T. ordinoides on the Ranch

[guidofatherof5]

There's no accounting for taste. Today, I had a Northwestern turn down an earthworm but readily took a night crawler.
Flicker and I continue to bond. I was proud of him as he fought to keep one of his earthworms. Usually he releases the worm and then refuses to eat. This time was different as he kept the worm and came over to me for more.

[guidofatherof5]

Flicker now has a nickname "Old Man" Working with him I get the feeling he's just that. He's opaque, again and today he did a first. He ate while being in opaque phase.
I love all my T.ordinoides - Northwestern Garter Snake but old man has wrapped around my heart.

[ConcinusMan]

His eating and shedding patterns are consistent with that of an older snake. He's been in captivity 4 (?) years I believe and he was likely already 4 or 5 when caught. You can't really go by size. I have had nothwestern males bigger than him that shed way more often, Now, when the concinnus' get up there in age (usually at around 3.5 feet and 10yrs old) they all but stop growing and shed every 5-6 months. Just twice a year but they can live another decade or at least the better part of one, and do almost no growing during that time. I had a feeling flicker was no spring chicken too because even if he pigs out for 6 months he doesn't grow much or shed very often.

[guidofatherof5]

Flicker (Oldman) is one great snake. He can be a little touchy and for the most part is a scared eater(won't challenge for food) but I love him.
This morning I woke up early (6AM) and walked into the snake room(all lights still off, on timers) I looked into the T.ordinoides paddock and saw the Oldman at the screen waiting for me. I feed him the largest earthworm - Rosy-tipped worm (Aporrectodea rosea) I've every seen. He gladly downed it as an early breakfast.
I'm glad the Oldman and I could be friends. Gave him his first back scratch after his meal. He watched me but never moved. He's a good garter.

[ConcinusMan]

There's that ring around the eye again. If you look at your earlier photos or my photos of him , it isn't there or is barely there. And I also never see it in my concinnus', or in the wild in either species. Something about the environment or diet must be making them get this. An intriguing mystery. He's looking good and healthy though. Got a little bulk to him. Looks solid.

[guidofatherof5]

Since earthworms are abundant he's eating well. That may change this Winter as I run out of them. He, on occasion will take a night crawler but that's rare these days.

No sure what to say about this eye thing you are talking about. Never noticed and certainly never saw it as an issue.

[ConcinusMan]

Didn't say it was an issue. Just saying I don't see it in the wild or in captive raised concinnus' unless they are very old. And yet all your concinnus' have it, and flicker now has it when he didn't before. I'm talking about the gap between the eye and scales, where a ring of skin is showing as if their eyeball shrunk from it's original size.

[guidofatherof5]

Not sure what it could be.

[guidofatherof5]

Here's a video and couple photos of Flicker T.ordiniodes - Northwestern Garter Snake. He's a special snake.

[EasternGirl]

Those northwesterns sure are some beauties! I really like Flicker. I may have to get a northwestern...no, no, no...no more snakes, Marnie!