I have read that when popping in can cause them pain. I wouldnt want to do it enough if I knew how. good luck.

[kibakiba]

Northwesterns are hard to sex when they're babies. But, like with males and females, males tend to have a little "bulge" at the end of the cloaca, and females have finely tapered tails. One of my males, Thumbelina, looked like a complete female, and after a while he kind of... Grew into his manhood... I guess. :p

[RedSidedSPR]

On the ones with light undersides, you can see a faint pink somethin'-somethin' behind the cloaca.

[kibakiba]

Haven't noticed that on any of my babies. Silver's belly is almost pure white, and you cant see his little guys. His tail does point to being male, though.

[RedSidedSPR]

My anery has (less so now) a whitish belly, ad you can see it. You can on all my babies (all male) just less easily on the other two.

[kibakiba]

I looked on all of my males, no telltale image of anything... Except the bulge on their tail.

[RedSidedSPR]

Well.. Mine have it. Never mind I guess.

[katach]

Well i'll try that. You never know. :)

[Mrs N1ntndo]

im confused. How do you find out with babies (eastern) sex. Im confused. Sorry

[RedSidedSPR]

No reall way to tell from the start without popping them, which j wouldn't recommend.

[kibakiba]

Some babies are easy to tell, especially when they have "magnum p"s :D

[katach]

Ok so I think I have 3 boys and 5 girls. I think. I could be wrong. Maybe I'll post some babies butts and see what the collective thinks.

[Mrs N1ntndo]

funny sounding. But that might help cause do you think that if people now the answer to those then do u think it would help me?

[katach]

Maybe.

[katach]

Babies are all doing well today. Will switch them to aspen chips this evening and try offering some worm parts. I am interested in seeing what they do in the aspen chips. Mommy likes to dig tunnels.

[RedSidedSPR]

Aspen is dangerous when ingested, especially for babies, so unless you feed out of the cage, I wouldnt yet.

[katach]

I have a separate container to feed in. I want to feed them individually so I know who had eaten or not. :)

[RedSidedSPR]

Always a good idea. ;) especially with possibly dangerous substrate.

[katach]

Yeah. We feed our adults out of the enclosure when we give worms. Pinkies don't last long enough to hit the ground... piggies :D

[RedSidedSPR]

Yeah, same here. Sticky things are too risky. Unless their small, then the slide right down so fast.:D

[BLUESIRTALIS]

Keep in mind if all of your babies don't eat to put them together and try feeding again sometimes when they are together it triggers a feeding response. You will be able to tell wich ones ate most of the time.

[guidofatherof5]

Good strategy and advice.

[katach]

Thanks! You guys are so awesome!

[RedSidedSPR]

I know:p

[katach]

And yet so humble.... :p

[katach]

Some updated baby pics. They are very happy in their new enclosure.

[guidofatherof5]

Love that drinking photo.
Thanks for the update. They're looking good.
If I might suggest a dark hide.
I tryed white hides and my snakes seems restless in them and spent far less time in it then compared to dark hides.
Just an idea.

[katach]

I'll try that. We have some cardboard from a package we got on Monday. I think we may make something with that. They seem to be ok with the white one for now though. They were all balled together under it this morning... so cute!

[RedSidedSPR]

They look like very strong, healthy babies!

[kibakiba]

They do. How big are they? They look larger than the babies in my litter, except for pumpkin. She was the biggest of them all :D 1.5 times the size of everyone else.

[katach]

They are about 4in. long. They all are so curious. They are climbing and digging and exploring. They are so great!

[snakehill]

They are beautiful!!! :)

[katach]

Willow says thank you! It's really interesting how she watches them from her enclosure. She looks at me when I do anything with them. May it's just a coincident.

[kibakiba]

Thats pretty big for a baby. Even bigger than Pumpkin! Mine were about 2.5 inches, the runt (Azul) was about 2 inches, and pumpkin was probably 3-3.5 inches.

[RedSidedSPR]

yup. Strong, healthy, BIG babies. That's a litter, right there :)

[kibakiba]

It's likely that the mama is a lot bigger than my Mama. Big Mama is still really young though. Snakey is older than her :D He's my old man.

[RedSidedSPR]

still...

[kibakiba]

The bigger the snake, the bigger the litter in some cases ;) We call Mama fat, but she's pretty tiny. It was a great litter though, for her first time.

