Jesse's garter snakes

[RedSidedSPR]

Thought it was time to make a thread for my snakes, instead of making a new thread for every new thing they do...

Here they are.

Spooner
My first snake.
Self-caught at Spoon River, 21 inch male red sided garter snake.
Bit me 100 times at first, but is now a very nice snake.
http://img534.imageshack.us/img534/213/mysnakesspooner.jpg

Smoke
Few months old baby male anerythristic, 8 inches, red sided garter snake.
very, VERY, sweet snake. Personality-wise, my favorite snake.
http://img33.imageshack.us/img33/4750/mysnakessmoke.jpg

Red
Few weeks younger than Smoke, 7 inch long ery/flame eastern.
Very calm, sweet snake, but won't hesitate to bite you if he feels like it.
Coloring up to a very, very nice red. Looking forward to seeing him as an adult.
http://img4.imageshack.us/img4/7974/mysnakesred.jpg

Whats-his-face. (Haven't thought up a name yet. Ideas welcomed.;))
My newest. he's a red spotted garter, but his dad was an "anery" blue concinnus... this guy has a very blue belly, and as he matures, he may even become an anery. No idea what will happen... mystery gene.
He's younger than all, but as big as Red (7 inches).
He's a very bold little guy, always sleeps out in the open, and has no fear of me.
http://img94.imageshack.us/img94/3263/mysnakesconcinnus.jpg

[guidofatherof5]

Nice snakes Jesse and equally nice photos.
Love the first one of Spooner. That would make a great poster print. Sam's Club is about the cheapest I've found.

[RedSidedSPR]

Thanks, I thought of that!
It's ridiculously hard to get those close ups with my camera, so I'm proud with that shot.
I'll look into Sams Club... although you need a membership.

[Kantar]

here's an idea

maybe a seperate section of the forum where we can make threads just for our snakes? like a Members Snakes forum to make threads like Kantar's Snakes and katash's Snakes ect. So far only place I notice this happening is the welcome lounge

[RedSidedSPR]

Well, most people just make it in General Talk, but I've thought a separate section would be cool.

[Venti]

I love Spooner's facial markings, they look a lot different from the one's on redsideds here.

[Chondro788]

NICE!!! Your ery/flame is turning out nicely!! :cool:

[PINJOHN]

loved the photos thanks for sharing that spooner looks like he backs up for nobody:cool:

[Kantar]

such large pupils spooner has!

[RedSidedSPR]

Thanks everyone


I love Spooner's facial markings, they look a lot different from the one's on redsideds here.
Yeah, don't know why. He's different. Less red too. He's from Illinois if that makes a difference.

NICE!!! Your ery/flame is turning out nicely!! :cool:
Indeed. He'll be shedding soon, so he'll be even redder.

loved the photos thanks for sharing that spooner looks like he backs up for nobody:cool:
I know. He has a very purposeful look.

such large pupils spooner has!
Well yes, that's what happens when there's no sunlight. :cool:

[Mommy2many]

Love to see all of your snakes. My favorite though, has to be What's his face. What a cutie!

[RedSidedSPR]

Thanks. You'd love him in person. You put your hand in there, he climbs it willingly. (actually freaks out if it's not mine).

I had the lid open today,(watching him of course) and he somehow reached the top, and climbed the power cord to the stereo above, and curled up on the stereo before I put him back.:D

Again, I'm open to ideas for names for the little guy.
I think something involving the color blue would be cool, because of his belly and gene. But anything works.

[kibakiba]

Ao, Japanese for blue. Pronounced kind of like "ow". I've heard people pronounce it like "ahoh" (fastly)though.

[Mommy2many]

How about "Lapis"?

[kibakiba]

Or Lazuli :D On second thought, no... Don't. That name is taken for a future garter snake of mine. :D Haha.

[Mommy2many]

:D

[RedSidedSPR]

You can have it. :D too foo-foo.:p

[kibakiba]

Foo foo? Excuse me? I should give you a serial wedgie for that!

Hehe :D

[RedSidedSPR]

Kidding:D

[katach]

Whats-his-face. (Haven't thought up a name yet. Ideas welcomed.;))He's a very bold little guy, always sleeps out in the open, and has no fear of me.

Intrepid, in many languages it means fearless.

[RedSidedSPR]

Hmmm.. I like the idea of fearless/bold as a name... dunno how much i actually like that name, but good suggestion... thanks!

[katach]

How about Ottalaus, Icelandic for fearless

[RedSidedSPR]

Eh... again, like the name, just doesn't work for my snakes...

[Starling96]

You make me jealous man!

