New Garter Momma

[ssssnakeluvr]

I took a look also..definitely a red sider, t s parietalis.....

[enchantress68]

I'll have to take a picture soon and post it, because I think it's a T. s. sirtalis instead of a parietalis, but I've looked at so many pictures today I'm beginning to forget what mine actually looks like.

Andrea

[enchantress68]

By the way, I keep seeing pictures marked with things like blue phase, orange phase, grey phase, etc. What do they mean by phases? Do the individual snakes actually 'change' color? Sorry if this is a silly question...

Andrea

[adamanteus]

No, Andrea, that's not what it means. Certain members of a species or sub-species are coloured in a particular way. When paired to another animal with the same colouration they should breed "true". Rightly or wrongly these are commonly referred to as "phases".

[Stefan-A]

Off topic, but if I remember correctly or didn't just fall for an elaborate hoax, there is actually a snake that can change colour.

Kapuas mud snake - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

[adamanteus]

That's an interesting link, Stefan. I've never heard of that one before. It doesn't read like a hoax, does it?

[Stefan-A]

I read it somewhere almost a year ago. Doesn't seem like a hoax. Unless it's an elaborate one.

[enchantress68]

I don't think it's a hoax. I found the field paper on it:
http://www.fieldmuseum.org/research_...uliya_2005.pdf

Granted, it would be great if they guy (Auliya) had actually taken a picture of it after it changed color. And it seems this is the only field documentation of this species thus far.

Forever a research geek,
Andrea

[adamanteus]

Originally Posted by enchantress68

Granted, it would be great if they guy (Auliya) had actually taken a picture of it after it changed color.

I know! If that had been me, I would have repeated the bucket trick and taken dozens of pictures to be sure I got the proof. For Stefan, one picture would be enough!

[enchantress68]

Me, too! I'd have pictures of the entire progression! Or video! That would be even better!

Granted, I'm the one who has over 1,000 pictures of my 5 mo. old daughter because she does something cute, I grab the camera, I take 25 pictures trying to capture the cuteness, and I maybe end up with ONE that actually shows what I was trying to get a picture of. I don't remember what I did before digital cameras...

Speaking of my kid, I guess I didn't really introduce myself - only told about the reason I'm here.

*stands up and clears throat*

"Hi! My name is Andrea, and like most Virgos, I'm addicted to knowledge."

I currently have 4 "kids" - a 5 mo. old daughter, a 6 yr old cat (that I bottle fed from a week old), an almost 3 yr old ball python, and now a garter snake of indeterminate age. Over the years I've had one deer, two squirrels, several dogs, one boa, 3 hamsters, and 3 hermit crabs. I love animals, and if I had the space and my husband would allow it, I'd have more pets.

I read this forum, among other sites, for 3 days before accepting the snake, and that was just when I was supposed to hold it for a few days. I'm glad I did since the woman moved across the country without warning us, because at least I know I can take care of this beautiful creature! Most of the pets I've had over the years were rescue pets anyway, so this is nothing new.

Andrea