[mikm]

hello again Brian ... How very kind of you to share your knowledge and experience not to mention your time spent composing your analysis !!! VERY much appreciated Brian ... As for my brood ... I believe the "newt test" may seem drastic but perhaps it's the only way ... ... Seriously I find these Pacific Blues to be by far the most intriguing garters I have ever owned for several reasons. Just when I believe I have one distinctive trait positively identified, "it" seems to change after further observation. For instance the head shape ... To me it does not ever appear as clear cut as an obviously shorter, square shaped head like pics of NW's I have seen. However it's also not pronounced Eastern trinagular either. It seems somewhere in between. Further complicating this I suspect is their natural inclination to flatten their heads in an aggressive posture versus their flight/flee pose which tenses them up thus "thinning out" their overall appearance head shape inclusive. To further add to these anomalies, when I recieved this 1.2, color aside, I definately thought my male appeared different then the girls, head shape and overall body seemed to be noticeably slender. As for feeding, HE is the one who refuses rodents whereas the girls appear to have that "eat anything" vigor. All of these Blues were seperated after their vet visit and will remain so at least until the meds are finished. As such I can monitor their feeding closely. I toss a few f/t pinks in with some salmon strips. The girls will now consume all (3 or 4) of the pinks along with most of the salmon offered, individually, to each. The male however will grab a pink but spits it out a few inches from his feeding bowl EVERY TIME !! I put it back in, he removes it, lol ... After repeating this process during several different feeding ventures (times/days) I have given up as I was wasting too many pinks !!!

Last but not least there is something about their inclination to remain passive that I suspect tugs at our emotions making them very personable and appealing to us. An adult animal (possibly WC even), straight out of a snake bag from shipping, are docile preferring to curl up in your hand and remain still. If you pry a little so you can see their face they oblige, then tuck their heads in when they have had enough. On their own, in their enclosures they appear very curious, propping their heads up, "observing" their environment. They are out and about at least 90% of the time. I intend on taking some better pics, specifics as you directed, this weekend. I'll email them to you privately then perhaps I can post the ones you feel display identifying characteristics.

THANKS Brian ...
marian