Collecting Gravid Females.

[GartersRock]

Oh! Very nice!

[Stefan-A]

Very nice indeed. Special.

[Snaky]

That's a very nice flame

[reptileparadise]

Very nice flame!
Is she just fed, or is she just very fat?

[charles parenteau]

Gravid shes so fat...she in my friend home for this summer,in my collection in august ,gonna show you more pic soon...

[infernalis]

She is a very pretty snake Charles.

[brain]

If we give the babies a head start and release them into the wild, there is ALWAYS the concern of pathogens, seclusive diets, and (very importantly) the current impact of any introduction of newcomers to an existing population.

... and try to avoid commercial monsters like Petco! They are the epitome of apathy, when it comes to herp knowledge and maintenance. Steve

First, Steve I don’t think the weather is going to allow us to come to your lecture, it’s still snowing here. For sure in April

OK, taking no offence but just to add my two cents, concerning releasing snakes.

If the herp was a morph wouldn’t Mother Nature correct this? “It is the weakest link, good bye.”

So I collect a 0.1, she has her little critters, I let her go back to the area she was caught.

Now I have decreased the local population by what 10? Out of how many other gravid 0.1’s are in the area and how many other herpers are doing the same in this area (not a lot I’m sure).

As I have released her back into her world I just don’t see the harm?

Given these conditions while I have her;
1. her own outdoor habitat
2. provided aspen bedding
3. local hide and branches
4. water bowl, I am on a well
5. I provide her guppies, local slugs and WC salmon

My question in general is: “What pathogens do I expose her and/or the environment to?”

[Stefan-A]

If the herp was a morph wouldn’t Mother Nature correct this? “It is the weakest link, good bye.”

Not necessarily and that's not how it works. The mutation might well have been beneficial.

Now I have decreased the local population by what 10? Out of how many other gravid 0.1’s are in the area and how many other herpers are doing the same in this area (not a lot I’m sure).

As I have released her back into her world I just don’t see the harm?

Doesn't matter, those 10 get added to the overall loss to the population and it gets subtracted from the number of available prey animals (predators need those garters, too). And you've stressed out the female and relocated her and just simply decreased her chances of survival.

My question in general is: “What pathogens do I expose her and/or the environment to?”

Who knows. That's the general answer.

[brain]

TY for the inputs.

I believe if it is a morph i.e. albino, then it would not last in the wild.

And there is no information on “What pathogens do I expose her and/or the environment to?”

Who knows. That's the general answer. Humm, sound like a scare tactic to me. I’m not going to deplete the species, they are not on the endangered list in Washington.

I’ll collect and release and we can have our options?

[Stefan-A]

TY for the inputs.

I believe if it is a morph i.e. albino, then it would not last in the wild.

I'd say that's likely, in the case of the albino. Still, it'd be a meal for a predator.

Humm, sound like a scare tactic to me. I’m not going to deplete the species, they are not on the endangered list in Washington.

It's not, the point is just that it's a very real risk and frankly, I don't have a list of pathogens that can pose a threat and I obviously can't make any kind of statement regarding what pathogens you specifically could spread into the wild population. The point is, it's a very serious risk and I personally don't believe that it's worth it. Feel free to disagree.

None of the garters are really doing great either and it's going to get worse, especially considering what's happening to amphibians all over the world and habitat loss. Even if they're not on the endangered list, why act in a way that brings them closer to getting on that list?




Edit: Here's a link to another discussion we've had. http://www.thamnophis.com/forum/gene...isturbing.html