[katach]

Here is Willow keeping an eye on her babies.

[RedSidedSPR]

Cute.

[katach]

Yeah it's really sweet.
I cut the end off of a paper towel roll and cut a section out of the middle. The babies love crawling through it and on top of it. They are getting so big and strong. They can wrap around my finger and hang on by themselves now. So awesome!!

[RedSidedSPR]

I'd buy one! (i can't, just sayin)

[katach]

We've decided to keep one of them , but the rest need good homes. I think a couple of teachers at my step-son's school would like to have one for their classroom pet. I would go in and feed and clean and make sure they are doing well. I want the babies to be bigger before they go to the school though. A little more sturdy.

[RedSidedSPR]

Good idea. (the sturdy part)

[katach]

Tried offering worm chunks today. Had a few sniff and look at it, but no takers yet.

And of course, more baby pics!

[kibakiba]

All of mine ate on their 15th day of being alive. They were scared of worms! They took pinky just fine, but none of them wanted anything to do with the worms. Most of them will only take scented chunks now. :rolleyes:

[jitami]

The babies are soooo precious! So glad they're all doing well for you. I really enjoyed the new pics. Thanks :)

[katach]

We are out of pinkies right now. We have some on order for tomorrow. $.80ea. Pretty good price for a local pet store. Richard had a good point about the dirty worm guts having good probiotics for them. They are only 4 days old, I didn't think they would eat, but I wanted to try anyway. :)

[kibakiba]

It's good to offer food at least every other day, since they might eat. I've only had 1 litter, so I'm not really qualified to act like I know anything, but I always speak from my experiences and other things I've heard.

[katach]

It's good to offer food at least every other day, since they might eat.

That's kind of what I was thinking. I'm just going to keep trying. They will eat when they are ready, I just want to be sure I don't miss that moment. :)

[kibakiba]

All my babies couldn't get enough of their food when they first tasted it. It was so cute. I wanted to keep feeding them more, but, since it can kill them, I didn't want to risk it.

[katach]

I can't wait to see those little faces open up and chomp down. One of them yawned a little while ago and I melted. It was so darn cute!

[kibakiba]

My heart melts any time I see Pumpkin. She's got a runt like body, but she's huge. She has little white marks on her eyes, that kind of define them and make them bigger. She's the cutest little thing.

[katach]

The babies are soooo precious! So glad they're all doing well for you. I really enjoyed the new pics. Thanks :)

Thank you! They are the best thing!

[katach]

She has little white marks on her eyes, that kind of define them and make them bigger. She's the cutest little thing.

I noticed that on all the babies. Is that a baby thing they outgrow or if they have it they have it forever?

[kibakiba]

It might get darker. Mama has it too, but it's kind of tan on her. I haven't had her for too long. She might have been 3, maybe 4 when I got her. The older babies I had never had that, even the one's I got within a couple weeks of birth. Pumpkin and Silver have it the most.

[katach]

I'll have to keep track of that.

[Mrs N1ntndo]

Thank you and I will take some more pics in the next few days and post them. I just posted some on Pheobes page and I changed my avatar to Pheobe. Maybe the baby pics I posted people can tell. I love babies.

[katach]

Early childhood development....

[guidofatherof5]

Honing those climbing skills.
It will also help if and when some of them join the circus.:D

[kibakiba]

Your babies are very well developed! Every baby that I have is clumsy and cant climb to save their lives! :D
Even my yearling wont hang on when he climbs... But my mom did call him my special ed. snakie for a reason.

[katach]

Hmmmmm....... a snake circus........ :D

[Mrs N1ntndo]

Early childhood development....

I can see how you made the the thing they climb on but what did you make it from. Thats cool. and you snakes are looking so good.

[katach]

wooden dowels and a strip of leather. My husband made it. He's crafty like that. :)

[Mrs N1ntndo]

I am to but Man thats is an awesome idea. I actually think I might have both of those things already. Tell the hubby that that is a great idea. I have the babies in a 10 gal tank but I think I might be able to put somthing like that together and Ill have to take pics when I get it down to show you. I dont have anything other then there hides(coconut shells) to climb on and I couldnt figure anyhting out kinda cheap and looks cool cause lack of money sometimes is what will sping ideas. Again GREAT idea.