[Mrs N1ntndo]

Just call him "Whats his face" . I trhink its kinda cute. Everyone always says to name the snake what you first thought or what they look like or what they do.. I think it would be cute that when you talk about Whats his face it would be cut and funny. Just an idea

[RedSidedSPR]

Well, he's what's-his-face for now.;)

[jitami]

I think what's-his-face is an adorable name. I'm with Steve on the first pic, too! Awesome! And you know I love the babies... Smoke is welcome here any time ;)

[RedSidedSPR]

I doubt whats-his-face will be permanent, but it's what i'm calling him for now.:)

[RedSidedSPR]

I finally, for the first time, got a photo with their mouth open!:D
http://img854.imageshack.us/img854/8196/camerapics312.jpg

[snakehill]

How about "Lapis"?
Great name Le Ann! Do you mind if I use it? (For my male Betta);)

[guidofatherof5]

http://www.thamnophis.com/thamphotos/data//500/medium/camerapics312_Quick_e-mail_view.jpg

[RedSidedSPR]

lol, nice. that's probably pretty accurate, the pig. :p

[guidofatherof5]

The little concinnus is thinking "he's not getting anything unless I do too"

[RedSidedSPR]

The little concinnus is thinking "he's not getting anything unless I do too"

He likes to steal from others, but so does Red... so that can get pretty rough!


I was noticing again, how blue Smoke is.. hard to capture this on camera, but i did it. He's quite blue, as you can see.

http://desmond.imageshack.us/Himg806/scaled.php?server=806&filename=camerapics318.jpg&res=medium

[guidofatherof5]

Very nice;)

[Mommy2many]

Great name Le Ann! Do you mind if I use it? (For my male Betta);)


It's yours!

[snakehill]

Thank you Le Ann! It's perfect!!;)

[kimbosaur]

I love smoke! He looks almost purple in the photos. Reminds me of forget-me-nots for some reason.

[RedSidedSPR]

Smoke is great.:) He's the sweetes, calmest, little snake i've known, and eats and grows great!

[RedSidedSPR]

Yesterday i witnessed, for the first time, one of my snakes, Smoke, shedding from start to finish. I didn't get any good photos because of where he was, but it was awesome. I've never watched a snake shed in person, except for the last bit of their tail.

http://desmond.imageshack.us/Himg14/scaled.php?server=14&filename=shedn.jpg&res=medium

http://desmond.imageshack.us/Himg825/scaled.php?server=825&filename=camerapics305.jpg&res=medium

[snakehill]

Pretty COOL eh?:)

[RedSidedSPR]

Indeed.

[kibakiba]

I've seen Snap shed. She was going pretty quick until she noticed I was watching, hen she just sat there for like 30 minutes.

[RedSidedSPR]

He couldn't have cared less that i was watching. I could of touched him.

[RedSidedSPR]

Whats-his-face is gonna be shedding real soon. Blue eyed, so probably tomorrow or next day.

I'm curious to what the gene will do, so he may get bluer or something when he sheds... looking forward to it.

[snakehill]

Here's a question Jesse.Why is your Avatar not a picture of one or more of your snakes? ;)

[RedSidedSPR]

Because.

1. I don't have one I really want to use yet (although I have one I may use)

2. Because that's the dens in Manitoba (google it) and I've always wanted to go there.

3. It's an awesome picture.

4. It's red sided garter snakes.

Good enough reason?

[snakehill]

Well you have beautiful snakes! Sorry!:p

[RedSidedSPR]

I know, but no picture that I wat as my avatar YET.

I have them on my profile though.

[snakehill]

Now that would be a cool avatar!;) (the picture on your profile)

[RedSidedSPR]

It would be too small. And it's not what I want.

[snakehill]

I like a man that knows what he wants!!!;)

[RedSidedSPR]

I just took this photo. The hardest thing about this camera is getting clear macro shots. I've barely gotten this close with my adult, let alone an 8 inch baby!!! Not to mention it's a pretty cool photo.:rolleyes:

http://img607.imageshack.us/img607/1793/concinnusnsuch274.jpg

[katach]

Very cool shot!

[d_virginiana]

Nice shot. I know what you mean about having a hard time getting good macro shots, especially on babies that get tired of sitting still for a photoshoot after about two seconds :p

[RedSidedSPR]

The concinnus shed today!!

Got a photo of his fresh stripe, and just for the heck of it, all my other snakes. I was in a photo shoot mood.

http://img37.imageshack.us/img37/8082/ssnakess149.jpg

http://img716.imageshack.us/img716/564/ssnakess151.jpg

http://img834.imageshack.us/img834/9418/ssnakess147.jpg

http://img855.imageshack.us/img855/953/ssnakess056.jpg

http://img850.imageshack.us/img850/1378/ssnakess158.jpg

http://img402.imageshack.us/img402/967/ssnakess173.jpg

[RedSidedSPR]

http://img571.imageshack.us/img571/7096/ssnakess166.jpg


http://img809.imageshack.us/img809/7128/ssnakess163.jpg


http://img402.imageshack.us/img402/4249/ssnakess032.jpg


http://img88.imageshack.us/img88/2803/ssnakess047.jpg

[guidofatherof5]

Awesome snakes and photos.

[RedSidedSPR]

Thanks, i'm gonna have to agree.:p

[kibakiba]

What's his face looks just like a lesser coloured Ember :D That means, he is quite adorable.

[RedSidedSPR]

Thank, I guess.:D

[kibakiba]

No problem, I guess :p

[RedSidedSPR]

Oh, i didn't see that last part: "meaning he's quite adorable"...

I was saying that like I guess i'll take that as a complement...

So YES, thanks!:D

[kibakiba]

Hah. I win.

[RedSidedSPR]

Holy moley.

