How Do You Tell if the Female is Gravid?

[anji1971]

Well, congratulations!!
That's a nice kind of surprise, and they look very cute!

[Jack Neary]

Christmas on August 2nd???

Congradulations Jack.... I have to wonder about your vet, must have scored that snake credentials in a box of cracker uhhh Jacks.

Ok Jack, everyone else has had the kitty, it's your turn

Thanks, Wayne... I honestly don't know what to think about my new Herp Vet? Please, don't misunderstand me, I'm glad he was wrong
I thoroughly appreciate all their years of training and his sincere efforts, but how could he miss this call? If you look at my pictures of Jacqueline that I posted 4 weeks ago, she was huge then and was even bigger when I took her to the Vet? I was even questioned his diagnosis (he based it soley on both my Garter's not having the themo-plug, etc...), I based upon how I have seen her overall girth continue to increase since I found her in early June.
I am watching my other LARGE female, Samantha to see if she also will have some babies soon?
Thanks for all your help!
(sorry, again about little Magma...)
Jack

[GartersRock]

Because vet's think they know it all when in reality they don't really know much. *covers mouth and hides*

[Jack Neary]

Good Morning!
Well, I kept up up my baby watch last night until 12:30AM, as I thought my other Herp Vet non-gravid diagnosed, Samantha, was OK and not acting as if she was going to deliver any babies soon, so off to bed I went.... I mean his non-gravid diagnosis could not have been wrong twice about the 2 fat bulging Garter's I brought him. Could it? ROFL....
Woke up at 5AM and went down to the basement (aka... Garter emporium) and there on the side glass of 20-Gal was a little baby Sam crawling in the Carefresh... Wow...! Santa comes again!
I carefully moved through the tank's Carefresh substrate, as not to stress Moma Samantha, and found 9 VERY ACTIVE beautiful and... most importantly, dark colored healthy babies! I did not find any stillborns at all (Oh, I also found another baby from yesterday's delivery of Jacqueline's babies, skipping through the Carefresh (How did I miss him?)
Thought, while my wife is still sleeping, it would be a good time to knock-out a wall and get started on the garter room addition What do you guys think? Maybe not? OK... LOL
Can you guys answer a question? It appears, from reading the many posts this summer, regarding the timing of when Garter's have their babies, most of the babies appear to be born in the middle of the night? If that is true, why is that?

I'll post some pictures as soon as I can...
Regards,
Jack

[Sid]

Jack, the litters that have been born here are at all times of the day and night. I think more during the day though.

And congratulations again.

[zooplan]

Happy Birthday to your babies,
and happy birthday to you father Jack

[infernalis]

Jack, holy cow man, Congrats again!!!

Now I do seriously wonder about the vet

Ours is a real sweetheart, I have learned so much from her, and I have taught her a lot too. (She had never seen a Puget sound garter, now she asks how that little pickeringi is doing, she's a sharp lady)

Concerning birthing times, We have dealt with several litters, all at various points in the day, no real set time.

[adamanteus]

Congratulations on even more babies, Jack! You lucky guy!
I have never really noticed that the babies are born at any particular time.... I've woken to find them already born, and I've witnessed births during the day. It seems 'random' to me. Maybe it's different in the wild?

[drache]

congrats Jack
yup - start on that garter room
I've not had many, but my garters gave birth in the afternoon

[GartersRock]

Rofl!! See!! I told you!! Rofl!
Congrats!!