[katach]

Here is how he made it. It fits in a 10gal. perfectly.
http://www.thamnophis.com/forum/enclosures/8806-new-toy.html

[Mrs N1ntndo]

awesome and now that I read that and have an idea now of what i will be doing. I have leather and yarn(I know yours didnt call for yarn) for sure , I just have to see about the dowels. I actully have scraps of leather that is all different colors its crazy. Ill have to see what I can come up with . I too wish I had a larger tank for the babies and for Pheobe too. We will be trying really hard to do that b4 the babies can move in with Pheobe.

[katach]

We just got the adults a new tank yesterday twice as big as what they had before. They are very happy now. Along with a new home made toy.
http://www.thamnophis.com/forum/enclosures/9013-new-tank.html

[Mrs N1ntndo]

That looks awesome. We dont have room for a long tank for the size I want but taller would be cool teh I can make layers and still room to stretch. I dont know the size this would be but 1.5x the length of a 20 gal and a cpl times as high. even if it was 2x as high as a 20 gal would be cool. So hrd to find.

Your tank looks awesome.

[katach]

Thanks!

[katach]

So we decided to keep a male (I think). His name is Fish Bait. My husband named him that because he loves to swim. He has a funny sense of humor like that.

[guidofatherof5]

So we decided to keep a male (I think). His name is Fish Bait. My husband named him that because he loves to swim. He has a funny sense of humor like that.

That name reminds me of the movie "Finding Nemo". That was Nemo's nickname :D

[RedSidedSPR]

Actually it was Shark Bait. OOH HA HA!:D

[guidofatherof5]

That will teach me to ask one of my kids a question.:D

[katach]

Yeah I wanted to find a strong masculine name for him, but Fish Bait it is.

[RedSidedSPR]

Next time ask your snakes.

[katach]

I try but they just stick their tongue out at me, kinda rude if ask me... :)

[RedSidedSPR]

Crap, I was answering Steves last post. You and I posted at the same time.

But I guess it works both ways.:rolleyes:

[katach]

:D That's funny

[kibakiba]

Mine just stare at me when I ask what I should name someone. You can tell that they're saying "Shut up, woman, get me a pinky!"... :D

[katach]

That sounds about right. :D

[guidofatherof5]

Use the "Quote" button Jesse;)

I get caught in that same situation sometimes and must remind myself also.:D

[katach]

I really like that feature!

[RedSidedSPR]

Use the "Quote" button Jesse;)

I get caught in that same situation sometimes and must remind myself also.:D

I know dang it!:D I need to start doing that!!!

[katach]

Well, I had to move the babies to a larger tank sooner than I thought I would. Had an escape already. Silly baby. What was worse is we have boxes and bags of stuff we are taking to Goodwill tomorrow. Took me an hour and a half to find the little bugger, but I found him! They are so strong. Is that normal for an 8 day old baby to be able to climb so well?

[kibakiba]

Personally, my babies were so clumsy and... Well, not smart when they were 8 days old. Your babies are at the level that my babies are at (and mine were born in March!) I'd say it's a good sign that your babies are healthy and well developed.

[katach]

Well that's good, but man I was freaking out. I didn't want to donate the poor thing.

[kibakiba]

Haha. I doubt anyone would appreciate a kind donation like that. ;) I wouldn't mind a donation as awesome as a little baby snake, though! Haha! Pumpkin did that too...I was a wreck the whole week and a half that she was gone.

[katach]

I was all ready to set up a heat pad and a water dish. Then we found him/her. It had wedged itself between the wooden top of their shelf and the edge of the shelf. It blended right in. It probably was getting a kick out of watching us search for it.

[kibakiba]

He was probably giggling at you, while you were scrambling about trying to find him. :D

Pumpkin was probably laughing in my face for the first couple days she was gone. She got just a bit too carried away though. :rolleyes: Consider yourself lucky that your little guy didn't do that too!

[katach]

Yeah he got a stern talking to before he went into the larger enclosure. No chance of escape now.

[kibakiba]

Well, if you have the water dish in with them, and they make themselves damp, they can suction cup themselves to the glass. ;)

[katach]

They wouldn't get far now. There is a very tight fitting screen on top with a weight on the corners. If it can get out of that I think I'll have more to worry about than finding it. :D

[kibakiba]

Haha indeed. I still remember seeing Thumbelina making a break for it in the 20 gallon. He squeezed himself through a whole that was probably a quarter of a centimeter around. I was angry and surprised haha. I love these little guys. Babies are just like human babies in some ways... They like to get into everything when they realize just what they can do... They're just a lot less noisy. :D

[katach]

They are clever little one. Sometimes too clever...

