Lori's snakes and such

[Lori P]

Thought I'd start my guys their own thread. :) I'll start it off with the Puget's new home. It's not finished yet, but here's a start... it's a 55 gallon tank.

http://www.thamnophis.com/thamphotos/data//500/medium/Oct_new_tank_001.jpg

I've had this cardboard thing for a while, and kept trying to use it. I used it here to give more height to that climb... not sure if I like it, but, Mrs Mordecai spent quite a while going in and out so as long as she likes it...

http://www.thamnophis.com/thamphotos/data//500/medium/Oct_08_new_tank_007.jpg

Gertie, I know you'll like this!! I also put in some live bamboo-- so they can lie on the rocks in the planter, too.

http://www.thamnophis.com/thamphotos/data//500/medium/Oct_08_new_tank_001.jpg

http://www.thamnophis.com/thamphotos/data//500/medium/Oct_08_new_tank_Mrs_M.jpg

http://www.thamnophis.com/thamphotos/data//500/medium/Oct_new_tank_006.jpg

Mrs. M seems quite interested and content. Little Mordecai is getting ready to shed so he was in hiding!

It needs a background and some more tinkering. It'll get there!

[Lori P]

Also re-did the hoggies' tank, and got a rare chance to hold the male. I don't see or bother them much, but I do love them! Woookit that face!!!

http://www.thamnophis.com/thamphotos/data//500/medium/male_hognose_10_08_003_resize.jpg

http://www.thamnophis.com/thamphotos/data//500/medium/male_hognose_10_08_002_crop.jpg

http://www.thamnophis.com/thamphotos/data//500/medium/male_hognose_10_08_003_crop_resize.jpg

[Sid]

Very neat job, Lori.:)

[bsol]

NICE! You should post up some pics of the hoggie set up!!!

[Lori P]

Thanks Sid. Little Mordecai just came out so snapped a quick shot!

http://www.thamnophis.com/thamphotos/data//500/medium/Oct_new_tank_Little_M_2.jpg

Came out and headed straight for the top to check out his escape route... sigh... they are SO ungrateful, you know? LOL

[Lori P]

Here's the hog's tank-- it's kind of plain... because they're rarely on top! I decided to offer half Carefresh and half earth-type stuff-- what's it called-- eco earth I think. To see which they prefer to burrow in. The big log is hollow, so they can climb thru there if they want.

http://www.thamnophis.com/thamphotos/data//500/medium/Hoggies_tank_Oct_08_002.jpg

[bsol]

I like it!

[aSnakeLovinBabe]

Lori... you have the ugliest snakes I have ever seen

[aSnakeLovinBabe]

JUST KIDDING:D:D:D

haha, they are adorable :p

I love your setups

[Loren]

Lori, your setups are amazing. Your animals are very fortunate to live with you.

[Zephyr]

lol @ the hoggy Lori.

I baby talk to my hoggy all the time... And he's even cuter since the only speck of orange on his belly is right on his butt. lol

[Lori P]

Shannon!!!! LOLOL That's it-- for being mean, you must now send me the snakey of my choice!!!!! :D

Thank you Loren. I always feel like I'm missing something... it's just never quite perfect, you know? Except for the ball python's enclosure-- now THAT'S perfect. LOL

I've been needing to move the Pugets to their own tank for a while, so this will work out well. So now Curious (red sided) and Reed (ribbon) have the old 55 to themselves-- with the soon-to-be-addition of Bob Evans (the ribbon). And hopefully, someday Jimmy Dean will still turn up...

And oh, here's an awwwww.... this is on the back of the bp's enclosure...

http://www.thamnophis.com/thamphotos/data//500/medium/New_enclosure_BACK.jpg

:)

[Loren]

awww, now thats just sickening. :) :) :)

[Garter_Gertie]

A PIGGLETTE IN A SNAKE TANK!!!!!!!!!!!! I LOVE IT!!!! Never thought the scaley kids would like a stuffed anjumal... Hhhuuummm.

That's one fatty Hoggster! WHAT A CUTIE!!! I could just eat him alive - he's so precious. Why don't you hold more? I can't hold Niizh enuff... Hoggy addiction.

REALLY like the Hoggy tank. Like the idea of two different substrates. Like the angled hidey-crawly-thingy. It's very pretty; artistic - the tank. I like it alot. Your Hoggy has GREAT marking on his/her tummy - almost perfect. The brown scales poking up into the white ones. I see most are every third; one the fourth. That's REALLY nice!!!

That guy is THE MOST CUTEST GUY IN THE WORLD. If you're doing rescue and want a home for him... I know where there's a home that would snuggle and kiss and hug him TO DEATH. Prolly eat him alive, too since he's so CUTE!!!!

[Lori P]

LOLOL!!!!!! Is this better? I caught Desdemona in the act of shedding today--

YouTube - Desdemona shedding (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X2UmNqV5XoM)

Please turn down your volume or you'll hear that hubby of mine snoring in the background. LOL!!!!!

[Loren]

Very nice video, and funny hearing the snoring!

[Lori P]

Gertie, the pug is actually one of those resin door toppers... know what I mean? It can perch on any flat surface (or branch!!). I just thought it was funny!!

The hoggie tank... you know, I think it's the background I don't like. I just keep looking at it and it's not right. I don't hold mine more because they don't seem to enjoy it... they will hiss and flatten out at me. So I don't want to stress them, you know? The female is a terrible feeder... I just can't find the right thing for her. She will only eat fuzzies, while the male has always taken hoppers. And she only eats like every third time. I even tried live with her and had no luck. She is much smaller and thinner than the male.

[Loren]

The female is a terrible feeder... I just can't find the right thing for her. She will only eat fuzzies, while the male has always taken hoppers. And she only eats like every third time. I even tried live with her and had no luck. She is much smaller and thinner than the male.
I have snakes like that. With them, I just focus on keeping them fed just enough to be healthy, and dont worry if it takes them longer to grow, although its always good to keep trying to find a way to make them eat more.

[Garter_Gertie]

I'll answer later. I'm pooped. Ate too much and been laughing too much. You guys are WAY hysterical.

Catch you all tomorrow. Hugs and kisses and love to you all.

Nytol.

[Lori P]

I quess that's all we can do sometimes... I do wish she'd "kick in" and catch up. Maybe she will at some point.

[Lori P]

I'll answer later. I'm pooped. Ate too much and been laughing too much. You guys are WAY hysterical.

Catch you all tomorrow. Hugs and kisses and love to you all.

Nytol.

You been eating honey with Kyle?? LOL

[Lori P]

Ok, well, since I'm on a roll here... here is Desdemona's tank now... moved her to the ball python's old 55.

http://www.thamnophis.com/thamphotos/data//500/medium/Des_55_gallon_resize.jpg

I'm going to put the new Fl blues into the 40 gallon breeder tank I got... I really like that tank, it's nice and wide, just not as tall. But hopefully that will work for them at least for a while.

[Loren]

Nice. Lots of moving and cleaning, huh? Been doing a fair share of that here. Always nice when its done though.
I cant belive how big that kingsnake is getting. Pretty good for a snake that wouldnt eat. :) I still havent gotton my striped one to eat.

[Lori P]

Ummm... cleaning.... yeah, I've been cleaning. Yup. Sure have. (Cough) Guess you haven't noticed the dust in all my pics. LOL I give up on dust-- I don't have time to dust. My doors and windows stay wide open as much as possible, so there will forever be dust in my house.

I really want dirt floors. Wouldn't that just be so much easier? Just rake 'em out every day. lol

Your kingsnake won't even eat live?

[Loren]

I meant cleaning the cages- who cares about the rest of the house?

I want concrete with stainless cupboards so I can hose it, or better yet, have auto flush system. Can you tell I was born on a dairy? I actually mopped all my floors in the kitchen, hallway, dining area, and bathroom yesterday. something stunk terrible on the floor- not sure what, but its gone now.

I have tried live and ead pinks. The snake is only a month or little over in age, so I'm not too worried yet. I'll keep trying live and thawed for a couple more weeks then go from there. When I bred cal kings once, the last ones ate at nearly 3 months old if I remember right.

[Zephyr]

Have you tried feeding them...
OTHER SNAKES?
*Dun dun dun.*

[Loren]

how about some baby garters?

Just kidding.

No, but I'll try lizard scenting next maybe. I'm being pretty patient yet at this point.

[Zephyr]

I bought my hoggy as a nonfeeder...
Absolutely would not take pinkies. So I trade toads first, then toad scented pinkies, now he's all on his own with non-scented pinks. :)

[Lori P]

Have you tried feeding them...
OTHER SNAKES?
*Dun dun dun.*

Desdemona's tank now looks into the ball python's enclosure... and I SWEAR she sits there and watches them and drools!!!!

[Lori P]

Well, Mrs. Mordecai has claimed this as her place, so I guess the cardboard thing stays!!!

http://www.thamnophis.com/thamphotos/data//500/medium/Oct_new_tank_Mrs_M_in_bottom.jpg

It's not really cardboard... it's like compressed pulp... it was packing for something or other.

[aSnakeLovinBabe]

I jsut went back and saw you hoggy... AWWWEE!!! I cant wait till my little Sledge gets that big!!!:D Remember Sledge? he was my valentines day gift last year when he was just a weeeee lieetle baby. hes growing up though... I cant wait till hes as big as yours!!

hope you dont mind but I havveeee to share pics now :p

The day i thought he was dead.... OMG he was laying on his side and he had just woke up when I took the picture!
http://i286.photobucket.com/albums/ll86/aSnakeLovinBabe/Snakes/Other/038.jpg

Sledge is special... this is how he eats.
http://i286.photobucket.com/albums/ll86/aSnakeLovinBabe/Snakes/Other/009.jpg

http://i286.photobucket.com/albums/ll86/aSnakeLovinBabe/Snakes/Garters/457444r021.jpg

[Lori P]

Awwwww those little faces just slay me!! He is so darling Shannon!!! He's grown a LOT since you got him!!!

I was just reading up on those rufous beaked snakes-- now those little guys are cute. Huge eyes, little shovel nose... anyone have experience with them??

