Stunted growth of Checkered garters

[KeyLa]

Hi folks,

Recently I was looking at a few Checkered Garters that were actually born in a rescue centre. The snakes now are a little over 1000 days old and they are still tiny - the male is about 6 inches and the 2 females maybe round 8-9 inches. They have been kept in a vivarium without extra heating but in a warm room (a reptile room in the UK) and fed exclusively on cut up pinkies.

I was just wondering what the future would be for these little guys? If given proper care, are they ever likely to reach an average size for their species or will their size never catch up?

Thanks.

[guidofatherof5]

Sounds like a roll of the dice on what might happen but certainly worth it for the snakes. They are very small for almost 3 years old. They may always stay smaller but other than that they should be fine. Surviving 1000 days is a tribute to their survival chances.

[KeyLa]

Thanks for your reply.

They actually looked very healthy, apart from their small size - very active, bright colours. Gorgeous little things.

Has anyone ever heard of stunted growth over such a long period? Is there a "cut off" point in terms of age when they will stop growing or does the gene become expressed once the snake is in better conditions?

[guidofatherof5]

Garters grow throughout their lifetime.

[KeyLa]

Can I ask what is the smallest you have seen an adult male T. Marcianus? I actually went into the rescue centre to get a King, Milk or Corn but the garters were so adorable, I am considering getting one instead or as well.

[Albert Clark]

Can I ask what is the smallest you have seen an adult male T. Marcianus? I actually went into the rescue centre to get a King, Milk or Corn but the garters were so adorable, I am considering getting one instead or as well.

Welcome to the forum K! It's a sad state of affairs that those checkereds are so small at the age of 3 yrs old. I think most of their problem is that they are nutritionally deficient by being fed only pink mice throughout their lives. Do you know if they are receiving a vitamin supplement with that? Because that would be the appropriate thing to do if they are solely on pinkies. Another consideration would be to vary the diet with f/t fish, silversides cut up, live guppies, or fresh fish cut up. Pinky mice are about 90% fluid with 0 to 5% calcium. Calcium is needed for bone development and is a essential nutrient for young, developing animals and normal growth. I had a albino checkered garter that I received from a person who was only feeding the snake pinkies coincidentally. The animal was grossly underweight and nutritionally deficient, was somewhat aggressive due to the poor state of health. The person wanted to get rid of the animal bc every time she went to pick the animal up, the snake would bite. It was doing that in my opinion, bc the snake was being starved. This garter was only a year old but was about 9 inches and 14 grams. The snake also had a bad shed and had a retained tail tip that was already necrotic and black in color. I actually had to take the animal to the vet and it took antibiotics and a aggressive feeding schedule to get the snake back to health. Today he is thriving and feeding on f/t hairless hopper mice, f/t rat pinks and a varied diet. Recently he fathered a litter, and has grown to be a very well nourished , active checkered garter.

[Tommytradix]

• Pinky:12% crude protein, 4.72% crude fat, 0.2% crude fiber, 80% moisture
• Fuzzy:14% crude protein, 14% crude fat, 0.2% crude fiber, 69% moisture
• Hopper:17% crude protein, 8% crude fat, 0.4% crude fiber, 71% moisture
• Adult:17% crude protein, 7% crude fat, 0.3% crude fiber, 70% moisture

couldnt really find anything on calcium but ill keep looking. i used to have a chart that gave levels of everything.

[Tommytradix]

Nutrition Content

Link Nutrition & Sizing

[Tommytradix]

Prey species

n

DM %

Crude Protein %

CrudeFat %

Ash %

Gross energy kcal/g

Mouse, domestic Mus domesticus	287	19.1	64.2	17.0	9.7	4.87ª	Neonatal, <3 g
Mouse, domestic Mus domesticus	292	18.2	44.2	30.1	8.5	6.65ª	Juvenile, 3-10 g
Mouse, domestic Mus domesticus	108	32.7	55.8	23.6	11.8	5.25ª	Adult or >10 g

[KeyLa]

Thanks for your response. From what I understand, they have never been fed anything other than pinkies and with no supplements.

In fairness to the rescue centre, I think they are very good at what they do, they just are not very knowledgeable with reptiles and probably had no idea how to raise neonate snakes.

Still tempted to get one. If I knew for a fact it wouldn't grow much longer than say 30 centimeters, I would snap one up right now. But if I was going to get larger than 60 centimeters, I would probably lean more towards getting one of their kings/corns/milks/rats.

Garters were my first snakes though, so I have a big soft spot for them.