So my eastern garter gave birth yesterday, and I have been working at random points of the day, watching her and her babies and making sure everyone is all right. Mom snake is calmer and friendlier than ever now that the babies are out of her system, and I will attempt the babies first feeding tomorrow with nightcrawler bits. And it got me thinking.... whats the chance that all 15 of my babies live to see adulthood? I currently have them all in one large bin, with plans to split the group in half next-shed, with three small water bowls and a nice HUGE moist moss pile big eneogh for all of them. The floor is nice paper towels I plan to clean out often. I'm going to build a better temp gradient when I get a second bin by using a combined side-pad for heating (similiar to a heating pad, but with control settings and able to latch with magnets! Made from brand new electric blankets with an auto shut off every few hours just to be safe).

What could kill my babies? Should I seperate obvious runts from the bigger babies (some babies are SMALL....)? How do I protect them? I've never had an animal give live birth before, and I feel so out of control! I barely have experience with garters, and I've only really dealt with baby geckos, which feel a little easier to deal with as you just pop them in an incubator and they come out ready to eat fruit goo and bounce around. I've heard stories of baby garters refusing to eat, drying out, and just flat out dying! What are my chances? Anyone?