[infernalis]

Nice Hoggies everyone:D

[Aundrea]

OMG I love the pics Lori!!!! GREAT Tank set ups and very nice snakes.

Shannon your hoggie is soooooooooooo cute and Lori's also. I was wondering are they good snakes to have? are they mean? LOL. Them faces reminds me of a piggy and I LOVE pigs LOL. I collect them soooooo im just wondering LOL :D

[jitami]

Very nice Lori! I always enjoy seeing your set-ups! The snakes aren't bad either ;)

[GartersRock]

Cute, cute cute!!!

[bsol]

Man my goal next year is to catch and release a milk snake and a hognose... i love'm!

[Lori P]

My neighbor found a hognose BY OUR MAILBOX!!! OUR mailbox!!!! Did he show me?? No! He told me about it days later... I spent weeks scoping out the mailbox area... LOL!!!!!

Aundrea, I got my hoggies because of that piggy nose too!! The need a lot of burrowing space, so deep substrate, and higher temps than garters; and dryer, they are more arid. Mine don't enjoy being handled and will flatten and hiss at me, and honestly it's the cutest thing. The female played dead one day in the water dish and scared the holy bejeezus out of me... lol. Overall, I do have to admit being a tiny tiny bit disapointed that I don't see them more... mine stay burrowed most of the time. But that just makes the times they do come out more special!!!!

[Aundrea]

I love the hissing LOL. My Ornate box turtle hisses at me sometimes and I just laugh. I think its so funny. Either shes saying Hello or shes telling me to piss off LOL :eek::D

I am really liking the pics of the hoggies. I think they are soooo cute and was just wondering if they are easy to care for and such. Maybe ill get one someday :eek: It would be neat to have a piggy snake LOL

[drache]

Lori
once again I'm sorry it's taking me so long to get to threads these days - I miss a lot
your set-ups are fun and Desdemona beautiful
your hogs sound very different from our Casey Jones
he does have periods of retreating, but just as often he has periods of being out in the front of the tank and he will crawl right onto my hand if I open the sliding door
when he's in shed, he does tend to do the puffing up, flattening and hissing thing - quite impressive
Shannon - that frontal shot is fantastic

[dashnu]

I love all those Hoggys... Wish I could keep them :(

I'll probably break the law again if I keep seeing these pics!

[count dewclaw]

I love all those Hoggys... Wish I could keep them :(

I'll probably break the law again if I keep seeing these pics!

Couldn't you get a western hoggy, they are not native to Maine. ;):D

Lori, the tanks look like they would keep your snakes very happy!

[dashnu]

Couldn't you get a western hoggy, they are not native to Maine. ;):D

Lori, the tanks look like they would keep your snakes very happy!

I cant keep anything... If it not on this list I cant keep it.


Maine Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife - Unrestricted Fish and Wildlife Species (http://www.maine.gov/ifw/wildlife/species/unrestricted_species.htm)

[count dewclaw]

And I thought NY was restrictive...sorry, that's no fun.

[drache]

NY is more restrictive in some ways and in fact if I read the NY laws correctly, I believe " . . . all venomous, mid-or rear-fanged, Duvernoy-glanded members of the family Colubridae, even if devenomized;" includes hognoses
in addition we do not get to keep Rosy Boas or Kenyan Sand Boas, or "any member, or hybrid offspring of the family Boidae"
let's all move to Pennsylvania, I say

[Zephyr]

NY is more restrictive in some ways and in fact if I read the NY laws correctly, I believe " . . . all venomous, mid-or rear-fanged, Duvernoy-glanded members of the family Colubridae, even if devenomized;" includes hognoses
in addition we do not get to keep Rosy Boas or Kenyan Sand Boas, or "any member, or hybrid offspring of the family Boidae"
let's all move to Pennsylvania, I sayIn Michigan it's a free-for-all. lol

[Garter_Gertie]

Aundrea and Lori, I got my Hoggies because they're native MN snakes. I got Westerns as they seem easier to take care of - the Easterns seem to need more herpy/froggie kind'a things.

We kept an Eastern for a day at the park, to use in the snake demonstration, and we COULD NOT get that bugger to strike, play dead - nuttin'! Dave even went nose-to-nose with it! Literally! He put his face down in front of the Eastern and it just sat there. And it was WILD CAUGHT. Hoggies quickly learn not to waste energy.

Niizh, I think, is starting to learn 'my' day. When I get home from work he comes and does his rambling. But I don't know what he did during the day - as far as rambling goes. He'll stay out quite a bit and stare at me.... And ramble and have the bestest time!

I've noticed on the weekends he likes to sleep in.

I 'sift' Niizh out when I want to see him if he's not out. And I handle him daily. He's gotten so laid back he no longer runs for cover when I snap the clamp on the tank screen. And just lies there while I pick him up. He comes out WAY MORE than he did when I first got him, and he'll let me skritch him and rub him 'through the glass.'

Aundrea, Hoggies - Westerns - rank rite up there with garters for "first time snakes." But make sure you get CBB and have a good breeder that will help you and stand by you and his/her snake for the life o'that snake.

For a newb, the first year with a Hoggy is the hardest. They can get SO PERSNICKTY and go off feed in the bat of an eye. Nuttin' wrong with them, that's just a Hoggie. It can give you an ulcer.

What can I say? This has been ssssoooo long... But I LOVE HOGGIES TO DEATH!

[Garter_Gertie]

OH MY GODS!
Rhea, that's horrible! I'm so sorry for you.
What stupid laws. Unless, maybe?, it's because Hoggies are native and rare there? That's the only reason I can think of for such a stringent, restrictive law.

Unless it got passed by some chicken-$h!t idiot that doesn't know Hoggies.


NY is more restrictive in some ways and in fact if I read the NY laws correctly, I believe " . . . all venomous, mid-or rear-fanged, Duvernoy-glanded members of the family Colubridae, even if devenomized;" includes hognoses
in addition we do not get to keep Rosy Boas or Kenyan Sand Boas, or "any member, or hybrid offspring of the family Boidae"
let's all move to Pennsylvania, I say

[drache]

In Michigan it's a free-for-all. lol
Michigan - really?
other than that you live there and that it's got a lot of lakefront and a women's music festival, I had not known anything about Michigan previously, so this bit of info constitutes 25% of my total knowledge of Michigan, but it's got to have a slightly higher qualitative value than the one about the amount of lakefront - thanks bro

and my apologies to Lori about taking her thread to another state

[aSnakeLovinBabe]

I really can't complain about PA laws... I can pretty much have whatever I want... just as long as I don't sell anything I find within this state.

[Lori P]

I'm VERY worried about Curious. I'll post some pics when we get back, running out the door now. But he was the one who got that cloudy eye, right? Well... this morning he is trying to eat and can't. Not won't, but can't. He keeps trying, over and over, to grab a worm but can't latch on. I tried holding one for him and all he does is push it with his mouth open.

That eye looks swollen to me. And, when he was crawling around earlier, he fell off a climb... then just now he was crawling away from the worms and his body turned upside down for a few seconds.

I'm wondering if that eye isn't a tumor... these signs seem neurological....

Very stressed. My herp vet isn't working today but will be in tomorrow.

:(

[jitami]

I'm sorry to hear that Lori... I'll be thinking of curious and wishing him well...

[Sid]

Hope all goes well for Curious, Lori. Keep us posted, I have never run into anything like this and am sure it can be a learning experience for many of us.

[Garter_Gertie]

Lori, good luck. I hope things work out okay. You've had a rough go lately. (((Lori)))

[aSnakeLovinBabe]

I'm VERY worried about Curious. I'll post some pics when we get back, running out the door now. But he was the one who got that cloudy eye, right? Well... this morning he is trying to eat and can't. Not won't, but can't. He keeps trying, over and over, to grab a worm but can't latch on. I tried holding one for him and all he does is push it with his mouth open.

That eye looks swollen to me. And, when he was crawling around earlier, he fell off a climb... then just now he was crawling away from the worms and his body turned upside down for a few seconds.

I'm wondering if that eye isn't a tumor... these signs seem neurological....

Very stressed. My herp vet isn't working today but will be in tomorrow.

:(

Lori... get him to the vet... I saw pictures of the cloudy eye and it looked like the exact infection that killed two of my garter snakes this year, my adult female red spot and a normal eastern. My friend's rosy boa also has the same problem, and that snake has never contacted my collection. Luckily... the snakes that were affected were quarantined in the basement and I have not seen anything else, but I am constantly hovering over everyone's eyes ever since. All three snakes suffer/ed from an infection in the eye that causes it to fill up withclear fluid first... then pus and the eye can burst (and did on my friend's snake). I also have had two customers come into my store with this same problem... it seems as SOON as this fall hit, this problem started occuring. Your snake's eye puffed up at almost the same time as my female eastern and my friend's rosy boa. It's really bizarre, and the antibiotic injections, topical creams, and oral medications I was given to administer from my vet did not help. I would really like to find out if/how this problem can be cured. I never heard back from the customers once i told them to go to the vet.

Possibly, your snake is having balance issues and what not because the pressure inside his head is causing him to be unable to balance correctly???


Three years ago when I first got my albino leucistic texas rat snake... this happened to him and i thought for sure he was a goner... in a week's time it suddenly cleared up and went away... he's been fine ever since.

[drache]

Lori
it sounds serious and I sure hope the vet can sort it out

[Lori P]

I'll get him in first thing. I should have taken him in a couple of weeks ago but it didn't seem to be bothering him or changing... and he was eating up until this past Wednesday, when everyone skipped their meals. Today was the first time it looked swollen and he had this behavior. I shouldn't have let it lie... crap. Ok, I'll keep you posted.

[Garter_Gertie]

Love you, kiddo. Am thinking of you muchly.

[reptile3]

Lori, your snakes are cool!!! I love your tank set ups!!
:)

Lori, I am praying your snake is ok

[Lori P]

Well, the vet put him on triple antibiotic topical ointment 3 x a day and wants to recheck in a week. I got the distinct impression that he wasn't really sure what was going on. Curious was certainly acting fine today, very active... so I'll keep watching.

