expensive b-day

[Quibble]

Yay! My birthday present has arrived! A little early... but I'm not complaining. 1.1 puget sound garters, 1 male oregon red spotted, and 1 male orange stripe radix.

However I think the pugets lables got mixed up, im not sure. What better place to ask for help than on the forums?

-drumroll please!-

Puget #1! (this one has a strange lump on its back... concerned about whether I should be worried or not...)

p1closeup.jpg

p1lump.JPG

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p1tail2.JPG

p1tailside.jpg

[snakeman]

It's probally a parasite.

[DrKate]

Maybe the person you bought from would pay (or at least split) the cost of you taking it to a vet for diagnosis and treatment? Especially since you've now got a time-stamped photo showing it arrived in that condition. Sure, if it's a parasite you could try to dig it out yourself, but that's going to be pretty stressful for the snake and there's always a chance you could hurt him (and always the chance it's not a parasite). I'm sure a reputable breeder would want a chance to make things right, and avoid a reputation for selling diseased animals...

[adamanteus]

That lump could be a spinal kink, by the look of it.

[Quibble]

I'll let the breeder know as soon as I know what gender it is, anyone need more pics to help me figure it out?

[TheArtist]

Check with the breeder to see if he has any guarantee that the animal will arrive alive and in good health, because you have a dated photo of how i arrived and can ask the breeder to pay for the vet bill. I know that when I buy fish, if they arrive dead or in bad condition, the breeder will pay for the medicine in order to not get a bad reputation. (not exactly the same thing, but the breeding policy is pretty common across all pet species). Anyways, she's very beautiful, awesome b-day present, hopefully everything turns out ok with her back.

edit: for what it may be, have you observed how she moves (i call her a she but I honestly have no idea). If it's a spinal kink i would think it would be obvious from how she moves, but i'm not sure. are there any other symptoms being shown? Like does she strike if you touch the spot or seem in pain at all? I assume a garter would try to flee or strike if it was in pain, sorry if i'm incorrect.

[adamanteus]

I'm tempted to commit.... but I won't!
Comparison pictures between the two might be useful, Beth.

[Quibble]

Yep im working on geting them together... and eating dinner... lol

The lump doesnt seem to restrict any movement, and at this time I cant really tell if touching it causes pain. They're all kinda spooked from the movement so I'll give them time to settle in before I make that call.

[Quibble]

Here is puget #2
I suspect it to be male, it was marked female.
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[adamanteus]

Yes, this is a male.