I've only had my concinnus for a few weeks.

When he arrived he was 7 inches. (same as my flame)

Smoke, at the time, was 8 inches.

The concinnus is now 11 inches. (WHAT?!:eek:)

Smoke, a month older, is 10.

The concinnus has grown a freaking 4 inches, in 3 weeks. The other two only 1 or 2 inches...

Wow. He's gonna be a big boy.

[kibakiba]

They do grow fast. Ember's about to reach 2.5 feet I believe. He's only a year old, and was about 6 inches when I got him.

[RedSidedSPR]

jeez, i knew they got big like radix, but wow.

[kibakiba]

Yeah, they get pretty big. Ember is huge, Snap is a bit less long, but she is fat as heck. Haha :D

[RedSidedSPR]

I'm glad. Bigger the better!

[kibakiba]

The smaller the better for me... Baby sized is always the best. :D

[RedSidedSPR]

Well, sure, when they're babies! But then they gotta get big!:D
My adult is 21 inches. Bigger than average and i love it. But hes' still small...:p

[kibakiba]

I wouldn't mind mine staying baby sized. I'm interested in watching them grow up and become adults, but I know I'll miss the baby size when they're older.

[RedSidedSPR]

Well, yeah I love babies and their size, (they grow too fast!) but like I said, if they're adults, I wouldn't want them to still be that size.

[BLUESIRTALIS]

I have a group of babies that are 100% het albino fl. blues and they have taken off so fast that it is crazy. They are 5 weeks old and were born at 5-6" and are now around 11" all but the runt who is 9" i had never bred fl blue easterns until this year but i have never seen babies grow this fast.

[guidofatherof5]

That's great news and rapid growth.
Photos please.;)

[BLUESIRTALIS]

I'm going to the beach next week for vacation and when i get back i plan posting pics of all my babies.

[guidofatherof5]

Next weeeek. But that's a long time to wait(heard this from my kids often enough, thought I'd try it out):D
Now I'm a whiner:D

[RedSidedSPR]

You have much to learn.:D

[BLUESIRTALIS]

I know i'll try to do better.

[RedSidedSPR]

Not you. Steve. But I guess that works.:p

But I would love to see pics too. FL blues are awesom!!

[BLUESIRTALIS]

Not you. Steve. But I guess that works.:p

But I would love to see pics too. FL blues are awesom!!

They are not as pretty as the fl. blues centralflaguy posted but they are what people consider to be fl blues in the hobby they do have blue in them just not as much as i would like but now i have 1 baby albino from my other litter that i can breed to the hets. One of my baby similis has a blue/green head already and i can't wait to see it in a few more months.:rolleyes: I don't know if i should keep all the hets to raise up and breed back to each other or sell some because it's hard to keep up with so many snakes. The problem with hets is the fact that it's hard to sell them because people want visuals and when you put weeks of hard work feeding them every single day you want to be able to get a fair price out of them.

[RedSidedSPR]

Right.. defiantely... but don't they bluer over time?

[BLUESIRTALIS]

Right.. defiantely... but don't they bluer over time?

They do get bluer over time.

[RedSidedSPR]

Gotcha.. so they WILL be eye candy at some point.;)

I hear ya about the hets though.

[Mommy2many]

Next weeeek. But that's a long time to wait(heard this from my kids often enough, thought I'd try it out):D
Now I'm a whiner:D


I often hear (every 10 seconds or so) "But that will take forever!!!"

[RedSidedSPR]

ARGH!! I NEED A NAME!!:D

What's-his-face is tired of being called that and is demanding a name!!!:D

[katach]

How about Akhtar

[kibakiba]

Anubis, Shaady.

[katach]

Whiskey

[RedSidedSPR]

Nah... I don't know what my problem is. I don't ever seem to want those other-language names... or those names like that one... Love the names, but Akhtar etc just doesn't do it for me..:rolleyes: at least not for my snakes..

[kibakiba]

Shaaaaaaaadyyyyyyyyy.

[katach]

You're a tough crowd! How about Arnie, or Bud

[RedSidedSPR]

Whiskey


Say what?:D

Seriously, I'm loving the ideas, but just doesn't fit my snakes.;)

[katach]

Rufus?

[RedSidedSPR]

Shaaaaaaaadyyyyyyyyy.

Shut up.:p
(actually it's not bad)


You're a tough crowd! How about Arnie, or Bud

Better.:D I like Bud.:D

[katach]

Say what?:D

Seriously, I'm loving the ideas, but just doesn't fit my snakes.;)

I googled snake names. I love google!

[katach]

Tabasco!

[kibakiba]

Shaady. :D

[RedSidedSPR]

Shady?!? I do not understand.

Tobasco... too random.:D

[kibakiba]

Shaady, pronounced shoddy pretty much. It's supposed to be Egyptian.

[RedSidedSPR]

Shoddy. Eygption.

What's this have to do with my snake?!:D

[katach]

It's not that random, What's-his-face has those red sides and you said he was bold!

[RedSidedSPR]

THIS IS TRUE!:eek:

I like that name now!

[katach]

Seeeeeeeeeeeeee! :D

[RedSidedSPR]

Yeeeeeeeeeees!