[aSnakeLovinBabe]

Lori... that is exactly the impression I got from my vet. That he really had not seen this before and did not know what to do.... so he gave h snake some shots and cream and hoped for the best. It kind of annoyed me......

I really hope the ointment helps you out!!!

[Lori P]

Shannon, thanks... I was a bit annoyed too, it just seemed to me like he was shrugging his shoulders and telling me to try this... I'm not sure if he was just really rushed yesterday or what, but Curious definitely didn't get a lot of attention. But then again, this vet doesn't have much of a bedside manner so sometimes I think he comes off more abruptly than he means to. We'll see...

[Lori P]

I heard from Dan-- he did ship my snakes today!!!!! I'll get them at work in the morning... I am SO PHSYCHED!!!!!! :D

But for now, here is poor little Riley.... all tough 5 lbs of him... let's hope he learned that chasing and biting something that weighs 1000 lbs more than you is not a good plan!!

http://www.thamnophis.com/thamphotos/data//500/medium/Riley_cast_001_resize_crop.jpg

http://www.thamnophis.com/thamphotos/data//500/medium/Riley_cast_002.jpg

[Garter_Gertie]

Oh! Widdo Riley! Tugging at my heart. I remember when Little Girl broke her leg. Went to the U of M Vet SCHOOL clinic.. Long story. But she had a cast for a while - complete with the stumpy-thing to step on like Riley!

Bless, you darling, for NOT putting him down and/or having his leg cut off because of the break. Many would; yes many would. You are WONDERFUL!!!!!!!!!!!!

[Garter_Gertie]

Lori, you need to sign Riley's cast from Pickles, Mayo, Dickens, Neon, Pee-Wee, Wes, Puddy, Sly, Niizh, Peepers and Jeepers! From MN!!! They all send their love! Then take a pic!

[jitami]

Oh my goodness.... poor little guy...

[Lori P]

Lori, you need to sign Riley's cast from Pickles, Mayo, Dickens, Neon, Pee-Wee, Wes, Puddy, Sly, Niizh, Peepers and Jeepers! From MN!!! They all send their love! Then take a pic!

Gertie! He weighs 5 lbs! His little leg is only like 6 inches long or something-- there's no room!! LOL :D

Guess what guys? MY SNAKES COME TODAY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!:D:D:D

[Garter_Gertie]

HOORAY! I can't wait! I'll be watching from work.

Lori, I'm sorry, but I missed what it is you're getting from Don...

[Lori P]

Well... then you'll just have to wait and see because I'm not telling you.... na na na na na na.... is the suspence killing you yet?? :D:D

[olive oil]

Poor baby!!! She is a cutie pie. Isn't it funny how the itty bitty's think they are so big and bad.

[Garter_Gertie]

YES, ITTIZ KILLING ME!!!!!!!!!!! LOL!!! :(

You are ssssssoooooo bad! :D

[Stefan-A]

Big bad wolf. ;)

[Aundrea]

I heard from Dan-- he did ship my snakes today!!!!! I'll get them at work in the morning... I am SO PHSYCHED!!!!!! :D

But for now, here is poor little Riley.... all tough 5 lbs of him... let's hope he learned that chasing and biting something that weighs 1000 lbs more than you is not a good plan!!

http://www.thamnophis.com/thamphotos/data//500/medium/Riley_cast_001_resize_crop.jpg

http://www.thamnophis.com/thamphotos/data//500/medium/Riley_cast_002.jpg

awwwwwwwwwwww poor guy!!! He is so cute!!!! I hope he wont be doing that anymore.

So your getting your snakies today? WOOOOOO HOOOOOOO I cant wait :D

[Lori P]

THEY'RE HERE and they are WONDERFUL but my boss is here and I haven't been able to get pics!!!! The female was diving into the water bowl over and over, and luckily I had some pinkies here in the freezer so I tossed 6 in there and she's already downed four!! I'll get pics up asap..... LOVE THEM!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[jitami]

Wow! Hungry girl!!! Congrats Lori! Can't wait to see the pictures!!!

[Garter_Gertie]

Hooray, Mom! Can't wait to see the new kids!

[Lori P]

Here are the new kids! They are understandably skittish so I've only caught a few pics of them peeking out. They are sirtalis, not similis, just to clarify. I LOVE them... they are the biggest garters I have now, too!!!! :)

The female ended up eating all 6 pinkies out of the water dish while we were at work today and looked for more... but I'm waiting till tomorrow to offer more food. Wanted her to settle down a bit first.

Here she is.... I love that little spot on her nose... do NOT let me name her Spot!!! lol

http://www.thamnophis.com/thamphotos/data//500/medium/Fl_blues_1rst_day_face.jpg

Now check this out... this is her chin/neck... thoughts??? A bit concerned...

http://www.thamnophis.com/thamphotos/data//500/medium/Fl_blues_female_chin.jpg

And here are both of them--

http://www.thamnophis.com/thamphotos/data//500/medium/Fl_blues_1rst_day_peeking_2.jpg

I'll get better pics in a few days. Man, I really, really really like these two. :) I can't even explain it... they were just meant to be here!!!!!!

This was interesting... he shipped them in a pillow case. In a box, packed with newspaper. I found that kind of... odd... lol But maybe that's ok?? I mean, I guess they had more freedom to move and right themselves and such but it did surprise me. Is that normal?

[Lori P]

Oh, and so.... being sirtalis... do I still refer to them as Florida Blues? Or is that reserved for the similis? I know we talked about this before but I forget....

[bsol]

i'm going to refer to those two as awesome!!! they look great!

[jitami]

Oh, they're gorgeous Lori!!!

I can't wait to hear what others have to say about her chin... there has got to be something going on there? Hope it's nothing...

[Zephyr]

Lovely "little" snakes Lori. :P
The chin looks like a little bout of scale rot; Just keep'im dry. :)

[Garter_Gertie]

What kind of sirtalis? That's such a lovely blueish-green! They are DARLING! Love their faces.

CONGRATULATIONS!!!

[EdgyExoticReptiles]

lol thamnophis sirtalis sirtalis- florida blue
thamnophis sirtalis simlis- florida blue stripe
and yes lori u can call them florida blues

What kind of sirtalis? That's such a lovely blueish-green! They are DARLING! Love their faces.

CONGRATULATIONS!!!

[Garter_Gertie]

So they're Common Eastern Florida Blue Garters?

It is AMAZING how many variation of those there are! How can one species subspecies come in so many different colors/patterns?????????

[aSnakeLovinBabe]

Yes... these are "common" (i dont really like that word, no garter snake is common, corn snakes are common lol) eastern garters.... basically, they are a locality of eastern garter snake that for one reason or another, evolved to have varying amounts of blue. Both the eastern garters in florida, and the Florida Blue striped garters have blue on them... so blue must be a good color to wear down there!

Lori... I am so glad you like them... you female looks SO much like mine. When I first got her in august... she had no blue on her. Since shedding twice... and settling into a happy home with boyfriend snake... she has become a really nice shade of blue... its crazy! I have to take pics. Here is my male for now... these guys really grow on you... (just ask Lori LOL)

http://i286.photobucket.com/albums/ll86/aSnakeLovinBabe/Snakes/Garters/643054.jpg

[Snake lover 3-25]

wow he's BEAUTIFUL!!!!!!!!:eek:

[EdgyExoticReptiles]

Oh dang i missed the part about curious. i really hope hes okay

[Lori P]

Reed, thanks, I'm hoping that we can get this eye thing cleared up quickly. He's such a great little snake. He's still so small... he weighs 25 grams! But he's in good weight for his size; he's just a tiny little guy. I just adore him and Reed both!!!!!! :) I recently put a "swimming pool" in their tank, a 1/2 gallon container, and Reed really seems to enjoy swimming in it. :)

Shannon, your girl is sooooo gorgeous!!!! I absolutely LOVE these guys... I love all of their markings and their color, too. I can't get their true color in these pics, and I've realized it's because the light over their tank has a blue tint. So when I snap pics, the flash gives them a yellow/green look. I need to find a better light.

The male shed yesterday and then he hid in this hide like he was feeling naked. LOL

http://www.thamnophis.com/thamphotos/data//500/medium/10_16_08_003_resize.jpg

The female said, heck with you, if you're not going for this buffet I am!

http://www.thamnophis.com/thamphotos/data//500/medium/10_16_08_010_resize.jpg

http://www.thamnophis.com/thamphotos/data//500/medium/10_16_08_007_resize.jpg

That last pic is actually kind of sad as the fish in the bowl is looking out at his buddy... :eek:

I had 6 peach fuzzies, several nightcrawlers, and 6 minnows in that bowl and it was empty within an hour. I don't know if she ate it all (remember, she ate 6 pinkies at work the day before!!!) or if he came out after I left the room. I think they are piggy snakes!!

[Aundrea]

WOW They are beauties!!!! Im so happy that you got them :D

Boy they are little piggies!! LOL. Its a Thanksgiving dinner for them LOL :D

[Lori P]

I can't seem to stop taking pics of these guys. LOL I'm in love.

http://www.thamnophis.com/thamphotos/data//500/medium/10_18_08_002.jpg

http://www.thamnophis.com/thamphotos/data//500/medium/10_18_08_004_crop.jpg

You know, I think they're hungry again. They've been pacing the tank all day!! Omg, I'm going to have to get a second job to feed them... LOL

[Aundrea]

I LOVE that last pic. Sooo cute!!! Keep taking pics!! I LOVE looking at them. They are cute. I cant believe they may be hungry again LOL :eek: I think Swiper is getting kinda hungry he was roaming around the tank today but I told him I will feed him on Tues :D

[Lori P]

Omg!!! This female is a garbage disposal!!!!!!!!!

In their bowl this morning went four fuzzies (thought I'd see if they would eat that size), six medium minnows, and six nightcrawlers chopped in half.

She ate EVERYTHING. I took a video, which I'll upload later. Unreal!!!!!!!!!

So I filled the bowl back up and she grabbed two more worms, then finally went off... and the male came out. He's now starting to eat.

