Mouse Meat and activity cycle

[aquamentus_11]

I don't use heat at night, but have a little heat pad under one corner just in case I need to turn it on. I've been letting it get down to 67-70 at night because I literally have never seen her out and about unless it's dark and 70-71F. It's 69 on the cool side and she was just out climbing around on that side, soaking in her bowl and watching me for the past hour or so. I've never heard of a snake liking temps this low, so I assume it's more of a lighting thing and just switched over to a 60W CHE. We'll see what happens tomorrow.

[EasternGirl]

Now wait...don't red-sided garters originate from Canada? Because that would make sense that they like it cold...I know that checkereds apparently like it warm...I'm assuming they originate from a warmer area, but I do not know where. Easterns...like it somewhat cooler...because they are used to cooler temps.

[EasternGirl]

Yep...just looked it up checkereds...T.marcianus...native to southern U.S. and Mexico...red-sided garters are native to northern U.S. and Canada....I think they can be found in other states but not usually in the south...so they would be used to cold temperatures. I'm sure members on here could tell you more about it, but the Narcisse Snake Dens in Canada are famous for red-sided garters.

[aquamentus_11]

Oh yeah, I read about those. Hmmm I'll have to post another thread re: this tomorrow. Good thinkin'

[guidofatherof5]

Yep...just looked it up checkereds...T.marcianus...native to southern U.S. and Mexico...red-sided garters are native to northern U.S. and Canada....I think they can be found in other states but not usually in the south...so they would be used to cold temperatures. I'm sure members on here could tell you more about it, but the Narcisse Snake Dens in Canada are famous for red-sided garters.

[EasternGirl]

I'm thinking that probably explains it if it isn't just her being skiddish right now...try covering the warm side of the tank with a towel so that she has some cover to feel more secure and see if she goes over there. I just read this snake book and was reading about how insecure snakes get scared seeing everything going on outside of the tank...and to cover the tank with a towel to make it more secure for them...of course you want to leave air circulation. I always cover part of the tank for my eastern male to eat...he won't eat if he can see people....you may want to try that for feeding her too. I also cover part of my other tanks...just to make the snakes feel more secure. I know other members on here have red-sided garters...start a new thread tomorrow and ask about temp preferences for their snakes.

[aquamentus_11]

Any chance you can get some guppies?

tried this and all she does is look at the lid wanting out. she evens rubs her nose right through the fish without caring. i tried just putting them in her dish in shallow water and she stopped, looked like she was going to go for it, then backed off.

[guidofatherof5]

Try putting the guppies in the small round container(this is important as you want the moving snake to come in contact with the fish as often as possible) with just enough water on so they have to flop/swim. Insert the snake and cover the container with a cloth. Leave it alone for a few hours.
have found that many time the snake will have eaten most if not all the fish. Put some worm chunks in there also.
Just an idea. Best of luck.

[ConcinnusMan]

Hey, that last map has some significance as to the debate going on here: My new garter(s)

Notice the range of concinnus? (now known to be outdated) Well, inside that range the lines between subspecies blurs. In the northernmost part along the washington coast, snakes actually are apparent intergrades between concinnus and pickeringi. In the southern part, along the So. Oregon coast and CA coast, it's difficult to tell if the snakes are concinnus, or fitchi. The farther into CA you go, the more they take on infernalis traits. It seems that the only ones that are definitely distinquished as concinnus are located in the Willamette Valley. Everywhere else, it gets "blurry". DNA mapping has already concluded that pickeringi and concinnus are all but identical on the genetic level. I guess that's why I'm not surprised that concinnus also have a locality specific blue morph.

And here's the really interesting part. SF garters are more closely related to east coast sirtalis' than they are to concinnus/fitchi/pickeringi

I guess what I'm trying to say is, it seems that west coast fitchi,concinus,pickeringi are really just one happy sirtalis "household".