Steveo's Garters

[Steveo]

Who told you that? That's definitely a male. It's obvious because he's "well hung" if you know what I mean.

Chip off the ol' block, 'e is!

All of these are from Scott. I wanted a blue pair but he said he only had a blue female and a nonblue male. The nonblue one didn't make it, so I assumed the remaining one was the female. Kinda disappointed in that I was looking forward to buying a male this year and being ready to go next year.

Having interacted with them for most of a year now, my gut feeling on the sexes seems to be more accurate then when I look at the vents. I had a feeling the pickeringii was male because it's the smallest of the whole group and rather slender too. Same with having the easterns reversed, the big one is almost as girthy as my thumb.

[Steveo]

I think the greenish radix is male despite the large size. Not much of a taper after the vent. The other two radix are continuing to turn red and one of them has taken to biting whenever my hand is near; last night it got the rear teeth caught on my finger tip, but couldn't break the skin. I just pinched the corners of the mouth slightly with my free hand and wiggled the little monster loose.

I have only found two skins this month so I'm betting the other 4 will shed this week. The pickeringii didn't musk last night and didn't struggle much either... I think I caught it sleeping. I never find it under the heat bulb but that might just be because it comes from a cooler climate.

[Steveo]

I got clearance from the better half to get another pickeringii to complete the pair. One day when we own a house I can have a dedicated herp/falcon room and won't have to ask

[guidofatherof5]

I got clearance from the better half to get another pickeringii to complete the pair. One day when we own a house I can have a dedicated herp/falcon room and won't have to ask

Now that's funny.

[Steveo]

Now that's funny.

Heh. She was really mad last year. Somehow she thought I had only ordered a pair and then 8 showed up.

[guidofatherof5]

Heh. She was really mad last year. Somehow she thought I had only ordered a pair and then 8 showed up.

I wonder who gave her the idea only a pair was coming.

[Steveo]

It was the cat. That damn kitty is the root of all of my problems.

[ConcinusMan]

I was going to say something along the lines of another word for "cat" being at the root of your problems but I'll restrain myself. A little. Maybe.

[Steveo]

The cat has grown more bold; she's gone from harmlessly pouncing at the milk snakes (near floor level) to climbing on top of the rack, jumping to the dresser, then jumping on top of the garter tanks. I'm not really interested in finding out how long it takes a 10lb. cat to break a screen cover, so something will have to be done about that. Maybe a taser.

The garters are still going strong. Between the six of them they crushed about 1/4 of a package of silversides last night. The growth of the males has dropped off dramatically, but they still eat as much as they can fit. The red radix female has taken to striking in the last few weeks. She's always been kind of defensive, but I guess with size comes confidence. I might start slipping a sock over my hand when I pick her up just to make it an easier and quicker transition to the feeding container - I don't want her thinking she'll be rewarded for biting down on me. Then again, I don't think they've associated being picked up with being fed yet because none of them really seem happy about it. They do seem interested in me when I look through the glass but once I stand on the chair to get into the tank, all bets are off.

I want to do another set of pictures but I need to make a new light box first. I have an old styrofoam cooler that I could use but I don't think I have adequate lighting for a space that big.

[guidofatherof5]

Yes, a taser will do well.