Didn't see thats what I will name him, but I'll keep that one in mind.

My two things i was going by was BLUE and BOLD (cause he IS bold.)

But there are definitely other things that fit.

[RedSidedSPR]

Red shed! (hehe)

sigh, it's either too dark or too light, too orange or too red....

http://desmond.imageshack.us/Himg685/scaled.php?server=685&filename=ssnakess215.jpg&res=medium

http://desmond.imageshack.us/Himg691/scaled.php?server=691&filename=ssnakess220.jpg&res=medium

[guidofatherof5]

In any event it is still a great looking snake.;)

[Bart]

Great snake! Congratulations!

[RedSidedSPR]

Thanks, he's not growing as fast as my others, he's still only 8 inches but he grows in RED!!! it's awesome.

Ridiculously hard to capture the red just right...

[Mommy2many]

Wow, Jesse

He really is gorgeous.

[kibakiba]

I love his big buggy eyes :D

[RedSidedSPR]

Yeah he's got a different face. He's growing out of the bugginess though.

[RedSidedSPR]

Met for the first time.

"what is that thing crawling at me?"

"that is the biggest garter snake i've ever seen!!"]

http://desmond.imageshack.us/Himg23/scaled.php?server=23&filename=ssnakess007.jpg&res=medium

[guidofatherof5]

Nice snakes.

[RedSidedSPR]

I know.:D

[RedSidedSPR]

Nice variety, wouldn't you say?:D

http://img812.imageshack.us/img812/6594/ssnakess005.jpg

[ConcinusMan]

Well you know that concinnus baby had a blue anery dad. I'm looking forward to seeing any changes in that snake, if any, that happen as he grows up.

[katach]

Very pretty snakes!

[RedSidedSPR]

Well you know that concinnus baby had a blue anery dad. I'm looking forward to seeing any changes in that snake, if any, that happen as he grows up.


Oh heck yeah, me too!

Dude, you should see his belly! Dark blue, and gets a light blue farther up, fading into almost white.

[snakehill]

Well, lets see it!!;)

[RedSidedSPR]

Flash drains it, it's really hard to get the colors right. The only way it's possible is if I take it with my iPod.... I'm no longer at a computer and cannot post it. But i will.

[RedSidedSPR]

I feel like bragging.

MY SNAKES HAVE NEVER POOPED IN THEIR WATER BOWL!!!!!!! EVER!!!!!:D:D

Suck it up.

[guidofatherof5]

I feel like bragging.

MY SNAKES HAVE NEVER POOPED IN THEIR WATER BOWL!!!!!!! EVER!!!!!:D:D

Suck it up.

When it happens and it will happen I hope it overflows.:D

[kibakiba]

Ever since I put a "pool" in the babies tank, everyone swims but never poops in it.

[RedSidedSPR]

When it happens and it will happen I hope it overflows.:D

It was worth it.:D

[RedSidedSPR]

http://img834.imageshack.us/img834/3003/ssnakess110.jpg

Finally got a close up, that's clear, AND captures his color!!!!!

[katach]

Very cool!

[guidofatherof5]

"A Flame in the hand is worth 2 in the bush"

Beautiful

[RedSidedSPR]

Thanks, both of ya!

[Mommy2many]

When it happens and it will happen I hope it overflows.:D


Me too!:D

Cause it will happen...just a matter of time.

[RedSidedSPR]

My snakes don't want to dirty up there drinking water!!!!

[Mommy2many]

You say that now...

[RedSidedSPR]

Yeah, i-- right. Whatever.

[d_virginiana]

Mine have never pooped in their water either. Houdini regurgitated in his water once though... That was much more disturbing :eek:




Finally got a close up, that's clear, AND captures his color!!!!!

Haha, you're right, he is way more bug-eyed than Harley.

[kibakiba]

I like his little bug eyes. They kind of make him a bit more cute.

[RedSidedSPR]

It will probably grow out, but I hope it doesnt.


Haha, you're right, he is way more bug-eyed than Harley.

Very much so.. This shows it better than any other photo. Hes gotta be the bug-eye snake ever.
http://img850.imageshack.us/img850/1378/ssnakess158.jpg

[ConcinusMan]

My snakes don't want to dirty up there drinking water!!!!

And mine, after neglecting their water for a few days, and needing to change it, wait for me to give them fresh water, take a drink, then they immediately take a dump it it.:rolleyes:

[RedSidedSPR]

That would suck.

I wouldn't know. (hehehehehe)


I know, it will probably happen, but they sure don't seem in a hurry to do it.

[RedSidedSPR]

They like the camera.

BP4ct1fRWy4

[kibakiba]

That's how my snakes are... They love love love the camera. Hades slithers up to the lens and rubs his nose all over it. I don't really know what he's trying to accomplish with that... But its adorable. :D

[RedSidedSPR]

Even more so with 3...:p

[kibakiba]

Yeah, it was very cute watching them kind of stumble over themselves trying to get to it.

[RedSidedSPR]

They used eachother for support. (literally) pretty funny.

[RedSidedSPR]

Group photo.

http://img228.imageshack.us/img228/5462/ssnakes030.jpg

[kibakiba]

So cute!

