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frostyftw
08-30-2011, 12:24 PM
Here is a video of one of my snakes...

There will be more videos coming up soon. :)

http://i826.photobucket.com/albums/zz184/williamfweller/th_Video001.jpg (http://s826.photobucket.com/albums/zz184/williamfweller/?action=view&current=Video001.mp4)

If someone could id this snake that would be great, thanks.

By the way, clicking the picture opens the video of it.
aSnakeLovinBabe
08-30-2011, 12:27 PM
where are you located? it's fuzzy, but to me that look like a thamnophis ordinoes! Northwestern garter.
ConcinusMan
08-30-2011, 12:29 PM
It does look a bit like a northwestern but I can't really be sure. Location would help. If it was found in the northwest, then most definitely a T. ordinoides. If you're in the eastern U.S. than it's a T. sirtalis sirtalis
frostyftw
08-30-2011, 12:30 PM
Washington.

And, thanks..

My cam sucks.
ConcinusMan
08-30-2011, 12:32 PM
T. ordinoides female showing signs of advanced age.
frostyftw
08-30-2011, 12:33 PM
Alright, thanks.
frostyftw
08-30-2011, 12:34 PM
Advanced meaning old?
ConcinusMan
08-30-2011, 12:45 PM
Yes. That's not a young snake. Their skin, and I mean all layers of it, loses it's firmness and that can be seen when the snake moves or bends. Also, just the way it moves, and other subtle clues (and just plain ol' experience with old snakes) tell me she's pretty old.
RedSidedSPR
08-30-2011, 12:46 PM
What makes you say that?

Just curious.
jitami
08-30-2011, 12:46 PM
T. ordinoides female showing signs of advanced age.

Just curious what you see in the video that leads you to this conclusion?
ConcinusMan
08-30-2011, 12:47 PM
Sorry, I edited to explain.


Yes. That's not a young snake. Their skin, and I mean all layers of it, loses it's firmness and that can be seen when the snake moves or bends. Also, just the way it moves, and other subtle clues (and just plain ol' experience with old snakes) tell me she's pretty old.
RedSidedSPR
08-30-2011, 12:48 PM
:rolleyes:

Now that you say that, I can see what you mean...
jitami
08-30-2011, 12:52 PM
Interesting... thanks for explaining.
ConcinusMan
08-30-2011, 01:32 PM
Changes in muscle tone are seen in old snakes too. It shows in the way they move. Big Bertha is showing those signs too.
katach
08-30-2011, 10:00 PM
Could it be she has recently given birth?
ConcinusMan
08-30-2011, 11:54 PM
Well sure it could be but there's more to it than that. The snakes just looks old to me, and is the right size for an old northwestern too.
kibakiba
08-31-2011, 06:28 AM
Mama lost a lot of weight and was really saggy and you could see the muscles moving, much like Richard explained, but you could still tell that she was extremely young despite that.
snakehill
09-05-2011, 02:23 PM
Yes. That's not a young snake. Their skin, and I mean all layers of it, loses it's firmness and that can be seen when the snake moves or bends. Also, just the way it moves, and other subtle clues (and just plain ol' experience with old snakes) tell me she's pretty old. Unfortunately it applies to people too!:p
ConcinusMan
09-05-2011, 03:05 PM
Certainly. And for many of the same reasons. I don't mean simply "age" I mean the specific reasons for loss of muscle density, lose baggy skin, arthritis, etc. are the same in snakes as the reasons we get these conditions in advanced age.

It's not surprising to me that bertha got a respiratory infection even though she was kept under the same conditions and even the same tank as much younger snakes. They were unaffected. Same way an old person can easily get pneumonia when a young person with the same infection may only get a scratchy throat or not get sick at all. Thankfully it was just bacterial (common, normally harmless bacteria) and antibiotics took care of it. She's OK now.