[kibakiba]

You got that right! Runt is clever in the way that she tries eating me every time she senses my fingers in the tank. That's usually when I know it's feeding time. She's the partially blind one... But sometimes when I don't smell like food, she nibbles more... So, I don't really know. She's a serious pig though.. She steals food from my little babies. :(

[katach]

I love these snakes! They are so amazing!

[kibakiba]

I'm sure everyone has to agree on that!

[katach]

Here is Fish Bait. Swimming as usual.

[katach]

At birth the babies were about 4.5in to 5in. Today they are roughly 6in. That is some fast growth! They are only 9 days old. I must be doing something right...

[kibakiba]

Well, that is pretty big for a baby NW anyways. Most babies I see are about 3 inches, with the exception of Pumpkin, who was almost 4 inches. My smallest was 2.5 inches... He's still extremely small! Probably around 3 inches, while every one else is 5-6 inches.

[RedSidedSPR]

those are big babies! Growing that fast is great!

[katach]

Mommy must have some good yolk. They are checking out some worm parts right now, not sure if they will eat or not. I will be very excited when they do start eating!

[katach]

Thought on a theory I have. I could be way off, so help me out. Willow doesn't eat worms, flat refuses to. Would that trait be something the babies would have? Willow loves guppies, salmon, and pinkies. We never had to try slugs, but where we found her there were TONS of slugs. Thoughts?

[RedSidedSPR]

I doubt it... my adult doesn't like worms either.

I doubt it would pass to the babies.

[kibakiba]

Babies are an open book when it comes to food. Some species are specialists in a type of food, and that might be what the babies would go for first, since that's what they eat in the wild for generations upon generations. But, that said, if the babies are hungry, they will eat just about anything you give them. Mine were terrified of worms, but loved pinky parts and fish.

[RedSidedSPR]

Mine were terrified of worms, but loved pinky parts and fish.

That's always amused me :D

[kibakiba]

I wish I had my camera with me every feeding. It would make for some funny videos. All the babies stumbling over themselves trying to get away from those evil, icky worms! They do eat them now, though... Pumpkin is still a bit reluctant though. Hehe. :D

[RedSidedSPR]

But Mom, that thing tried to eat me!! :eek:

[katach]

So I've broken down and decided to keep another. One of the ones that has the really defined markings. She yawns a lot and is super cute. Her name is Nidra (Telugu for sleepy).

[RedSidedSPR]

Cool name!

[katach]

Thanks! It took me forever to find sleepy in another language that sounded cool and feminine.

[Mrs N1ntndo]

I try but they just stick their tongue out at me, kinda rude if ask me... :)

Thats so funny. I was reading all the other things and this was said and I started to laugh outloud that was great. Thanks for the good laugh.


Well, I had to move the babies to a larger tank sooner than I thought I would. Had an escape already. Silly baby. What was worse is we have boxes and bags of stuff we are taking to Goodwill tomorrow. Took me an hour and a half to find the little bugger, but I found him! They are so strong. Is that normal for an 8 day old baby to be able to climb so well?

I was wondering that too cause not to long after Pheobes were born (next day) they were climbing as well. Its awesome to watch them.


Well, if you have the water dish in with them, and they make themselves damp, they can suction cup themselves to the glass. ;)

Well I have a lot of pics of mine doing that....lol funny actully when you see all of them just clibing everywhere all on the side of that tank and it seems like they are aware it does that cause mine go back down and run there body in the water when they start to dry and try it again. Kinda weird and funny.


Here is Fish Bait. Swimming as usual.

So cute


Mommy must have some good yolk. They are checking out some worm parts right now, not sure if they will eat or not. I will be very excited when they do start eating!

I was told that it could take a cpl weeks sometimes for them to eat but I was tring the day after they were born and I had 2 eating then and today 3 ate but not the other 4. When they do start eating , how often do you feed the babies. Mine are 13 days old today.


Thought on a theory I have. I could be way off, so help me out. Willow doesn't eat worms, flat refuses to. Would that trait be something the babies would have? Willow loves guppies, salmon, and pinkies. We never had to try slugs, but where we found her there were TONS of slugs. Thoughts?

