Garter Snake Forum

Go Back   Garter Snake Forum > Garter Snakes > General Talk
Register FAQ Members List Calendar Search Today's Posts Mark Forums Read


Welcome to the Garter Snake Forum.

You are currently viewing our forum as a guest which gives you limited access to view most discussions and access our other features. By joining our free community you will have access to post topics, communicate privately with other members (PM), respond to polls, upload content as well as create your very own Photo Gallery to share with others. Registration is fast, simple and absolutely free. So please, join today and help us build the best Garter Snake community around!

If you have any problems with the registration process or your account login, please contact us.

Reply
 
LinkBack Thread Tools Display Modes
Old 12-09-2006, 04:30 AM   #11 (permalink)
Spiderqwan
Never shed
 
Spiderqwan's Avatar
 
Join Date: Dec 2006
Location: Manchester
Posts: 30
Country:
Re: Handling Garters

The musk tends to show as a semi solid white powder as far as I can gather and the smell seems to be stronger the less these snakes actually musk perhaps the more knowledgeable Herpes amongst us could clarify this a little more.
Spiderqwan is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 12-09-2006, 01:12 PM   #12 (permalink)
Cazador
Moderator
 
Cazador's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jul 2006
Location: Alaska, USA
Posts: 1,609
Country:
Re: Handling Garters

Reptiles and birds both produce uric acid as a waste product to deal with excess nitrogen. This is conceptually similar to urine, but uric acid is white and powdery. Their feces is brown and semi-solid and should either look like a turd or an amorphous mass of poop. The musk is clear or slightly tinged and is usually smelled more than seen.

When a snake squirts all over you (jets of liquid), I THINK this is the primary ultrafiltrate. If I'm right, it's the fluid from which uric acid is eventually produced. It means the snake is really freaked out.
Cazador is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 12-09-2006, 01:39 PM   #13 (permalink)
Poets
Hi, I'm New Here!
 
Join Date: Nov 2006
Posts: 4
Country:
Re: Handling Garters

Regarding your question about how often to handle garters... I am not an experienced snake keaper. keep that in mind, but I did a lot of research prior to buying a garter and I still continue doing that.

What I gathered is that most garters get used to handling, especially if they are handled from a young age. Even wild garters apparently can get used to being handled, differing from species to species offcourse. I have also read that some snakes are just skimpy of "aggressive" and I deem its just a part of some snakes charakters... but I have concluded until now that most snakes do get used to being handled... there are some tips, like bathing and making sure they feel safe, try google

My own experience has told me my snake actually has moods, and sometimes it is quite squirmish but some times it is fine ans can relax quite easily. It has never Musked, but I had an experience with my first snake when it got caught on a piece of ducktape. It musked and I smelt bad for days! And its mood changed also, but in the end it had no problem with handling

So this is what I know, if your snake really doesnt get used to handling leave it alone... as much you can

I personally try to handle my snake every day, so it can get used to handling. I know a snake is not quite the cuddly dog you can have physical contact with but I do enjoy handling my snake.
I really do, its a great sensation
Poets is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 12-09-2006, 03:27 PM   #14 (permalink)
Cazador
Moderator
 
Cazador's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jul 2006
Location: Alaska, USA
Posts: 1,609
Country:
Re: Handling Garters

Poets,
I know what you meant, but dude... reread your last paragraph !
Cazador is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 12-09-2006, 03:37 PM   #15 (permalink)
Snaky
Truieneer, e ras apoat
 
Snaky's Avatar
 
Join Date: Dec 2006
Posts: 1,782
Country:
Re: Handling Garters

Quote:
Originally Posted by Cazador View Post
Poets,
I know what you meant, but dude... reread your last paragraph !
Same thought
Snaky is offline   Reply With Quote
Login to remove ads
Old 12-09-2006, 03:47 PM   #16 (permalink)
abcat1993
Old and wise snake
 
abcat1993's Avatar
 
Join Date: Oct 2006
Location: North of Chicago IL, US
Posts: 867
Country:
Re: Handling Garters

Poets, just read that to yourself out loud over and over 'till you get it
__________________
0.1 Jack Russell Terrier
1.0 rough skinned newt
1.0.0 eastern garter
http://www.winnetka36.org/ci/ci_name.htm
abcat1993 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 12-09-2006, 05:25 PM   #17 (permalink)
Poets
Hi, I'm New Here!
 
Join Date: Nov 2006
Posts: 4
Country:
Re: Handling Garters

Quote:
Originally Posted by abcat1993 View Post
Poets, just read that to yourself out loud over and over 'till you get it

hehe yaeh it sounds a bit sexy (might even be a bit of truth to it), I just meen to say its "cool" I guess, but what of my other comments? Maybe thats more to the point
Poets is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 12-10-2006, 01:17 AM   #18 (permalink)
Thamnophis
Dutch, bold and Thamnophis-crazy
 
Thamnophis's Avatar
 
Join Date: Aug 2006
Location: Netherlands
Posts: 1,334
Country:
Send a message via MSN to Thamnophis
Re: Handling Garters

Quote:
Originally Posted by Cazador View Post
Poets,
I know what you meant, but dude... reread your last paragraph !
There are also people under 18 on this forum!!!
__________________
It is always advisable to be a loser if you cannot become a winner. Frank Zappa
Thamnophis is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 12-10-2006, 02:06 AM   #19 (permalink)
Stefan-A
The Prince of Insufficient Light.
 
Stefan-A's Avatar
 
Join Date: Oct 2006
Location: Southern Finland
Posts: 5,737
Country:
Send a message via MSN to Stefan-A
Re: Handling Garters

Quote:
Originally Posted by Thamnophis View Post
There are also people under 18 on this forum!!!
Come on, people under 18 are probably the most active snake handlers.
__________________
Ophidia in herba.
Stefan-A is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 12-10-2006, 03:03 AM   #20 (permalink)
Spiderqwan
Never shed
 
Spiderqwan's Avatar
 
Join Date: Dec 2006
Location: Manchester
Posts: 30
Country:
Re: Handling Garters

LOL my intention was not to start a smut thread. I thought being able to use the phrase "handle my snake" would have been met with innocence from herpetologists, I will be a little more careful from now on. Did make me laugh out loud though, and all laughter is good.
Spiderqwan is offline   Reply With Quote
Login to remove ads
Reply


Thread Tools
Display Modes

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

vB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off
Trackbacks are On
Pingbacks are On
Refbacks are On



All times are GMT -6. The time now is 07:10 PM.


vBulletin® Copyright ©2000 - 2008, Jelsoft Enterprises Ltd.
LinkBacks Enabled by vBSEO
Copyright © 2006-7, Hobby Solutions Inc.