[RedSidedSPR]

It's rare to get a shot of all 3. I have countless photos of Smoke and Red together cause.... they always are, but the concinnus doesn't stop moving, and rarely goes in the same hide as the rest.

[kibakiba]

I have a few babies that do that, but its actually quite easy if you stuff them full of pinky pieces, there is something about pinkies that just makes them sleep. Like turkey. :D

[ConcinusMan]

Nice crisp colorful photo. Their pose reminds me of this one. One of my favorite group photos. All concinnus' of course. Varying color phases.

http://img825.imageshack.us/img825/3020/x001large.jpg

I noticed that concinnus of yours is already bigger than the others. Expect that to continue. I'm tellin' you, that snake will be a giant monster (3.5 ft +) and it won't take long.

[kibakiba]

Ember is the size of Mama already and she's about 4, ember is 1. Obviously he'll be get pretty darn huge!


Oh, and, that picture is so freakin' cute!

[Mommy2many]

Group photo.

http://img228.imageshack.us/img228/5462/ssnakes030.jpg


Aaawww....

[RedSidedSPR]

I noticed that concinnus of yours is already bigger than the others. Expect that to continue. I'm tellin' you, that snake will be a giant monster (3.5 ft +) and it won't take long.

Heck yeah. Read back a few pages I mention that. He's younger, yet has grown 4-5 inches, and already bigger than my anery... Who was 4 inches longer than him when I got him. (concinnus that is)

3.5 feet?!? Really?!? He's a male!!!! That's awesome!

[kibakiba]

At a year old he'll surprise you... He'll probably be 2 feet or close to it ;)

[RedSidedSPR]

Wow... A good thing!!

but 3.5 feet!!??

[kibakiba]

Concinnus are big snakies.

[RedSidedSPR]

I know... Them and radix.... It's awesome..

But 3.5 feet?!?!:D

Never heard of a male that big. AWESOME!!

[Mommy2many]

Wow... A good thing!!

but 3.5 feet!!??


"Fraid of a little snakie???

[RedSidedSPR]

Hell no!!! I said "it's a good thing"!!

Bigger the better!!... ok sometimes... not actually true.. but I want THIS guy to get huge.

[ConcinusMan]

You don't really have any choice unless you keep him cool and feed him little.

[RedSidedSPR]

Sweet! I'll keep him warm and stuff him!:D

He's not (or will be) too big to house with the other babies, and eventually smaller adult males right? I mean, I wouldn't think that would matter.

FYI he's 11 inches.

[d_virginiana]

Unless the others are freakishly small, he'll probably just be bigger but not big enough to have to house separately.

That is pretty big! I had no idea they got that large.

[ConcinusMan]

I know... Them and radix.... It's awesome..

But 3.5 feet?!?!:D

Never heard of a male that big. AWESOME!!

OK, OK. Lets tone that down a bit. He'll only be 3 times the size of your other snakes a year from now and will probably top out at, or slow way down at around 3 feet.

[RedSidedSPR]

Oh... crap.

[RedSidedSPR]

Yes. He's on the window sash.

LFuVW00k21o

[d_virginiana]

I love watching garters eat; it's so cute. That video does a much better job of capturing his colors than the photos you have up IMO :p Or did you finally get that new camera you were talking about?

[RedSidedSPR]

No it's still the same camera with crappy video. When i get another it will be HD and better video.

The video is better for his colors, yes. But only cause he's on the window. See? Pics the same, cause he's on the same spot (natural light)

http://img88.imageshack.us/img88/5935/snakesash007.jpg

[RedSidedSPR]

Hehe.

z0xeJfSN2-s

[guidofatherof5]

That little concinnus looks worried he's missing out on something.:D

[RedSidedSPR]

I love it when he pops up.:D

It's funny, he was doing it early today, and after he finished the concinnus went and did it in the same spot. "what is he doing... I must know"...

[d_virginiana]

Hahaha.. Love the look on the concinnus' face when your anery pops out of the substrate :D

[RedSidedSPR]

Me too, best part!

[ConcinusMan]

You gotta smart one there. The inquisitiveness. The investigating. Intelligent snake.

[RedSidedSPR]

And he's male.;)

[ConcinusMan]

I'm sure. There were 13 born if I remember right and only two or three were females.

[RedSidedSPR]

I meant he's male, yet intelligent.

Nevermind.

[ConcinusMan]

I know what you meant

[RedSidedSPR]

oh. wait. I didn't see that. Whoops... forget I said anything.

I'll tell ya who's NOT smart. My flame.:D

Today I sprayed the cage, and curious to what they'd do, spayed the water bowl. The flame came tearing out of the hide, dove in the bowl, and swam around I'm circles, mouth open. Obviously thinking there were guppies or something... I picked him up so he wouldn't attack the others and he bit me.

Psycho.

[ConcinusMan]

My radixes do that. They come flying out biting at the mist. It's hilarious.

[RedSidedSPR]

Yes. It is.

[kibakiba]

So cute!

[RedSidedSPR]

Red just scared the crap of me. And I feel terrible.

I was taking pictures of him, holding him in front of the window as usual, but he wasn't holding still... as with all my snakes, if I set them on window sash they sit still, enjoying the sun, and it makes a nice picture. (see my contest entry)

I rarely do it with my babies, cause i just dont, but I set Red there...