Some one mentioned chicken before in another thread, can they eat that?

[katach]

From what I've read and have been told, 2 weeks for NW is about normal for them to start eating. Also from what I've read once they start eating they should be fed every few days. As far as the chicken, I'm not going to feed that, there are just too many hormones in it these days. I'd prefer to stick with pinkies, worms, and safe fish.

[Mrs N1ntndo]

I was thinking that too about the chicken thats why I asked because I wasnt sure and thank you for the info about when eating should happen but I dont know what to do with my babies cause 3 I have no problems with but even left alone the others dont eat that I know of. How long in what size container am I able to leave them in with the lid on though.

[katach]

How long in what size container am I able to leave them in with the lid on though.

I don't know about that. I have an extra tank I move them to that doesn't have aspen bedding just a damp paper towel so the don't go under it. I just leave a Tupperware lid of worm parts in with them for an hour or so. If they don't eat then I put them back in their enclosure and rotate my adult snakes in depending on who got the last lid of worm parts. Sorry I can't be more helpful with that.

[Mrs N1ntndo]

I don't know about that. I have an extra tank I move them to that doesn't have aspen bedding just a damp paper towel so the don't go under it. I just leave a Tupperware lid of worm parts in with them for an hour or so. If they don't eat then I put them back in their enclosure and rotate my adult snakes in depending on who got the last lid of worm parts. Sorry I can't be more helpful with that.

Do you put them in 1 at a time cause Im keeping 7 and like I said I know that there is no problems with 3 of them for sure but I am not sure out of the other 3 of whos eating.

[katach]

As of right now, I'm putting them all in together. Once they start eating, I'll see who has the food bulge and separate them accordingly.

[Mrs N1ntndo]

Cool cool. Thank you and I will try that in about 2 days.

[katach]

You're welcome, and good luck.

[Mrs N1ntndo]

Thank you . You too and it seems like we both are doing well already. mine are still flicking ther tongues like norm and all that good stuff so they dont seem to be stressed or anything. I just know that some are more picky or shy or whatever just like people are. I will be getting some pinkies to try and hopefully they do better with those. Maybe they just dont want worms, who knows right. If only they could talk right? O r hey if we were like Harry Potter and speak and understand snake language . ( the snake whisperer) lol How cool would that be right?

[katach]

All the babies are still very healthy and growing fast. They still haven't taken food yet, but they will. It's so fun to see their little personalities emerge. I love NWs! I think they are so sweet and awesome!

[katach]

So the largest baby is now 7in and the rest a very close to that. They are getting so big! I'm so happy that they have started to eat. This ha been such an awesome experience so far!

[RedSidedSPR]

Holy crap, my 2 month old eastern is 7 inches, and you newborn NORTHWESTERN IS THE SAME FREAKIN' SIZE?!?

Wow. Like I said, big healthy babies.

[katach]

Yeah they are monsters!! I was talking with Steve on the phone the other day to get some detailed advise (thanks again Steve!!) and he agreed the babies are very big! They all seem to be very healthy and active. Except Nidra, she just likes to sleep (but when you nudge her she bolts). I hope that isn't an indication of a FTT later. She didn't eat yesterday, but did show some interest, so I guess I'll hold off my worry for now.

[RedSidedSPR]

My babies are all active, but my flame only comes out a little, and only in the evening, it's nothing to worry about.

[kibakiba]

That's what I've been saying! Giant babies! Pumpkin is really the size of a yearling now, though. I love the big babies :D

[katach]

Monsters!!!! :d

[katach]

Here are a few updated pics of the babies. They are getting so big!

[snakehill]

BEAUTIFUL babies!!!:)

[katach]

Thank you very much! They are a delight to have and I can't wait until they all eat. I will be sad and happy at the same time when they go to new homes.

[RedSidedSPR]

Sweet pics! What camera do you use?

[katach]

Thanks! I use a Sony DSC-H2. I love it!!

[guidofatherof5]

Great looking little scrubs.

[katach]

Thanks Steve!!

[RedSidedSPR]

Thanks! I use a Sony DSC-H2. I love it!!

I need a new camera, I'll keep that one in mind! For once, it's not $800!

[katach]

I bought it 5 years ago. It was $350. Well worth it though. The lens is the best part. It's a Carl Zeiss,excellent quality glass and manufactuing.