I better keep a good count on my dogs and cats.... LOL!!!!!!!!!

[EdgyExoticReptiles]

are you brumating them this year?

[Lori P]

Reed, I'm not... unless they show signs of going into brumation themselves. I've never done it and it scares me. LOL But if the snakes require it, I'll do it.

Here is the video of her eating. She just cracks me up, beacuse she eats one thing after another after another... my other garters pause after each tidbit, but oh no, not this one!! She also eats under water-- do any of yours do that?? I know the video is poor, but you can see her eating fish and worms under water, and then occasionally pulling a fish out. She eats the worms, fish, and then fuzzies last (altho one brave minnow managed to evade her the whole time!).

YouTube - Florida blue garter eating (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fNMWGVhnuv4)

This was only my second time trying to edit a video, so excuse the corny intro and credits and music. :rolleyes:

[Aundrea]

Omg!!! This female is a garbage disposal!!!!!!!!!

In their bowl this morning went four fuzzies (thought I'd see if they would eat that size), six medium minnows, and six nightcrawlers chopped in half.

She ate EVERYTHING. I took a video, which I'll upload later. Unreal!!!!!!!!!

So I filled the bowl back up and she grabbed two more worms, then finally went off... and the male came out. He's now starting to eat.

I better keep a good count on my dogs and cats.... LOL!!!!!!!!!

OMG what a HOG LOL :eek: That video cracks me up. She sure is fisty with her food. Swiper eats his fish sometimes in the water. He ate that one pinky out of the water. I love how they chase the fish all over the bowl. She sure is garbage disposal LOL :D

[Stefan-A]

YouTube - Florida blue garter eating (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fNMWGVhnuv4)

This was only my second time trying to edit a video, so excuse the corny intro and credits and music. :rolleyes:
I like the music. :)

[reptile3]

Lori, do you not feed her?? LOL:p Man she is going to town on the fish,worms etc. Love the music too!!:D:D

[Lori P]

I wanted to give an update on Curious's eye... he goes back to the vet again tomorrow morning, so will know more then. Here is what it looked like when this started:

http://www.thamnophis.com/thamphotos/data//500/medium/Curious_retained_cap_crop.jpg

And here is what we've got now.

http://www.thamnophis.com/thamphotos/data//500/medium/Curious_eye_10_23_08.jpg

Some of the antibiotic ointment is actually oozing out the top of the eye; what has happened this week is the underside has opened up, and I've managed to get some ointment under the cap. But it does bother him and I really, really hope the eye is not dead under there but I think it probably is...

http://www.thamnophis.com/thamphotos/data//500/medium/Curious_eye_2_10_23_08.jpg

Poor poor Curious. And he's such a calm, gentle little guy. And believe me, I know I waited too long to take him to the vet. I have no excuse, but maybe this will help someone else learn...

I'll let you know what the vet says tomorrow.

[Aundrea]

awwwwwwwwww I hope he will be ok. Let us know how the vet appt goes. :(

[reptile3]

Awww Lori, I am sorry about Curious's eye. Keep us posted on everything.

Lori, sometimes we make mistakes, we are human!!! {{hugs}}

[drache]

poor baby
antibiotics for sure
I hope it's going to be alright for poor Curious

[jitami]

Aw, poor little man... definately keep us posted...

[Snake lover 3-25]

so sorry to hear about that.....:( hope he gets well soon:( good luck with the vet:)

[Garter_Gertie]

Oh, Lori! The poor thing! But you're doing the right thing now and like you said, he'll be a sessy guy - a lady killer - with his daring-do eye patch.

If all else is fine with him, he'll compenstate and do just fine. Poor sweetie! Hugs to you and kisses to him.

[Lori P]

Oh, what a day....

We went to the vet, and he removed Curious's old eye cap. The eye underneath is still infected, and he has put him on Baytil (enrofloxacin) injections for the next 10 days and continued the neo poly bac ointment. We have one of two things going on: a bacterial infection, which this should clear up, or a fungal infection, which we probably won't be able to clear up... it would be better then to enucleate the eye, but he said he wouldn't want to try it on a snake this small.

So, I'll give him his daily injections (which scares me-- the vet did his first one, I'm on my own tomorrow tho!! He's just so little...) and we'll re-evaluate next week. If it turns out to be fungal... I have to try and find a vet comfortable doing the surgery.

But then on the way home, with Curious and three dogs in the car, a state police officer stops me.... and informs me that my tags on my car are out of date (oops) AND that my driver's liscence is expired... OOOPS!!! I had no idea.... it expired last month!!! I don't pay attention to these things... so the bugger not only writes me two tickets but WON'T LET ME DRIVE HOME. I had to call a friend to come get me, my dogs and my snake, and left the car on the side of the interstate.

Then I go to DMV to renew my liscence. Which, after a 45 minute wait, they tell me they can't do without my birth certificate. I stared at the woman like she had two heads-- my birth certificate??? I don't even know where it is-- why would I? But ok, fine-- I call my mom. Luckily, she has it! I go to her house and get it out of her lock box....

Go back to DMV.... wait in line for another 45 minutes or so... get up to the window... and they tell me they can't accept it. It's the wrong birth certificate. I **** you not. What I have was the one issued by the hospital... they need one issued by the state. My head started to spark. I started arguing that the one I have has a seal on it, it has my foot prints on it for pete's sake, it is my birth certificate.... it's not my fault it's not the one they want... and then the woman started arguing back that if I hadn't let my liscence expire, this wouldn't be an issue. And that's when I lost all ability to hold my tongue, and I am ashamed to admit that some very foul words flew out. My hubby (who had to drive me there, because, after all, I don't have a liscence now) actually pulled me away from the window.

NO WONDER people go postal at DMV. That was the most absurd, irrational, rediculous, stupid, asanine thing I'd ever heard. I'm standing there with my excuse for being born right in my hands and they won't take it.

But no fear. We go back to my mom's, do some digging. Found something else that might have been another kind of birth certificate. Go back to DMV.

It's another wrong one. Seriously. Even tho it's issued by the state of New York, with an embossed seal, signed by everyone under the sun, it's still not what they want. I'm pretty sure I'm starting to have some kind of embolism right there in the office when a supervisor comes up, moans and groans and sighs and finally says she'll accept it.

Does anyone here work for DMV? If so, get out. Get out now. That place is some kind of demon posessed **** hole of a lower level of hell with the single intention of driving a decent, hard working woman to the brink of mass murder.

You should see the pic on my new liscence. I look like a serial killer.

[adamanteus]

You should see the pic on my new liscence. I look like a serial killer.

Lori, you HAVE TO post that picture!:D

[Aundrea]

OMG Lori im so sorry about your bad day. God I would flip out also if that happend to me. I hate dealing with the people that work for the state and DMV.. PRICKS is all I gotta say LOL But on a good note im glad that your snake is ok. Stephanie had to give injections to her BP George. She can tell ya about it

Yeahhh you need to post your serial killer pic LOL

[drache]

oh man, Lori - what a day
don't worry about the injections - you'll do fine

[prattypus]

See. Sometimes it's just worth it to ride the bus. Sorry about the day you had. But just think, it will make the better days seem all the more so.

[jitami]

You should see the pic on my new license. I look like a serial killer.

Oh, Lori, I'm so sorry... I can't stop giggling, tho... again, I'm so sorry!!! If I couldn't relate it wouldn't be so funny. We had to do the same thing with my son for his permit. I made an appointment a month in advance at an office further from home because it was the only one who had an appointment available, only to get there with the wrong certificate. In our case it was a copy, not the original... I kid you not, I've used that copy for everything, registering him for three different schools, a bazillion different sports, everything... but NOPE not good enough for DMV. With much digging found the original at home(in an envelope with my younger son's documents :confused:), went to closest DMV, but the previous DMV had told us the wrong closing time! She had told us to be there by 4:30, the weekday cut off time for taking tests, but it was Saturday and cut off was really 12:30... we didn't figure that out until we got to the second DMV and the info line lady said she didn't think he'd make it through the freaking line in time to take his test. I went into the whole story about how this was the second DMV we'd been to, running around like an idiot trying to get it done, blah blah blah, totally ready to lose it... But, by some miracle, my brother in law just happened to be there and got my son in line with him in the handicap line... yeah, pretty random, huh? Otherwise there was no way he would have been able to get processed and take his test before they closed. I had no idea my BIL would be there... how often do you just happen to run into a family member at the DMV? lol

[Snake lover 3-25]

lol omg i'm gonna die laughing lol sorry bout your day:D:D lol omg:D

so sorry to hare about curious.... hope he gets well soon........

[Loren]

Wow! Hang in there Lori. Take a few deep breaths and eat a bowl of ice cream. You deserve it. :)

[Seere121]

Oh, what a day....

Then I go to DMV to renew my liscence. Which, after a 45 minute wait, they tell me they can't do without my birth certificate. I stared at the woman like she had two heads-- my birth certificate??? I don't even know where it is-- why would I? But ok, fine-- I call my mom. Luckily, she has it! I go to her house and get it out of her lock box....

Go back to DMV.... wait in line for another 45 minutes or so... get up to the window... and they tell me they can't accept it. It's the wrong birth certificate. I **** you not. What I have was the one issued by the hospital... they need one issued by the state. My head started to spark. I started arguing that the one I have has a seal on it, it has my foot prints on it for pete's sake, it is my birth certificate.... it's not my fault it's not the one they want... and then the woman started arguing back that if I hadn't let my liscence expire, this wouldn't be an issue. And that's when I lost all ability to hold my tongue, and I am ashamed to admit that some very foul words flew out. My hubby (who had to drive me there, because, after all, I don't have a liscence now) actually pulled me away from the window.



