A sad weekend

[Gijs & Sabine]

I'm so sorry to hear that Hopefully something simular wont happen again.

[Snaky]

Thanks for the kind words everybody.

[adamanteus]

It would be a shame if you let this put you off keeping cyrtopsis in the future. You are experienced with this species, and furthering that experience would be a benefit to us all.

[GarterGuy]

Sorry to hear you've lost another little one. Really sucks, but I don't think it's the species, so I wouldn't give up on them just yet.
Roy

[Snaky]

I'm scheduling an appointment with the vet on Thuesday ( thursday and friday is a holiday ). I'm certainly going to wait on a result of that to see what I'm going to do. I've recently ( well within a few months ) bought new cyrtopsis bloodlines, so my decision won't be overnight. I really like them, although they are a bit different of the other garters.

Thanks for the comments, I appreciate it.

[mikm]

What would you say the difference(s) is between these and other Garters ?? Curious as I kept these but only as babies ....

much thanks !!!

[drache]

Marian asked the very thing i'm also curious about
how are they different?

[Snaky]

Their behaviour is different to the marcianus and the concinnus I also have. A nice example is when you approach the enclosure. Both the concinnus and marcianus will approach also, flicking their tongue heavily to see whether you don't bring anything along. The cyrtopsis on the other hand are more shy, most of them will freeze immediately and afterwards gently flee to their hiding spot, only to return when you are not visible for them anymore.

Another thing, I never handle my snakes (personal decision not to do so). So it's only normal that my snakes are not really eager to be taken and do all kind of movements, even if I already catched them. The cyrtopsis have a rather different approach, I mainly have 1 of 2 reactions:
- I will threaten you by bluffing that I will bite you (don't worry, they won't do it)
- I will stay perfectly still while you grab me and will smoothly go through your hand when you have me.

So it are little things in their behaviour that is a bit different than other garters. And of course, they can be a challenge to get them eat, but once they eat there is no problem anymore.

Till now I've kept 6 specimens of th. c. c., but if you have some you'll soon realise they are a bit different in behaviour. Of course I also notice differences between marcianus and concinnus, yet they are not that big to me.

[Gijs & Sabine]

I absolutely agree with Snaky ! They are a bit different, but nice.

Here is a picture of one of the young T.c.c. from Snaky's cyrtopsis.
They are doing great !! As you can see they're appetite is fine

[adamanteus]

Nice looking snake, Sabine. Maybe due for feeding though! Will you be breeding cyrtopsis soon?