Delilah the checkered garter.

[Rushthezeppelin]

Figured I'd go ahead and start a separate thread to keep you guys apprised of Delilah's progress.

Just decided to rearrange her home slightly one more time. Now I think it looks great and I doubt Delilah could complain (except for the fairly frequent handling the past 3 days). For her patience I rewarded her with 4 fish to nom on when ever she so chooses.

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I also found out a new way to handle her that she seems to like. Threw her in my work shirt pocket (it was clean) and she curled right up and started flicking her tongue inquisitively. She hung out there for probably 15 minutes (hopefully) getting used to my taste.

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[d_virginiana]

Looks like she's getting used to you!

[Rushthezeppelin]

So just a second ago I heard something in the kitchen. Turned on the light and noticed she was swimming around in her water chasing the fish. First time I've caught her in the act, she's always been shy about it and wants to do it at night. I suppose that makes sense since her prey is more active at night this time of year. I tried to record a video but she got a bit scared and hid in the fern behind her water after a bit. Gonna upload what I do have, it was so cute watching her chase those fish. They're definitely going to be gone by morning .

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[d_virginiana]

I feel obligated to inform you that you probably won't have just one garter for very long. You clearly have the sickness. Soon it'll be two, then five, and by then, there's no turning back really.

[Rushthezeppelin]

Ummmm....dangit I have a habit of picking up new hobbies and getting knee deep in them real quick too >< Got to observe her a little longer (didn't have my cam this time and was being totally still. How in the heck does these little guys catch fish in the wild? Do they mostly pick off the cripples? They seem to be totally blind once they dunk their head and can maybe sense if the fish flicks its tail within a few centimeters and then they try to strike. I know she got at least one of them though and shes eaten quite a few other than that already.

It's somewhat comical but I can definitely see a case for earthworms at the least to help bulk her up because she is using alot of energy just to catch a 1" fish lol. The fish are more for the minerals in the bones and guts, worms have the protein for energy.

I'm thinking of modifying her food bowl too to have some tight corners for fish to get trapped in. The current design has a little island, that while being great for her to grip with her tail as she dives about, makes her chase the fish in circles. I think I could put a river rock between the island and the outside of the bowl.

[d_virginiana]

They use smell to some extent but they're mostly visual hunters. I've got one really old one who is blind, and I didn't realize just how visual they were till I had to get one to eat without using his eyesight. I'm not sure how well they can hunt in the dark, but I imagine they probably wouldn't be super successful at it compared to daylight hunting. Based on how I've seen wild water snakes hunt, they tend to hang around near shallow areas where the fish can't maneuver as well.

[Rushthezeppelin]

Doesn't seem like she had that much vision underwater even with the light on. Often she would sweep her head literally right below the fish.

[guidofatherof5]

They are great fisher-snakes.

[Rushthezeppelin]

Well it seems like last night a switch was flipped. Suddenly she's not nearly as skiddish. She's hanging out all over the tank even when I'm nearby and moving, she's no longer curled up behind her hot side hide. I also had no problem picking her up out of her home today to handle her and she was nice enough to hold still for some closeups on my bed.
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[guidofatherof5]

Great update. Thanks.