Wow... I hate to giggle at that, but I have had a similar experience at the DMV in Massachusetts. Went in with my Montana license to get it transferred to MA with my birth cert. and my social security card. After at least an hour I got the "I'm sorry, but you need proof of residence, something with your address on it." Went home, came back next week with a copy of my pay stub with my address on it. After another hour "I'm sorry, this doesn't count, it needs to be something like a rental agreement or utility payment." Of course it had to be something that I diddn't have cause I was living in the off house of a friends parents and just gave them a hundred a month for utilities hooked up to the property. I tried to explain this to them with no result, managed to keep from cursing at them, and promptly moved back to my home state of Washington where after a 5 minute wait in the deparement of licencing I got "Old licence and SS card or birth cert, stand here *flash* your new license will be in the mail in two weeks."

[Garter_Gertie]

(first wipes coffee dripping from nose... gets paper towels - blows and wipes nose; cleans coffee off monitor and desk)

From the mind-set presented, let me be the first to say, guess Jamie's happy place *isn't* where he professed... He had his chance and blew it.

[Lori P]

Lori, you HAVE TO post that picture!:D

Hell will freeze twice.


Oh, Lori, I'm so sorry... I can't stop giggling, tho... again, I'm so sorry!!! If I couldn't relate it wouldn't be so funny. We had to do the same thing with my son for his permit........ But, by some miracle, my brother in law just happened to be there and got my son in line with him in the handicap line... yeah, pretty random, huh? Otherwise there was no way he would have been able to get processed and take his test before they closed. I had no idea my BIL would be there... how often do you just happen to run into a family member at the DMV? lol

Omg.... well, given the amount of time we do spend at DMV when we have to go, I'm surprised we don't all just get together there for family dinners!!!!


Wow! Hang in there Lori. Take a few deep breaths and eat a bowl of ice cream. You deserve it. :)

Powdered sugar donuts. Half a bag. And, er, a few (ahem) Oreos... and btw, I LIED about my weight for my liscence!!! HA!! Take THAT DMV!!!!


(first wipes coffee dripping from nose... gets paper towels - blows and wipes nose; cleans coffee off monitor and desk)

From the mind-set presented, let me be the first to say, guess Jamie's happy place *isn't* where he professed... He had his chance and blew it.

ROFLMAO!!!!!!!

[Loren]

Powdered sugar donuts. Half a bag. And, er, a few (ahem) Oreos... and btw, I LIED about my weight for my liscence!!! HA!! Take THAT DMV!!!!





Way to go!

I'm gonna go get a steakhouse burger from bk now.

[drache]

Lori - you inspire me
perhaps I will take on some bureaucrats in the near future
after a bout with DMV and Social Security last year (the latter have bullet proof windows and for good reason), I haven't been willing to go to the German consulate, to get my passport renewed which expired a few years ago (can't afford to travel anyway)
it's a huge mess, because my social security card and my driver's license don't have the same name as my passport and alien registration card, and on the latter, my signature isn't the same either, and of course that's the one I need to present to get out of jury duty
and I don't suppose it'd be a good idea to just bring my driver's license and do jury duty - I'd be impersonating an American and that's probably a crime, wouldn't you think?
oh man I just hate having to take care of that kind of stuff
I am never letting that driver's license expire again, but I've already lost the damn social security card (disappeared after I'd taken it to DMV)
there - now you all know the state of my filing system

[Lori P]

I'm soooo glad I'm not the only one!!!! Seriously-- who has time to worry about this stuff?? Is life not difficult enough already? When the cop told me I couldn't drive, it blew my mind-- so I can't drive because a piece of plastic which I've already owned for 20 some years has expired, so therefore I can't go to work, so therefore the government doesn't get to take taxes from me for that day, so therefore my tax dollars don't pay the cop that day....????

[ssssnakeluvr]

hehehe....when I moved to Utah, I went in to get my Utah license, had an Idaho license....guy at the counter said something about not being a Utah Jazz fan...I said I was a big fan, actually did tattoo work for one of the player's family....he said "great! now for the test, can you run a red light?" I said no, he said I passed and sent me to get my pic taken!!!!! :eek:

[Zephyr]

<<< Doesn't have to worry about the DMV. lol

Being growed up sounds fun. :)

[kurtnagel]

A few years back I found a small DMV office in my county that actually re-took my picture until I was happy. Unfortunately the population has grown, so no more re-takes. Stuck with a 10 year old picture that is a *reasonable* facsimilie of my current picture.

[count dewclaw]

<<< Doesn't have to worry about the DMV. lol

Being growed up sounds fun. :)

Oh yeah! It's loads of fun!!! :rolleyes: Just you wait!

[olive oil]

Another reason I love living in a small town! Even if I have to stand in line it might only be a few minutes.

[Lori P]

You know what tho? I wouldn't trade these adult stresses for adolescent stresses for anything. You couldn't make me go back and re-live being a teenager.

[drache]

You know what tho? I wouldn't trade these adult stresses for adolescent stresses for anything. You couldn't make me go back and re-live being a teenager.
except when I was a teenager I had a lot of hope that when I grew up I could do whatever I want, so the DMV came as a major unpleasant wake-up call
I am planning to get to the do-whatever-I-want part when I'm in my 70ies
since I'm not that interested in doing anything worse than misdemeanors, I should be okay
I've been watching "Harold and Maude" for pointers - Maude is a fantastic role model - not an ounce of calcification
you're right though - being a teen was harsh

[Lori P]

I'm back from the expo... :)

It was loads of fun but NO garters!! Not one!!! :(

And I want you to know, I allllllllmost made it out.... almost.... but these little girls kept catching my eye and well, I have always wanted a blue eyed white snake, so....

Leucistic Texas Rat snakes!

http://www.thamnophis.com/thamphotos/data//500/medium/Rat_snakes_day_one_2_weeks_old_002.jpg

You know what was the clincher for me? I asked to see one closer, he handed her to me, and quick as lightning she struck and bit me. That was it-- I was in love!!!!! LOL!! And since I couldn't leave her sister behind... :rolleyes:

They've both already eaten one pinky each, and we've only been home an hour!!!

Ok, tell me everything I need to know about these girls--- Carefresh ok? Do they eat other things than mice-- fish?? I know my wild rat snakes here eat rodents, eggs, chicks, etc... will these girls also enjoy a varied diet?

I'm VERY happy with them!! I need to give them good down home Texas names.... :D

[Loren]

Nice Lori. I've always thought about getting one myself. I saw one local on craigslist recently, but I'm trying so hard to keep my numbers (and budget) under control, so I passed.

[Lori P]

Loren, could you please share that self restraint with me? Teach me your ways, oh wise one... (note I said wise one, not wise arse) :D

[Lori P]

Here's some pics from the expo today. :)

I thought this was just a gorgeous snake.

http://www.thamnophis.com/thamphotos/data//500/medium/Richmond_Expo_2008_006.jpg

A funky turtle!!

http://www.thamnophis.com/thamphotos/data//500/medium/Richmond_Expo_2008_002.jpg

Blackheaded pythons... they were very striking, too, and very pricey.

http://www.thamnophis.com/thamphotos/data//500/medium/Richmond_Expo_2008_007.jpg
http://www.thamnophis.com/thamphotos/data//500/medium/Richmond_Expo_2008_008.jpg

These little dart frogs really are adorable.

http://www.thamnophis.com/thamphotos/data//500/medium/Richmond_Expo_2008_004.jpg

[Lori P]

Gertie, for you! The coloring on these pics got totally blown, but, here is a brand new hognose morph-- only two in existence-- both bred by this guy. His website is Superconda (http://www.superconda.com) if you want to see better pics. They are not for sale--

http://www.thamnophis.com/thamphotos/data//500/medium/Richmond_Expo_2008_016.jpg
http://www.thamnophis.com/thamphotos/data//500/medium/Richmond_Expo_2008_017.jpg

Here's a reduced pattern hog-

http://www.thamnophis.com/thamphotos/data//500/medium/Richmond_Expo_2008_018.jpg

This was a super cool snake-- a Taiwanese Blue Beauty-- love how she has all kinds of different patterns on her!

http://www.thamnophis.com/thamphotos/data//500/medium/Richmond_Expo_2008_020.jpg

VERY blue scorpions!!!

http://www.thamnophis.com/thamphotos/data//500/medium/Richmond_Expo_2008_023.jpg

And ok, one token ball python pic-- a blue eyed lucy :-)

http://www.thamnophis.com/thamphotos/data//500/medium/Richmond_Expo_2008_026.jpg

There were soooooooooooooo many ball pythons, retics, rtb's, etc.... do they dominate every show? Oh, yeah, and corns. Corns everywhere!!!

[Lori P]

I do love the color on these guys...

http://www.thamnophis.com/thamphotos/data//500/medium/Richmond_Expo_2008_024.jpg

This was an unusual cali king-- they had him labeled as a "copper". I met an aquaintance there, and her boyfriend, who recently opened a reptile shop, scooped this guy up...

http://www.thamnophis.com/thamphotos/data//500/medium/Richmond_Expo_2008_029.jpg

He has blueish/grey eyes. He's also really fat!! (The snake, not the boyfriend!)

http://www.thamnophis.com/thamphotos/data//500/medium/Richmond_Expo_2008_030.jpg

And, the excitement of the show... a two headed rat snake that someone brought in and said was found locally.

http://www.thamnophis.com/thamphotos/data//500/medium/Richmond_Expo_2008_two_heads.jpg

[Snake lover 3-25]

awwwww what neat snakes!!!!:eek: wow that 2 headed rat is AWESOME!!!!!

[olive oil]

I'm so ready to go to a expo!
Thanks for sharing.
Love your pretty new girls.

[Stefan-A]

There's going to be an expo here next weekend. A general pet expo, but I think there are going to be a couple of herps present.

[Garter_Gertie]

I think these are fabulous!

http://www.thamnophis.com/thamphotos/data/500/medium/Richmond_Expo_2008_024.jpg

Lori, thanks for the Hoggy pics! I've heard of both o'those. I worry about the Supers... I'm thinking they may be very inbred, using the least marked Anacondas over and over...

I love your little blue-eyed girls! One good Texas name would be Blue Bonnet...

[Garter_Gertie]

Or... Lucy and Lady. LOl!!!

