Babies!!!

[Sputnik]

...OR THE DANGEROUS IGNORANCE OF THE AMATEUR...

Little story for you all...

Once upon a time there was a girl (not so much of a girl, more of a woman really, in fact not a girl at all...), called Rosina (though her name wasn't really Rosina either, that was the name of her youngest cat, but she used the name on the Gartersnakeforum, so she wouldn't have to use her real name, Esther, oooops!).
Anyway, Rosina, got her first 2 garter snakes in January and was told they were both little boys. They were gorgeous, but not very big, especially one of them. So Rosina asked a clever man, called Alan (that was his REAL name, suprisingly) and he told her to feed earthworms, which was a huge success! The little snake, named Zuki, grew and so did his brother Zulu. Zulu in fact, grew quite fat, but as he'd been eating juicy pinkies, then fuzzies instead of the pathetic little lance fish, the seller had advised to feed him, Rosina, just assumed he was finally catching up. Though, there was this niggling little thought burried in the back of her mind..well, could he, naaah, don't be stupid.. he is a HE after all.

One day, Rosina's best friend came to visit. After prodding Zulu and Zuki, in the kindest way possible, he announced that they were, in his opinion, girls afterall! Well, hurray!
Only a week after having been squeezed by the handsome stranger, and after refusing more than just a wriggly little earthworm, Zulu provided Rosina with the biggest surprise of all...
Rosina had a peep into the tank,as often she did and saw dry skin. She yelped at her kids, that the snakies were shedding but, then squealed in hysterical suprise, when she spotted a tiny little head and another one and another one... FLIPPING HECK! Zulu had given birth to 10 babies!!! Sadly only 3 survived, but they were gorgeous and as 3 is Rosina's favourite number, she had done it again!

And hopefully they will all live happily ever after!


Photos on their way, advice will be gratefully received! Much needed too!

[adamanteus]

Congratulations Esther! I'm sorry to hear you lost seven of them, what happened?

[Sputnik]

Thanks, James.

I don't know what happened. When I realised, it was all over. I found the 7 dead babies when I saved the living ones from being mistaken for worms by the adults.

[reptileparadise]

Awesome!
Congrats!!!
To bad you lost 7 of them...
pics please...

[adamanteus]

Maybe they were still-born. It would be nice to see pictures of the three survivors, Esther.

[Snaky]

If it's the first clutch you'll have a big possibility that they are still-born. Well good luck with the 3 survivors. Just treat them as the adults, just adjust the food to their size and everything will be fine.

[Sputnik]

Happy to oblige...:

[adamanteus]

Fantastic! I'm really pleased for you!

[Snaky]

They always look so fragile, those little one's. Congrats with them!

[Sid]

Congradulation Rosina . Small feeder guppies and small worms will do nicely to start the babies. Feed small amounts every 2 or 3 days . Then as they grow simply increase the food item size.

Sid