Delaying birth..?

[chloe]

Hi, I had something similar happen with my common garters, she gave birth to one on the 6th July, i saw it and searched for more but couldn't find any, then she gave birth again on 9th july to 3 live and 9 dead. Unfortunately i think i may have disturbed her when i saw the one and assumed she had finished giving birth.

The four live are a good size about 4inches, they are all doing well.

[brown655]

Originally Posted by QuietLunatic

They're cute. How big are they at birth? There's nothing to show size, comparatively speaking.

Glad they're all doing well.

Hi jan.my name is johann from montreal canada my dad lives in berlin.congrats on becomming a dad.I know how you feel. my three feamales gave birth between the 1st.& 4th. of july.again congratulations.

[Jan]

Originally Posted by brown655

Hi jan.my name is johann from montreal canada my dad lives in berlin.congrats on becomming a dad.I know how you feel. my three feamales gave birth between the 1st.& 4th. of july.again congratulations.

Hi,

thank you very much.

The little Santa Cruz Garter's are very funny and every feeding brings out a new surprise. Sometimes they only eat fish but next time they refuse the fish and are attacking the sticks from young frozen rats. When I feed them only one sort of food - they need a very long time to come out and start eating; if it's mixed food they are much faster - funny little ones ;-)

Best regards

Jan.

[ssssnakeluvr]

It's always fun watching them give borth. My Oregon red spot had 7 babies today, just missed her popping!!! They are large for garter snakes, measured out at 8 inches in length!!!! lets see if this works...

[brown655]

thanks jan! i was just about to go downstairs to feed my 3 litters when i read your reply about mixing their food.i hope it works.my situation is a little more complicated.my 3 females gave birth to a combined total of 80 babies,in four colours-lite orange-dark orange-chartruce and silver grey.i'll talk to you later. my name in english is john.

[Thamnophis]

Hi Jan, pretty babies she has given you.
T. a. atratus is a great snake; I also have a couple.

The delaying of birth is something that happens so every now and then. I know it from Pantherophis guttatus and other ratsnakes. They can stop giving birth/laying eggs when they are disturbed.
It looks to me a normal phenomenon that probably also will occur in the wild.
It is a way of protecting the young/eggs when a predator is around.

Greetings from your neigbouring country...

[Jan]

Hello Thamnophis,

the next time I'll move to her terrarium I will introduce myself as Jan...the Predator ;-)
My atratus babies are great - I was a little afraid, that they would strongly bite each other when it's time for food, but not like my concinnus and terrestris youngsters they are very calm and friendly to each other.
Thanks for your reply!

Best regards from Jan.

[Loise]

just whant to say..cute babys !!