[drache]

Lori
thanks for the great pics
congrats on your new girls - they're lovely
yes, I think you should go for the classic two-name combo, such as Faye-Jean, or Eartha-May
I did once have a friend from Texas who told me his aunts' names were Versacola and Opal-Aldora

[prattypus]

I really need to see about attending an expo. If not to acquire, then to see some other varieties up close. Though this can lead to an even quicker submersion into the herping world....

Anyone know of any in CO?

[Lori P]

Lori
thanks for the great pics
congrats on your new girls - they're lovely
yes, I think you should go for the classic two-name combo, such as Faye-Jean, or Eartha-May
I did once have a friend from Texas who told me his aunts' names were Versacola and Opal-Aldora

OH!! I LOVE it!!!!!! THOSE are the kind of deep down Texas names I want... toooooo funny!!!!! Versacola and Opal-Aldora are certainly in the running!! LOL

[Sid]

Very nice King, Lori:)

[Lori P]

AAARRRRGGGGGGHHHHHHHHHHH MITES!!!! MITES MITES MITES!!!! Bob Evans has them and now I know Curious and Reed will have them and they are CREEPING ME OUT!!!!!!!!!!!! I'M ALL ITCHY!!!!!!!! LOL Clean out the whole tank, right? Get rid of bedding? Wash climbs/hides? Going to get mite killer on the way home-- AAAAHHHHHHH!!!!!!!!

[Loren]

If you have reason to beleive they have them, you might set them up in bare tanks with paper towels and cardboard hides, then get the mite treatment of your choice.
Then you can clean and dispose of everything every 5 days or so(follow the directions of the mite product) and retreat them.
The cage furnishings will need to be treated or cooked or something too.
Hopefully you dont have them though.

Wash your hands and arms between every animal. dont let them tough your cloths or anything else when handling. Good luck :)

[Lori P]

Little black crawly things? All over my hands after helping Bob out of some left over shed? Itty bitty creepy crawlies? Did I mention AAAAAAARRRRRGGGGHHHHHHH???

[Loren]

Its a pain in the butt, but it will all be ok, Lori. Calm down. :) We all have to deal with this sooner or later.
:)

I gotta go to work now. I'll check back later. :)

[Stefan-A]

We all have to deal with this sooner or later.
:)
I don't wanna. :(

[Lori P]

I don't wanna either!!!! EWWWWWW... Ok, ok, it's just mites, it's not the end of the world. I can handle it. I'm not happy, but I can handle it.

Also---- one of the baby rat snakes regurged her pinky this morning. :-( She'd eaten it Sunday evening. I wonder if it was too big... these are large pinkies. I'm thinking-- wait a day or two, then offer her one chopped in half? Poor little thing...

[jitami]

Aww, sorry Lori!!! Hang in there hun... it'll be ok...

Finally got to see your new babies and they're precious :) Sorry to hear about the regurge, tho :( Poor kiddo...

[Snake lover 3-25]

so sorry....... hope you kill 'em quick lol:)

[Garter_Gertie]

Little black crawly things? All over my hands after helping Bob out of some left over shed? Itty bitty creepy crawlies? Did I mention AAAAAAARRRRRGGGGHHHHHHH???

You're cracking me up! THIS from the woman that RAISES COCKROACHES???????????? Too funny!

[drache]

mites are little blood-sucking vampires of the bug world

[Lori P]

You're cracking me up! THIS from the woman that RAISES COCKROACHES???????????? Too funny!

LOL... ok, ok, but the difference is these are nasty blood sucking little demons who are ON MY BABIES making them miserable!!! :mad: How dare they!!!!! And for some reason, seeing those little specks running on my hands totally creeped me out.... icccckkkkkkk I'm still itching!!!!!

The only mite killer Petsmart had was Jurassi Mite... it's sodium laurel sulfate (soap), cottonseed oil and clove oil. Anyone used it with success? I've euth'd fish with clove oil so I know it's deadly to some critters... I hope this is effective... I can order something better online if I need to.

[Garter_Gertie]

Okay. Touche, Lori. You're right. Cockroaches (shudder, shudder) ARE different than something sucking the blood outta a kid.

Still... It is cute. Or, *I* think it's cute! It's just CUTE!

You figure to handled one too many snakes at the Expo? Thass prolly how they came home, don't you think?

[Lori P]

Actually, I'm wondering if Bob Evans had them and I just never noticed before? There are way too many to have just come from the expo, I think. And I found them on Curious too. Sigh... my pretty tank is now totally bare and my poor boys are crawling around on paper towels with just a couple of hides... they aren't used to this kind of treatment!!

Man, I need to look at new snakes coming in waaaaay better. Live and learn, live and learn...

[jitami]

Lori, how is the Jurassi stuff applied?

[Lori P]

Spray on or rub on.

[jitami]

Not a fumigate type thing? Does it say to repeat application at regular intervals? If so, I'm guessing olive oil would do just as well. I just held Sly over the sink and smothered him in olive oil, letting him cruise through my fingers for several minutes, and then gave him a quick rinse off and repeated every other day until I was sure they were gone. I was slightly paranoid so probably did this for a month :) Poor Sly :)

I've heard the fumigate/bug bomb type things are more effective and only require one or two applications, though.

[Lori P]

Ahhhh.... it says to repeat as needed (gee, thanks for the details) and that it is safe for daily use. I'm assuming that, like with most mites, you kill off the adults and then repeat treatment in a week to kill off the hatching eggs, and then again... I like the olive oil idea too, smother those little suckers.

Bob Evans is currently in a wet bag (he still has some shed stuck to him) and it does say to not apply to a newly shed snake. So, I think I'll pull him out in a while and rub him down with the olive oil.

THANKS!!!!!

[jitami]

It was a long time ago, but if I remember correctly the mite life cycle is something along the lines of every three or four days which is why I went with every other day and did occasionally stretch it to every third day. It really wasn't too big of a deal with just the one snake, but I'd probably go with the stronger stuff now... especially since people I trust here have used it with no ill affects :)

[jitami]

I also think I read that immidiately following a shed is the best time to kill them because they haven't had as much time to embed themselves between the scales...

[Lori P]

Jamie suggested just stomping them to death. I think he's a bit of a smart arse... LOL!!!

[Loren]

Bob Evans is currently in a wet bag (he still has some shed stuck to him)




Ahhh. I finally understand why you knew you had mites just because your friend Bob Evens had mites on his snakes. Bob is one of your snakes. I guess I missed that story.

:D

[Loren]

On the mites, the biggest thing to understand is that you have to break the entire life cycle. Many treatments kill the mites but not the eggs. If even a couple eggs survive, it will start right back up again. I have read that they lay eggs under the scales, I have read that they lay eggs in the substrate, and down in the bottom crevises of the cage. Most sources I've read say that they leave the host animal at night to go lay eggs in the cage bottom.
Maybe they do both, but either way, all the eggs must be killed, or a product must be used that assures the little buggers die the second they try to crawl away from the egg.
Olive oil or mineral oil type treatments will suffocate the mites and kill them, but they will not assure that eggs do not hatch and allow mites to get back to the snake. By the way, it is claimed that mites can cross a large room in a matter of a couple hours or something like that.
Popular Reptile-aproved products for the cage are Provent-a-Mite and Black Knight Spray. As for the animal, the only product I have used is Reptile Relief. The only complaint I have with Reptile relief is that it seems to dry the snakes skin out badly. My Lyre snake had a really tough shed after treatment- although the stuff worked, and one more shed later he was back to normal.
These products are available at LLLreptile.com , Beanfarm.com, and Proexotics.com, among other places. One thing I have heard is that you must follow the directions on the products EXACTLY for good results.

Maybe some of the other forum members will chime in on personal experience with these products.

[drache]

my vet swears by provent-a-mite and I believe he also uses sevin dust around cages to prevent migration
I've been using provent-a mite, except with animals that are delicate - then I use reptile relief
I am a little more careful with Provent-a-mite than recommended because a friend told me they got a really awful respiratory thing from accidentally inhaling some

[Garter_Gertie]

Are these just snake mites? If they crawl all over the house can other pets - or me! - get them?

[Lori P]

No, most mites have preferred hosts. Yes, they can get on you-- but probably can't survive on you for long. Ex., dog mites (mange) prefer dogs, & even tho they can make you itch for a bit, they can't reproduce on you. So snake mites may crawl about on you a bit but you are not their preferred host.

Loren, sorry, yes, Bob Evans is a ribbon snake (named after a brand of sausage because he stuffs himself like a sausage!!!). :-) I do understand about breaking the life cycle, so thanks for the tips. I can see the little buggers crawling around on the paper towels this morning. Grrrrrrrrr.

[Lori P]

These little rat snakes CRACK ME UP!!!!! They are SO VICIOUS!!!! LOL Omg, what little personalities... and what little monsters!!! Here's one of them after eating TWO pinkies--

http://www.thamnophis.com/thamphotos/data//500/medium/I_ate_tooo_much_001.jpg

http://www.thamnophis.com/thamphotos/data//500/medium/I_ate_tooo_much_003_resize.jpg

I TOLD her to wait 30 minutes before doing gymnastics, but do kids listen?? Noooooo.... :D

[Garter_Gertie]

Oh, Gods! She's Gonna Drown!

[Snake lover 3-25]

lol cute:D:D

[NetBSD]

These little rat snakes CRACK ME UP!!!!! They are SO VICIOUS!!!! LOL Omg, what little personalities... and what little monsters!!! Here's one of them after eating TWO pinkies--

http://www.thamnophis.com/thamphotos/data//500/medium/I_ate_tooo_much_001.jpg

http://www.thamnophis.com/thamphotos/data//500/medium/I_ate_tooo_much_003_resize.jpg

I TOLD her to wait 30 minutes before doing gymnastics, but do kids listen?? Noooooo.... :D


wow she is beautiful and looks so full

[jitami]

Soooooo cute!!!

[Hornets23]

The rat snake is adorable...i really want one of those. Is it a leucistic black rat snake? Also...I can relate to the mite problem. I just found some on my new snake. Ticks me off. I guess its not a terribly serious problem but i am just kind of paranoid. Do you suppose they can get on my spiders?