Anyway he ended up going down this little hole, the one that leads down the... it's the thingy... ya know, the...

This thing:
http://desmond.imageshack.us/Himg5/scaled.php?server=5&filename=snakes020.jpg&res=medium

I got really stressed cause obviously that was bad. I didn't want to open the window, cause I was sure it would hurt him. I waited, and tapped on the side some and I could hear him moving but couldn't get him to come up.

The little pig had already eaten today, but I knew with his love for food that was the only thing I could think of. Stuck a chunk of worm (on the hemostats) down the hole, and slowly pulled it back out...

I just did what I thought would get Reds attention, and it worked.

I went over to put the worm, and looked up... there was his head sticking out of the hole. Showed him the food, and he launched himself out of the hole.

I gave it to him, of course. He's quite fat.


I'm kicking myself that i let that happen, and didn't even see it until he was halfway down. (couldn't do a thing) But he seems OK as far as i can tell.

[RedSidedSPR]

Photoshoot... Smoke wouldn't hold still, Red was most uncooperative, but the concinnus was the most cooperative any snake has been. Put my hand over him so he'd curl up and "pose" and he sat there, not moving for a minute. But thanks to my stupid camera, only 2 came out good. But i LIKE 'em.

http://img694.imageshack.us/img694/462/snakes006.jpg

http://img12.imageshack.us/img12/6158/snakes008.jpg

[ConcinusMan]

Nice! great photos. Here's a tip: take a plastic lid or other object that you can place them under where it will be dark. Leave them there for a little while until they cool down, and settle down. With your camera positioned and ready, and already focused on that spot, pickup the lid and start shooting fast before they realize what's going on and bolt.

And you're not alone. Even with a good camera, you'll only get a few "keepers". I do have to shoot a lot of photos to get the great ones. That's perfectly normal.

[RedSidedSPR]

Thanks! I keep trying that.. but they don't ever calm down enough under a container. I might not be leaving them long enough though...

The white underneath always comes out yellow, too...

[ConcinusMan]

I might not be leaving them long enough though...

My thoughts exactly. When I do these kinds of shots, I do it in the morning before they warm up. Their body temperatures are 65-70 at that time.(I turn off heat at night in most cases and the tanks and snakes drop to room temp as the night progresses) makes them much calmer and more cooperative.

If that doesn't work for you, it wont hurt to cool them even further to around 60. Just do it at night or in the morning when they should normally be a bit cool anyway. Don't cool them down from 85 to 60 suddenly.

[RedSidedSPR]

The house (heck the yard) doesn't ever get that cool in the summer here...

The longest i've kept them under is around 5 minutes.. he calmed down, when i lifted it up, he stretched out being pushed against the sides.

[ConcinusMan]

Well, my house is 65-72 year 'round. Heated in winter, air conditioning in summer when necessary.

[RedSidedSPR]

It would cost a fortune to cool it that much. Actually, the AC can't handle it. It has a hard enough time keeping it at 75

I'll try to do it when they're cooler though... thanks for the tip(s)

[ConcinusMan]

Well, when it's only 85 outside, and the house is well insulated, it doesn't cost too much for me. And two highly energy efficient air conditioners (strategically located) running putting out a total of 35,000 BTU is more than enough. If both were running on max, the house actually gets cold. The key is to have enough BTU's so that they don't have to run constantly. That will save money over say, only 8,000 btu running constantly to keep up even though higher BTU's draw more power when they are on.

[RedSidedSPR]

The room with my snakes is the coolest. We just renting a crappy house, not great insulation.. it's just not possible this time.

[ConcinusMan]

Well I'm afraid it's hopeless then. All your snakes are going to die.:p

[RedSidedSPR]

yeah. A shame.

I'm gonna go take some pictures (those were from yesterday) see what I can do, I'll try your suggestions.

[ConcinusMan]

The practice is good anyway. What camera make/model are you using? Maybe I can look at your manual/features and see if there's something I can suggest for better results.

[RedSidedSPR]

I'm using the not-so-great Olympia FE-20. (I think) not sure how much you'll find, it's an archived product now.

[ConcinusMan]

You were saying? http://www.olympusamerica.com/files/oima_cckb/FE-360_X-875_C-570_FE-20_X-15_C-25_Instruction_Manual_EN.pdf

[guidofatherof5]

I'm using the not-so-great Olympia FE-20. (I think) not sure how much you'll find, it's an archived product now.

One of my daughters use a FE-20. Seems to like it.

[ConcinusMan]

See page 25. You can adjust your white balance. You're probably using "auto" which supposedly adjusts many parameters automatically. The problem is, most camera's aren't very good at doing that.

If you want to get good photos, use manual and adjust the important settings yourself. If you're not sure which white balance looks the best, pick the one that sounds right and it should give you a preview in the viewfinder screen, of what that setting will look like when applied. It's no wonder your color is off if you're using "auto". The white balance setting won't be available using "auto"

The camera attempts to adjust automatically depending on the spectrum of light it is receiving. Unfortunately, cameras suck at this. Set the white balance manually!

