Rush's Thamily!!

[Rushthezeppelin]

Pretty sure she's hardly moved since last night. She seemed pretty lethargic too last night. When I put her in the shed box she moved all of 2" and didn't move again, she's usually slow but much more inquisitive. She doesn't appear to have breathing trouble though and she's at least got some fat built up on her. I'll check on her again at lunch I suppose.

[guidofatherof5]

I would check for a retained shed now.

[guidofatherof5]

How long did you leave her in the shed box and what kind of shed box do you use? A great place to check for a stuck shed is where the cloaca meets the side of the snake. Hold that area under running lukewarm water and rub that area with your finger.

[Rushthezeppelin]

Hmmm had her in the shed box for about an hour. Small rub with holes and shredded wet paper towels as well as a rough rock. Tried my best to maintain it at 85. I'll try cloaca rubbing here in a bit. She has shown slight improvement though. She's a tad bit more active and alert and moving a tad more so that's a good sign. Shes in her own critter keeper now so there's chance of the other causing her undo stress. Got the humid hide and a rock in there too. So often do little neonates shed usually? I'm assuming it's more often than the once a month or so of young adults like Delilah.

[Albert Clark]

Actually the frequency of young garters shedding is normally every 4 to 5 weeks to keep pace with rapid growth. Mature snakes less frequently. Different factors such as illness and injury and pregnancy can affect shedding frequency and quality.

[Rushthezeppelin]

I guess yearling would be the more apt term then sorry.

[Rushthezeppelin]

Sadly Betty did not make it through the night Still can't really seem to tell what happened, but unfortunately she lost her fight.

[Albert Clark]

Sadly Betty did not make it through the night Still can't really seem to tell what happened, but unfortunately she lost her fight.

Wow! I totally did not expect that! So sorry for your loss. I know that its a hard pill to swallow. My condolences. In the natural, garters are such a fragile species especially as hatchlings and juveniles. You and all of us here also know you did your best and sometimes our best isn't enough. I always thought that was why garters produce so many offspring, bc the mortality and morbidity is so high.

[Rushthezeppelin]

Thanks for the kind words Albert. I've been telling myself all morning that she's just vulnerable as a little scrub. I understand lots of things can happen and sometimes they can be born with a defect. I'm assuming she was probably less than a month old (Tommy would know better than I). In hindsight though perhaps I should have QTed her separately from the bigger girls but she didn't really show signs of being stressed by that. I don't know : /

[Rushthezeppelin]

On a possitive note the other girls are doing good. Joan is still being picky about eating (eating some but not filling herself) but she doesn't seem to be losing weight and I'd imagine she's just still getting used to her new home. Eliza is as ravenous as ever about food. Just trying to keep things fresh for them in QT by rearranging things for them every time I change their bedding (every 2-3 days, they are poop monsters).