[GartersRock]

Don't you just love those vicious, curious little baby rat snakes? My TX rat younguns just crack me up! Pretty little guy you got there!

[Lori P]

Chrsita, I don't believe the snake mites will live on your spiders. They may visit, lol, but from what I understand, they should not be able to live long term or breed on anything other than their natural host.

Yes, they are leucistic Texas black rat snakes. And they are just full of piss and vinegar!!! The one that regurged did gobble down another pinky... watching her to make sure she doesn't regurge again.

And oh, my gosh, the Florida blue female ate two HOPPER mice last night!!!! I tossed them in the bowl just to see-- she's certainly big enough-- and she ate all the minnows, four fuzzies and the two hoppers before the male even came out to see what the fuss was about. I'm going to have to watch that girl-- is there such thing as a Florida blue anaconda??!!! LOL!!!!

[Lori P]

Is projectile vomiting a normal garter/ribbon defense mechanism? I only ask because every time I pick up Bob to mite spray him, he does not musk-- he slings slime at me. This is a new one for me!

[Garter_Gertie]

Upper Respitory Infection?????????

[Loren]

doesnt seem right to me Lori.

[drache]

that does sound a bit like snot
could he be having a reaction to the mite treatment?

[Lori P]

He only does it when I pick him up. Spews clear fluid out of his mouth. Really? Not a defense thing?

[drache]

hm
no idea

[Lori P]

AH-- Rhea-- could it be a reaction to the spray.... hmmm. He started it last night before I sprayed him tho.

[Lori P]

Ok guys-- I have a problem with one of the rat snake babies. When I first got them, they both devoured a pink (I was told they were eating whole pinks with no problems) the first day. This one then regurged. I waited a couple of days, then offered 1/2 a pink. She attacked it, and so a couple of hours later I gave her the other half (my thinking was, a whole one was too big, but maybe two halves were easier on her). She regurged both the next day.

I did not offer her anything at all again until this past Thursday. Gave her just a pinky head. She kept it down. So last night-- Sat-- I offered her 1/2 a pinky. Again, she devoured it like she was starving.

This morning, she regurged not only the 1/2 pink but the head from Thursday-- and lord, what a nasty mess that was.

What do I do?????? Why can't she keep food down?? Temps are good, no stress (I don't handle them, and they are in the bedroom which is quiet). She is active; she climbs around as much as her sister.

I'm very worried, so any help would be SO appreciated.....

[drache]

Lori - sorry
wish I could offer advice, other than suggesting a vet visit
there's warm baths and pro-biotics, but it's be best to know the cause of this
it's beginning to sound serious

[Garter_Gertie]

Worms or parasites. I think that's what's been said about this here before.

Yeah. High thee to a vet.

Hugs, mk You've been having the worst way to go lately...

[Lori P]

I'll take her in as soon as I can this week. I hadn't thought of parasites. Her sister eats like a bottomless pit...

The poor little thing!! :-(

[Zephyr]

I'll take her in as soon as I can this week. I hadn't thought of parasites. Her sister eats like a bottomless pit...

The poor little thing!! :-(One of my corns did this when I got him last year.
Ate like a beast, but he would regurge constantly.
I think it's more from the anxieties of getting settled in in a new environment.
Raise the temps and the humidity (slightly) an don't feed for a week or two.

[Lori P]

Kyle... was your corn a baby at the time? These guys are about 3 1/2 weeks old. You know, she does not look thin. So... instead of stressing her with a vet visit... think I could wait a week, then offer her a small piece of pinky again? And if she keeps it down, wait another week to offer more (instead of just a couple days)? Or are we at this point beyond the "try it again" phase?

I'm not opposed to taking her in, but am trying to stress her as little as possible. In the meantime, I can run a fecal at work and see if we've got any parasites.

Just trying to get a feel for the best way to help her...

[Loren]

Lori, I honestly dont know what to tell you, as I havent had this yet. I was wondering though, might it be worth while to try to contact a rat snake breeder or 2, that have experience with raising up hundreds of these species, and ask them if this every happens to them?

[adamanteus]

It seems to me that quite often in a litter/clutch of snakes, there are one or two that seem determined to die. In nature these would probably be the first to fall foul of a small predator. Of course in a captive situation we want them all to survive, and so it takes all our wit and guile to get them through these early days. All I can suggest is that you persevere, at some point the little thing will acquire that will to survive and begin to behave as you would want.

[Lori P]

Thanks Loren and James. :-) Loren, I am kicking myself because I can't for the life of me find the breeder's card that I got them from. I have every other card from the expo... and I can't remember their name. I've emailed the puter-togetherer of the expo, hoping they will have a chart of all the vendors and can put me in touch with them.

I'll go search out some other rat snake breeders, tho. Good thinking.

James, I'm gathering up my wit and guile as we speak... :-)

[Lori P]

I made another video of the Florida Blues eating... are you tired of them yet?! Sorry, but these guys are SO cool....

YouTube - Florida Blues Breakfast (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vW7VRxB1k24)

And here's the video follow up to the turtle/kitty love story...

YouTube - Forbidden Love (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-wPOerqnOoo)

LOL!

[Stefan-A]

Watched and rated both. :)

[Snake lover 3-25]

lol cute videos:D

[Aundrea]

I made another video of the Florida Blues eating... are you tired of them yet?! Sorry, but these guys are SO cool....

YouTube - Florida Blues Breakfast (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vW7VRxB1k24)

And here's the video follow up to the turtle/kitty love story...

YouTube - Forbidden Love (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-wPOerqnOoo)

LOL!

Them Florida Blues are such piggies!!!! They sure know how to pack in the food LOL

That forbidden love video is just the cutiest video!! I love that :D

[aSnakeLovinBabe]

Lori...

hows that rat snake doing?

I had a problem similar with one of my baby balls not too long ago, the best thing to do when you see a regurge is to wait about two weeks before offering more food, simply because sometimes, a regurge is just a freak thing that happens because of stress and what not, and IF that is the case and nothing else more serious is wrong, what can happen is that that initial regurge lowers the reserves of the good microbes that naturally live in the snake's digestive tract. By waiting a good two weeks, you give the snake's tummy a really good resting period, and allow those microbes to build back up, if their count is too low when you try to re feed the snake, she may simply not be able to digest it properly and you get a chain reaction of regurges going because her tummy is all messed up.

My normal procedure upon regurge is before I do anything drastic, wait two weeks and re-feed a VERY small meal, smaller than normal. If it eats pinkeis, try just a head. 9 times out of 10 for me, there is no recurrence. If there is, then I become more concerned and a fecal sample (if possible) is taken to the vet, and if not... whatever they threw up might help too!

anyways I also noticed you mentioning prjectile vomiting.... I don't know how normal it is for garters, but the wild water snakes I catch frequently will projectile vomit... and by that I mean SPEW the gooky stuff right at me my lanching it a foot or two through the air.... and boy that is NASTY!

[Lori P]

Shannon, yes, I'm waiting two weeks before trying to feed her again.. that will be the 22nd. I had to write it on my calander to keep myself from feeding her again too soon. Man, it's hard, she is steadily patrolling her little tank and I know she's hungry. I agree with you, I'll start with just a pinky head... I've been watching for a stool sample, but haven't found one yet. I'd like to test it just in case.

I'm a little worried this was already a problem with her before I got her... but, hopefully we can get her on track. Her sis is doing great and has already shed once. :-)

Oh, thanks for the info on the "vomiting"! He never did it again after I asked... but it really did seem more of a defense thing. It was a clear mucousy type stuff. I've picked him up a few times with my camera ready, but he stares at me like, "What? I didn't do anything..." LOL.

[Snake lover 3-25]

ewwww lol a person just threw up out side.... stress of the swim meet..... grose lol

[Scaley.Jade]

Thought I'd start my guys their own thread. :) I'll start it off with the Puget's new home. It's not finished yet, but here's a start... it's a 55 gallon tank.

http://www.thamnophis.com/thamphotos/data//500/medium/Oct_new_tank_001.jpg

I've had this cardboard thing for a while, and kept trying to use it. I used it here to give more height to that climb... not sure if I like it, but, Mrs Mordecai spent quite a while going in and out so as long as she likes it...

http://www.thamnophis.com/thamphotos/data//500/medium/Oct_08_new_tank_007.jpg

Gertie, I know you'll like this!! I also put in some live bamboo-- so they can lie on the rocks in the planter, too.

http://www.thamnophis.com/thamphotos/data//500/medium/Oct_08_new_tank_001.jpg

http://www.thamnophis.com/thamphotos/data//500/medium/Oct_08_new_tank_Mrs_M.jpg

http://www.thamnophis.com/thamphotos/data//500/medium/Oct_new_tank_006.jpg




why have you got the snakes i want then taunt me with piccies lol
I WANT I WANT I WANT

[Lori P]

LOL Trust me, we all taunt each other on here!! Too bad you're so far away, or I'd share.... (not really. But it sounded nice and polite. LOL)

[Loren]

It seems to me that quite often in a litter/clutch of snakes, there are one or two that seem determined to die. In nature these would probably be the first to fall foul of a small predator. Of course in a captive situation we want them all to survive, and so it takes all our wit and guile to get them through these early days. All I can suggest is that you persevere, at some point the little thing will acquire that will to survive and begin to behave as you would want.
I agree, and also feel that we should think of those (the ones that are so hard to keep alive) as pets only, and exclude them from passing on their genes, just as the wild would. Not talking so much about ones that take a little work(a reasonable amount) to get started feeding, but more about the really difficult ones.

[Lori P]

GOOD point, Loren.

[Garter_Gertie]

That Pug is an abonimation (sp?), MUST come out and be SENT to MN.

[Scaley.Jade]

LOL Trust me, we all taunt each other on here!! Too bad you're so far away, or I'd share.... (not really. But it sounded nice and polite. LOL)

lol i wouldnt say stuff like that i might just come and visit :p

you lot are great really estore my faith in humans

[Lori P]

You can come and visit, but you have to leave here with one of each critter... and they're not all snakes. LOL :-)

[Garter_Gertie]

Does that work for me, too, Lori?

