Hello from Oregon

[AlbinoSquiggle]

To digress a bit I have to post your signature line on FB!!! I love it!

[guidofatherof5]

A fecal float is the only way to know for sure.
In my opinion the wild is one thing and in my care is another. I wouldn't let any of my animals carry a parasite load.
Too many negatives if left unattended.

[ProXimuS]

I do believe one of the issues with captive garters and parasites is that in the wild they can poop and go on their way, and in captivity they are stuck in the cage with the parasites, and I guess kinda get overloaded with them.

[AlbinoSquiggle]

Is a fecal float something I can do at home or will I need to go to a vet or something? I would rather get rid of any parasites I just don't want to harm my critters with harsh medication or procedures. I want to be as proactive as I can be without putting too much additional stress on them.

[guidofatherof5]

You need some fecasol fluid(which can be homemade), a microscope/slides and usually some type of parasite ID chart.
Call around to local Vets. to see what they charge if you bring in the fecal sample.
Maybe a local college. They might do it for free.

[ConcinusMan]

I think that due to their diet of mainly earthworms, the likelihood of your snake having anything detrimental is minimal. Snakes that live in aquatic habitats or that have been feeding on fish and amphibians are at higher risk. She's still so small right now that deworming can be risky (the meds are poison after all). Also, about her age, I think it's more likely that she was born late Aug. or Sept. 2011. In that case, she would not have done any significant growing until beginning in late spring of 2012. I say late 2011 because you spotted her in the middle of summer and birthing season here in western WA is late summer, nearly fall. Babies here often only have around 1-2 months before they must brumate. Some even refuse to eat until they do brumate. Those that survive the winter then emerge in the spring and start growing rapidly.

If you want peace of mind, I would still wait until she's much larger, perhaps a year from now, then have a fecal float done by a vet. That's just what I would do. My opinion. I think that trying to deworm her at this early stage is risky. I wouldn't worry about it right now. Her stool sample will much bigger later on too, so the vet will have more material to look at.

[AlbinoSquiggle]

Hello everyone,
I just wanted to post a quick update for you all. Gary is still alive and well! She is eating a pinky every 3-4 days with the occasional earthworm and is quite active most the time. I don't play with her nearly as often but she is very calm while I hold her and is always curious watching as I move about the room.

[slipknot711]

i think she is gorgeous!

[guidofatherof5]

Great update. Thanks.

[Shanty]

Can I throw an "envious" at you? You live in paradise--Eugene, Oregon. My uncle Ken used to live there, then left and moved to California. So instead of chasing concinnus in the Eugene region as a brash kid, I had to go and chase all those California snake species. Bummer! Red-sided whats? Later I chased rosy boas in the San Diego area--that's paradise number 1 in my estimation! Eugene is number 2.