[guidofatherof5]

Carl Zeiss produces some of the finest lens in the world.
It's a great addition to many of Sony's great cameras.
Carl Zeiss - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Carl_Zeiss)

[kibakiba]

I love that 4th picture!! So cute! :D

[RedSidedSPR]

Love Sony.

Its only $90 now!!! Awesome!

[katach]

I agree Steve!
That's a great price. I'd snap it up if I were you!
Thanks Chantel. It looks so snuggled in. :)

[RedSidedSPR]

Well, it's not exactly what I'm looking for.

Please don't tell me it's AA batteries?! Can't stand those!!!!! I need a lithium ion battery like all cameras now!!

[katach]

Sorry, AA but I just use rechargeable ones.

[RedSidedSPR]

Ick. Ick ick ick! AA batteries! Ick!:D

I know, rechargeable is great..... but ick!:D

I actually have a Nikon in mind that take AA and may still do it, same with this camera.

.. but ick!:D

[katach]

Yeah, that's the only draw back to it. It had a hood with the ability to put different types of lenses on. I have a polarizing lens I use when I'm I bright sun.

[RedSidedSPR]

Yeah, Im thinking about getting one of the Nikon coolpix cameras... they work for me.

Sony is too expnsive, older cameras are too... old...

[jitami]

Thanks! I use a Sony DSC-H2. I love it!!

I have the H5, also with the Carl Zeiss lens. It really is a great camera for the price. Btw, between dog, kid, & 4 wheeling trips we're often out of the house for days at a time, so I was specifically looking for one that used AA's that I could switch out and/or find readily available anywhere instead of needing to plug in somewhere. It does go through regular AA's quickly, but I've had really good luck with the Energizer Ultimate Lithium batteries. They're expensive, but last so much longer that it's worth it. I do have some rechargeables, too, but keep the Energizers in the camera bag at all times just in case.

Anyways Kat, the babies are adorable! Great job with them :)

[katach]

Thanks!!

The same 5 ate again today. Not sure what I'm going to so with the non-eaters. I tried to find a slug, but it's been pretty dry out. I'll have to try later this evening. Otherwise, the 5 that ate took unscented pinkie parts!! :) Yeah!!!

[RedSidedSPR]

Awesome! Those are darn fine babies.

[ConcinusMan]

It's almost scary how thin she looks with all her loose pregnant skin.

Food intake after fertilization has a big impact on whether or not they look "caved in" after giving birth. After fertilization, food intake usually increases dramatically. She is not "eating for two" like people tend to think. That all goes to replenish mom's reserves since the babies get all they need from the yolks.

If she looks caved in like you say, it's important to get her back to healthy body mass quickly. Feed her as much, and as often as she will take and she will fill back out rather quickly. In the wild, snakes that cannot fill back out before brumating season, stand a higher chance of not making it through the winter.

I try to really pound the food in them during all but the last few weeks of pregnancy. It does seem to help them not look so caved in after having them.

[katach]

She is looking well now. Nice and filled-in. :)

[ConcinusMan]

Good!

[katach]

4 of my cuties are for sale now. If anyone is interested, PM me.

[RedSidedSPR]

They're awesome looking! I'd buy one if I could! (but I can't)

[kibakiba]

I would too, they're so pretty. :D

[katach]

Welllllll....... come on you know you want to!!! :D

[RedSidedSPR]

Oh... alright...:rolleyes:

I really would, but I really can't.

[katach]

But they are so cute! You could love it, and snuggle it, and keep it for your very own! :D

[RedSidedSPR]

Shut up! You're making me want them!:D

Ah... i can snuggle with MY snakes....

[katach]

you could snuggle with your snake....... it could be yours!

[RedSidedSPR]

We could talk about this all night and it wouldn't change my mind.:rolleyes:

[ConcinusMan]

Gotta give her credit. There's salesmanship there. Just the wrong target. I like your ad. Nicely setup. Nice pics.

Heck, I tried to sell (very cheap) an oregon red spotted baby to Jesse. He didn't go for it but he got the very same babies from Don. Same babies! That baby he has is from MY litter. I sold 10 of 15 of them to Don at bulk pricing of course. But would Jesse buy one of the 5 I had left? hell no, he got it from Don instead.:mad:

I'm not really mad. :p Actually I'm glad. Wanted to give Don a deal that would be profitable. I'm actually glad he's happy and got to sell some.:)

Saved me a lot of time and effort and care of holding onto all those babies and trying to sell them!