[RedSidedSPR]

Oh... that's what "WB" is. Yes I've done this before, but forgot about it completely!!

I'll try that. I just got a cool shot of the concinnus, flame is next.

[RedSidedSPR]

Eh... it changed it, but the color was no better this time. I'll have to mess around with different ones. Thanks for finding it Richard!

[RedSidedSPR]

Alright, I got more good ones.. I got my first two tongue shots worth a crap, but they ain't all that...

http://img638.imageshack.us/img638/266/snakesss037.jpg

http://img148.imageshack.us/img148/2117/snakesss038.jpg

http://img197.imageshack.us/img197/9697/snakesss041.jpg

http://img703.imageshack.us/img703/3982/snakesss039.jpg



http://img13.imageshack.us/img13/9485/snakesss042.jpg

http://img577.imageshack.us/img577/2418/snakesss048.jpg

[guidofatherof5]

Very nice.

[katach]

Awesome shots!

[RedSidedSPR]

Thanks I'm lovin' 'em. Never tried it like this, out of the cage set up shots.

This is cute... looks like he's chewing or something. (my concinnus)

OY0cZ47wHXA

[ConcinusMan]

Wow, he's doing great. Growing like a weed!

[d_virginiana]

Cute :) He really is getting big!

[RedSidedSPR]

Thanks! Yeah, he is. 11 inches now. (heck maybe 12 now).

[kibakiba]

That's what Snap and Ember did when I got them, they chewed their food! :D
They still do that, no other snake that I have does it, either.

[RedSidedSPR]

Well that was just that once. But he does do that more then the others...

[RedSidedSPR]

Crappy quality.

Khe6aZZasUo

Smoke's shedding! He's so awesome when he's fresh. I'll prove it when he sheds.

http://img707.imageshack.us/img707/9598/ssssnakes016.jpg

Just because he's awesome, and i don't post much of him

http://img694.imageshack.us/img694/994/ssssnakes008.jpg

[snakehill]

Damn! You have some BEAUTIFUL babies!!! ;) (and your adult too!!)

[ConcinusMan]

Nothing wrong with that video. And your photos are improving. Very nice.

[d_virginiana]

Nice video :)

You need to put some shots of your new checkered baby up on this thread too!

[RedSidedSPR]

oh, alright.:rolleyes:

He's really hard to hold, cause he bites/musks/poops/squirms... and he's in a small quarantine cage, so i don't have many good shots.

But here he is.

http://img30.imageshack.us/img30/1080/ssssnakes005.jpg
http://img534.imageshack.us/img534/696/ssssnakes004.jpg
http://img835.imageshack.us/img835/2107/ssssnakes007.jpg

[guidofatherof5]

Good looking little scrub.
I see you were left a little gift.:D

[RedSidedSPR]

Of many, yes.:rolleyes: He's a handful when you disturb him....

[katach]

He's adorable!

[hjelte]

nice, that´s one tiny garter! :)

[RedSidedSPR]

Thanks! He's cute, tiny, and mean.

[dieselbaby]

awwwwww he's adorable, even if he is mean.:D

[RedSidedSPR]

Oh he is.:eek:

http://img153.imageshack.us/img153/8550/checkered011.jpg

http://img263.imageshack.us/img263/4578/checkered013.jpg

[dieselbaby]

Lol maybe he's hungry and his eyes are bigger then his stomach. just kidding, He does look like he is enjoying his self though.

[guidofatherof5]

A little attitude goes a long way for some garter snakes.:D

[RedSidedSPR]

Yes. He's like "TAKE THAT!!"

[RedSidedSPR]

Smoke shed!!

But dangit, even thought he's the calmest snake, he will not hold sill for a picture!!!!! Don't have any yet.

Actually, that's just as well, I can't post any... Computer is fried.:mad:

[RedSidedSPR]

2 months ago, when Spooner wasn't eating, I caught a frog and froze it hoping that might work. (never did) figured I'd try it again now that he is eating, but he still didn't eat it. (weird)

But Smoke loves him some frog legs!:D

[Mrs N1ntndo]

I thought that it isnt good to get frogs and toads from wild basically and feed then to the snakes. So if so Im assuming that you freeze them for "?" amount of time . Is that what gets rid of parisites. If so how long should they be froze for cause Ive caught and then released some small toads recently and I wouldve love to keep them for the babies.

[BLUESIRTALIS]

I thought that it isnt good to get frogs and toads from wild basically and feed then to the snakes. So if so Im assuming that you freeze them for "?" amount of time . Is that what gets rid of parisites. If so how long should they be froze for cause Ive caught and then released some small toads recently and I wouldve love to keep them for the babies.

As long as they are eating other food items i wouldn't offer frogs or toads.

[Mrs N1ntndo]

Ok np I didnt keep the toads i found cause I figure the babies havent been exposed to the parasites and then from the wild and I wouldnt want to start. They love fish(talapia and salmon) and of course the worms they are eating. I couldnt get 2 of the babies to even touch a worm until after I started them all on fish. Now when I feed the babies I feed a part of a worm and then small amount of the fish until they have a little full belly. Thank you Blue for the advice.