[katach]

Thanks. I got baby musk on me with #4. Not as stinky as adult but still...

[RedSidedSPR]

Man, I'm really sorry about that. But I truly couldn't do two snakes.

[katach]

Sure you could! Your other one would love the company too. They are all good eaters already.

[RedSidedSPR]

Was talking to Richard.;)

Sorry Can't do it. Can't.:D

[ConcinusMan]

Was talking to Richard.;)

Sorry Can't do it. Can't.:D

Yeah whatever.:mad: Everyone has an excuse.

If I can do over 50 babies in the 2010 season you can do just one more than you have now. Of course, it will always be just one more.:p

[RedSidedSPR]

You don't understand, not asking you to. I have plans, and couldn't take the two.;)

[ConcinusMan]

Just messing with you.;)

[RedSidedSPR]

But mind you, it wasn't the number of snakes exactly... there were just reasons I couldn't.

I know you were.

[snakehill]

Could it be that you knew you were going to get another garter at the reptile show?????:p

[RedSidedSPR]

This was weeks ago.

[katach]

Lots of looky, still no takey. They are fabulous, wonderful, strong, big, good eating, beautiful babies!

[ConcinusMan]

Like I was saying before, unless you have something spectacular and reduce the price to well below their real value, snakes are tough to sell this year. Be patient.

[kibakiba]

Keep your offer firm and be patient. You can either make less money, but sell them faster, or you can make more money but sell them slower. If you have a business that is one thing you kind of have to choose between sometimes.

[ConcinusMan]

Seems like sales pick up again in the fall. First there's the birthing season and the "good" ones go fast right away, then a lull like we're having now, then when there's very few snakes for sale, things pick up again in the fall and that helps to unload any that haven't sold yet.

[katach]

Ok, thanks guys!

[katach]

Thought I get some updated pics of the rugrats.

[kibakiba]

They are so darn cute! The 4th picture is adorable

[katach]

Yeah they are pretty cute. I wuv them. I hope whoever takes them will wuv them just as much as I do!

[RedSidedSPR]

They're awesome!! I want one! (don't say anything:D)

[ConcinusMan]

Anything

[katach]

They're awesome!! I want one! (don't say anything:D)

..........(giving the come on you know you want to look) :D

[RedSidedSPR]

I max out at 5 right now. Otherwise...

[kimbosaur]

I will "wuv" them for you if you help me smuggle them across the border. :D

[katach]

Here are some cute food shots. Plus one or more of them are about to shed!! That was fast! They are only 5wks old. They are growing so well!!

[guidofatherof5]

I love photos of little scrubs eating.
Very nice. Good looking crew.

[katach]

Thanks! :D

[ConcinusMan]

I will "wuv" them for you if you help me smuggle them across the border. :D

Hey now. Encouraging and speaking of committing illegal activity is...

Well let's just say you shouldn't even joke about it in public. If you're going to do it, be serious and do it right. Plan it and talk about it in some backwoods bar with a bunch of trigger happy rednecks all hopped up on crank and armed to the hilt.:p

Besides, screw that. Ship them to the nearest US location and you pick them up and take them home your damn self!:mad:

Damn, I miss the good old days when I could freely cross into Mexico or Canada and back with nothing but a State issued I.D. and come back with kick as class B fireworks or some kick-butt chronic acquired dirt cheap. *sigh* They didn't give a damn if you had a pound of weed or fireworks. They only detained vans and trucks and were only looking for human contraband. Now you need a passport and they'll strip search a nun trying to cross on foot or do a cavity search on a goat.:rolleyes:

[katach]

Well 4 of the 8 babies have shed. All perfect sheds. One more to shed of the big eaters. The other 3 are still tiny. I had a nibble of a chunk of slug from one of the non-eaters yesterday. Unfortunately they promptly spat it out, I guess it was too sticky. Now I can try scenting with slug at least! Still a glimmer of hope.

[katach]

This is baby #2 from my for sale ad. He/She just shed and is looking quite sharp!

[kibakiba]

So cute!

[BlueGarterz]

@ the worm pics.
Mommy take a pic, cheese!!!!! Munch Munch Munch :D

[katach]

Well Fish Bait was the last of the eaters to shed and it too was a perfect shed! Yeah!!

[kibakiba]

Yay! Go Fish bait!

[katach]

:D Now we have to mark him/her again so we don't mix it up with another similar looking one. :)

[kibakiba]

How do you mark them?

[katach]

With a non-toxic marker. Just a dot on the neck.

[kibakiba]

Ahh, nice. I wish I had thought of that. I wouldn't have have gotten Spots and Specks mixed up.

[katach]

Was Bill's idea. It works very well. We don't usually have trouble telling Fish Bait from the rest because it's usually in the water dish chillin, but when it's under the hide with the rest of the group it can be a challenge. :D

[kibakiba]

I can imagine!

[katach]

Now we just look for the blue dot!

[katach]

Finally the temps have dropped and we are seeing slugs. I found a good one today at my mom's house eating her roses. I hope scenting will work for the non-eaters. I will keep you all posted. I'm so surprised they have lasted so long without food. They are still active, exploring, flicking, and drinking. Willow must have some super yolk!

[ConcinusMan]

Or they're going to do what Steves did and just refuse food until they starve to death.:cool:

They should eat within 4 weeks of birth. Every day after that, there is less hope that they will ever eat. Might want to consider releasing them.

[katach]

I have considered relesing them, but the temps are dropping and I don't know how much of chance they will have over the winter at this point. I know if I release them that there is a chance they will still die. I would rather know I tried my very best to get them to eat.
Last week one of the non-eaters latched onto a slug chunk, but it was so sticky it let it go. I'm hoping that scenting a worm chunk will help get them to eat. I understand that not all of them may make it, but I need to try my best to help them along.

[ConcinusMan]

Of course there's a chance they'll die out there. About 85% of all garter babies don't survive their first winter. The thing is, some babies just won't eat until they get through their first brumation. Assuming they live, they'll eat in the spring. The cold keeps them from starving to death during that time. Keep them indoors, and if they're waiting to get through the winter first, they'll starve if you don't brumate (refrigerate at around 50 degrees)

[katach]

If scenting doesn't work, I'll try brumation. I have a small tank that I can move them to. I just want to try what I can before I do that.

[Mrs N1ntndo]

If scenting doesn't work, I'll try brumation. I have a small tank that I can move them to. I just want to try what I can before I do that.

I thought that babies dont do that if they are in the house. should I expect mine to do that . They are almost 1 month 3 weeks old

[ConcinusMan]

Like I said, it takes about 50 degrees F. Can go down to around 42 minimum.

[katach]

Thank you.

[kibakiba]

I thought that babies dont do that if they are in the house. should I expect mine to do that . They are almost 1 month 3 weeks old


You don't have to. It's you're decision whether to brumate or not. Northwesterns can be born in really low temperatures, brumate and survive, then slither out of the den in spring like a normal snake. I have seen a newborn sized baby during the winter basking on a rock... But, NWs can be a bit weird compared to other snakes.

[katach]

I'm so freaking excited! One of the non-eaters ATE! Slug scented worm chunks!

[guidofatherof5]

Great news.

[RedSidedSPR]

Alright!! Eeyeah!! Whoop!! Shc-bookie-wookie-something!

Seriously thats awesome! How was it offered?

[katach]

:D :D It was on the plate. I just nudged them over to it. 2 of them just went away, but one ate about 5 chunks! I tried offering the other 2 with the tongs. I chased them all over the tank with it right in their face. No luck with them yet though.

[RedSidedSPR]

Gotcha, sweet!

[katach]

Here is the slug that helped the baby eat. It's name is Herb (because it adds so much flavor!!).

[guidofatherof5]

Way to go Herb.;)

[kibakiba]

Just don't get too much slime on the food, those kinds of slugs have the tendency to choke garters with their slime.

[katach]

Ok. He's lighter brown than the picture is showing though. I tried a banana slug a few days ago, but that one was like super glue! Herb seems a lot less slimy. I'm going to keep him alive and make sure I have slug scent for the winter.

[RedSidedSPR]

Yeah, Herb!! WOOO!!! WOOO!!! WOO--aaanyyyyway.

[katach]

And I thought I was excited about it.... :D

[RedSidedSPR]

Yeeeaah...

[kibakiba]

The slugs that have stripes and spots are a lot better, they might be a bit more slimy in some ways but if you poke Herb enough he might put out yellow slime, which is the choking stuff.