[BLUESIRTALIS]

Ok np I didnt keep the toads i found cause I figure the babies havent been exposed to the parasites and then from the wild and I wouldnt want to start. They love fish(talapia and salmon) and of course the worms they are eating. I couldnt get 2 of the babies to even touch a worm until after I started them all on fish. Now when I feed the babies I feed a part of a worm and then small amount of the fish until they have a little full belly. Thank you Blue for the advice.

You're Welcome!

[kibakiba]

Frogs are only okay if they have been frozen for 3 months at 0 degrees.

[Mrs N1ntndo]

frogs and toads or just frogs. what about tad poles cause I hear about people feeding there snakes those. What do you do with those?

[kibakiba]

We don't have tadpoles around here, so I don't feed them, nor do I plan on it if there were. That said, I really don't know. I'm pretty sure people do it for non feeders only, last resort.


The only frogs we have here are bullfrogs and pacific chorus frogs. Bullfrog tads are rare, pacific chorus ones aren't, but they're about the size of a pencil eraser.

[ConcinusMan]

We don't have tadpoles around here, so I don't feed them, nor do I plan on it if there were. That said, I really don't know. I'm pretty sure people do it for non feeders only, last resort.


The only frogs we have here are bullfrogs and pacific chorus frogs. Bullfrog tads are rare

If only that were true. They're not rare at all. Just occupying a different habitat. One in which they will usually not be seen. Preferably warmish permanent, year 'round murky, slow moving water with enough oxygen to support small fish.

Chorus frogs are not "mostly aquatic" like bullfrogs are. They tend to lay their eggs in very shallow, temporary water that does not have fish. Makes them easier to find.

[kibakiba]

Rare in my area. It's bone dry here and everything is dying. I didn't men rare in WA, just rare in my immediate area. You can find plenty of them about 6 miles away, in GF, 'round the lake.

[ConcinusMan]

Yeah, all of WA is bone dry right now. Bullfrog tadpoles are still thriving in large numbers in the habitat they always occupy even if things weren't bone dry.

[kibakiba]

Ever since some business idiots filled the large pond in the field next to my back yard, you can only find a couple chorus frogs, and no bullfrogs when we used to have bullfrogs and chorus frogs "singing" every night. No snakes, rarely any deer or rabbits. These used to be seen in high numbers every day. You're just being complicated.

[ConcinusMan]

Actually, it's pretty simple. Not only are bullfrog tadpoles rare, but they are non-existent in my immediate area. There's no habitat for them so that's a given. Goes without saying. Naturally, they aren't rare in their habitat.

I'm pretty sure that humans are rare under the sea and garter snakes are rare in the middle of the freeway. They just don't live there. Wrong habitat.:rolleyes:

(Just a little light trolling Chantel, don't get bent out of shape)

[kibakiba]

I'm tired, Richard. Don't troll women at that time of the month. It never goes well for anyone.

[RedSidedSPR]

Frogs are only okay if they have been frozen for 3 months at 0 degrees.

I started second guessing feeding it afterwards... started worrying about parasites, and other stuff.. it has been frozen for several months, but not that cold, (normal freezer temps, like 20-30)... it was a small chunk off the leg. Any reason for concern??

[kibakiba]

Not that I can see. Even if there were parasites, it wouldn't harm your snakes too much imo. I feed my babies frog legs, too, when I catch some.

[RedSidedSPR]

Good. Thanks.


Even if there were parasites, it wouldn't harm your snakes too much imo.

Whats that supposed to mean?

[kibakiba]

Well, some parasites that are ingested cant really kill your snake. So I personally don't see them as harmful.

[RedSidedSPR]

Well, just cause it doesn't kill the snake, doesn't mean you want them in his system.

[guidofatherof5]

Well, some parasites that are ingested cant really kill your snake. So I personally don't see them as harmful.

A healthy younger snake can live with parasites(most wild snakes do) without any issues.
The problem is when they become ill and/or old and their health is poor.
Then the parasites can kill as the once healthy snake can no longer keep them in check.
Just a thought.;)

[kibakiba]

Yes, and I know you don't want them in it's system, but if that is the case, then why feed something that could give it parasites?

[RedSidedSPR]

Because I was under the impression that freezing it eliminated parasites. I never feed stuff that risks parasites.

[kibakiba]

It eliminates most of them if frozen right. Some are resistant to it. I believe Richard told me that.

[guidofatherof5]

Seafood Network Information Center (http://seafood.ucdavis.edu/pubs/nematodes.htm)


Check out the second paragraph of "Controlling Parasites"

Chapter 5: Parasites (A Biological Hazard) - 3rd Edition (http://www.fda.gov/Food/GuidanceComplianceRegulatoryInformation/GuidanceDocuments/Seafood/FishandFisheriesProductsHazardsandControlsGuide/ucm091704.htm)

[RedSidedSPR]

I wouldn't have fed it had I known that, Chantel...

The article says thats sufficient... confused.

[kibakiba]

Yes, at -20 c. I'm not trying to be mean in any way, or accuse you of anything. Just pointing stuff out. I wish we had a freezer that could go that low, snakes would have treats more often.

[RedSidedSPR]

I know you are. No offense taken.

So 30 f for 3 months won't work??