I DIBS JAMIE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[Lori P]

LOL Gertie-- I forgot to respond to this! Ok, well, after careful consideration, you can take Jamie but in trade I'll need at least 2 pugs and a selection of hoggies and garters and at least one milksnake....

[Lori P]

These turtles crack me up when they stretch all out like this.

http://www.thamnophis.com/thamphotos/data//500/medium/Turtle_chillin_002_resize.jpg

And the way they stand at the front of the tank in the mornings looking out, waiting for their breakfast... what a hoot!!!

Does anyone else feed their turtles pinkies?? Mine LOVE them and I've been giving them some once a week as a treat...

[Loren]

thats neat Lori- question though- I dont know turtle/tortoise species real well, are yours a primarilty herbivorious species? I ask because they remind me of some type of box turtle, and I was wondering if a pinky a week could be too much protein, even though its not much. Just a thought. :)
For the record- I know very little about turtles and tortoises outside of the basic care of my pair of Russians.

[Loren]

You can come and visit, but you have to leave here with one of each critter... and they're not all snakes. LOL :-)
Are the "other critters" good eatin' ? Cause maybe I'd like to come too then, and I'll bring my appetite and some fixins! :D I tell you what.

[Lori P]

Loren, box turtles are omnivores:

"Wild box turtles are omnivores and will eat earthworms, snails, grubs, beetles, caterpillars, carrion, grasses, fallen fruit, berries, mushrooms and flowers. They will take a bite of anything that smells edible. This is the diet that is best to follow."

My guys have so far eaten every fruit and veggie I've offered them, as well as nightcrawlers, minnows, f/t cockroaches, and f/t pinkies. They are so funny, I make them up a "salad" every other day of different veggies, fruits, and some kind of critter and they pick out their favorites first, and go down the list... LOL!!!

[Lori P]

Are the "other critters" good eatin' ? Cause maybe I'd like to come too then, and I'll bring my appetite and some fixins! :D I tell you what.

Woooo yeah-- everything here's edible!!! And we got us a BIG grill!!! (eyeing one of the pugs and drooling)

[Garter_Gertie]

YOU WILL NNNNNNOOOOOOOOOOTTTTTTTTTTTTT EAT THE PUG! End o'story.

Nah. I want Jamie so bad I could cry, but ittiz not worth Pickles, Mayo, Niizh, Anasazi, Kokopelli, Peeps and Jeeps, and The Blues Brothers. Nah. No way Joes-ay.

When I was just a toddler, I caught a box turtle (IL) and that turtle lived in the basement for YEARS. Eating spiders, bugs, etc., plus the hamberger we fed it. I'd cart it outside and let it roam around and 'play' with it. Just like a toddler does with anjumuls... Poor turtle! But he didn't seem to mind at the time and I would hand feed him the hamburger.

You know... I never got salmonella back then... Hhhuummmm.

I'd bring the turtle up to show off when my mom was having bridge club (this is back in the horse and buggy days...) and it would scare the wee-wee outta the women. My mother's very best friend screamed and climbed up on the back o'the couch. NOt that I remember, my Muzzer told me.

:)

[Lori P]

LOL!!!! The things we put our parents thru... I was always "saving" earthworms from drowning and bringing them in the house when I was a toddler.

We just had a huge Pug Fun Fest--- you know how they get riled, tuck their butts, and race around like idiots?? Tiki started it and got everyone going!!! Now my older male Cooper is sacked out across my lap snorting like a... well, like a snorting pug... LOL

[Loren]

Thanks for the turtle education, Lori :) Good to know.

[Garter_Gertie]

LOL!!!! The things we put our parents thru... I was always "saving" earthworms from drowning and bringing them in the house when I was a toddler.

We just had a huge Pug Fun Fest--- you know how they get riled, tuck their butts, and race around like idiots?? Tiki started it and got everyone going!!! Now my older male Cooper is sacked out across my lap snorting like a... well, like a snorting pug... LOL

I call it "Butt Crunch Run."

Why izzit only Pugglettes so do this and other breeds don"t?

Prolly just one o'those neutrtic Puggy things....

[jitami]

I call it "Butt Crunch Run."

Why izzit only Pugglettes so do this and other breeds don"t?

Prolly just one o'those neutrtic Puggy things....

In Danes we call it the "zoomies"... same description, but pugs have funnier looking butts... well, funnier looking everything so I'd have to see it to be sure :D Loren, wanna carpool to Lori's for some eatin' & pug watchin'?

[Lori P]

Quick questions about Desdemona, the kingsnake-- she hasn't eaten for about 3 weeks and has been very low key. Think it's the time of year?? We keep it pretty toasty in the house, but I wonder if she is feeling the need to brumate?? I know what to expect from the garters, but not sure about a kingsnake in winter... she was still a wee baby last year and didn't slow down.

Thanks!!!

[Loren]

:D Loren, wanna carpool to Lori's for some eatin' & pug watchin'?

My Saturn gets 35 mgp highway- Lets go! :D

[Loren]

Quick questions about Desdemona, the kingsnake-- she hasn't eaten for about 3 weeks and has been very low key. Think it's the time of year?? We keep it pretty toasty in the house, but I wonder if she is feeling the need to brumate?? I know what to expect from the garters, but not sure about a kingsnake in winter... she was still a wee baby last year and didn't slow down.

Thanks!!!
Well, in my collection, I have very mixed results this time of year. Some eat, some dont. Some species all always shut down, but in others it depends on the individual- even with good heat.
My kings are about half and half right now, with the captive bred being more likely(but not guaranteed) to keep eating. So yes, if the snake seems otherwise healthy, but seems to want to hide more and not eat, she may very well be wanting to brumate.

[Lori P]

Thanks Loren!! I won't worry about her then, will just let her do what she wants. :-)

[Loren]

(my "I'm not a vet" disclamer) Of coarse, that doesnt mean there couldnt be a problem with her- use your best judgement. My best guess without seeing her is that it is just wanting to brumate.
:)

[Lori P]

Well, she did demand a goose down pillow, a new comforter, mini blinds all around the tank, and keeps yelling at us to turn down the tv... so I'm going with your guess.

:D

[Loren]

man, you just like totally made me tired... :)

[Garter_Gertie]

Well, in my collection, I have very mixed results this time of year. Some eat, some dont. Some species all always shut down, but in others it depends on the individual- even with good heat.
My kings are about half and half right now, with the captive bred being more likely(but not guaranteed) to keep eating. So yes, if the snake seems otherwise healthy, but seems to want to hide more and not eat, she may very well be wanting to brumate.

This has to be the most right on, un-opinionated, correct and true statement regarding snigglettes and their eating/not eating this time o'year yest posted. Said so right and true with no DEFINITES. Said correctly and simply.

[Loren]

why thank you Gertie :)

[Garter_Gertie]

Welcome.

When can I xpect to see my 10 bucks for backing you?

ROFLOLPMPCOOSBAGBBOMN

[Loren]

ROFLOLPMPCOOSBAGBBOMN

Wow, now thats an abbreviation! I can figure some of it out anyways, about up to the second "p"... :)

[drache]

Wow, now thats an abbreviation! I can figure some of it out anyways, about up to the second "p"... :)
yeah, that's where my comprehension ends also

[Lori P]

Oh!! I've found the escaped rat!!!!! Unfortunately, he's living under the bp's huge enclosure and I can't get to him. I'll set a live trap behind it today. Cross all your fingers and toes!!!

[Garter_Gertie]

Rolling On Floor Laughing Out Loud Peeing My Pants Choking On Own Spit Busting A Gut Blowing Bubbles Out My Nose

[Garter_Gertie]

Do rats like cheese? You could put some cheese in the trap...

[Stefan-A]

Do rats like cheese? You could put some cheese in the trap...
Mice go nuts over the smell of chocolate. :) That's pretty much the best bait I've tested.

[Lori P]

I can't find my filthin' farthin' live trap.... if I have to go spend $15 to catch this $5 meal I'm going to be a wee bit peeved. LOL I can't believe he fits under the tiny gap under that enclosure. I never would have guessed it.

[Garter_Gertie]

Chocolate has caffine and is NOT good for dogs, cats, OR rats!

Lori, he's a MEAL?

Run Ratty, run!!! Run like the wind! RUN!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[adamanteus]

Peanut Butter.... I know mice can't resist, maybe rats too?

[Lori P]

Got 'im!! Her, actually. Hubby and I decided we were smarter than the average rat and we could certainly catch her.

In the end, it really was no big deal at all! Hubby's toe isn't even broken, I doubt my bite wounds will get infected, and nothing got smashed that isn't replaceable... :rolleyes:

[Stefan-A]

Chocolate has caffine and is NOT good for dogs, cats, OR rats!
Let's just say that it has never been a concern when I've placed out traps. ;)

[Garter_Gertie]

AAAAAAAAAAARRRRRRRRRGGGGGGGGGGGGGHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH HHH!

You love to push my buttons! Yeah. I know - it's easy.

YOU ARE HORRIBLE!

[Hornets23]

Lori, she BIT you? yikes!

[Lori P]

Only a few times.

I don't know what the hell happens to the rats at this particular store.... but I've gotten 9 from there all together and they are absolutely PETRIFIED of people. I haven't been able to make friends with any of them.

I think this particular girl earned a reprieve. She was refused by Squiggles the first night... then got out of her tank and survived a week loose in my house, then fought tooth and nail to not be caught. She has earned her freedom!!!

[Hornets23]

yeah maybe..i hope she learns not to bite you.

[Lori P]

I seem to have a soft spot for critters that bite me... sigh. I must be a closet masochist. LOL

[Loren]

Rolling On Floor Laughing Out Loud Peeing My Pants Choking On Own Spit Busting A Gut Blowing Bubbles Out My Nose
Thanks! :) I'll try to remember this one.

[Garter_Gertie]

Loren, love o'my life... You're too young to use it. Well, at least the part about choking on your own spit. That doesn't happen until you get to be my age.

But, I PROMISE! It won't happen when when we're together. I won't choke on my own spit.

But blowing bubbles out my nose... Can't promise that won't happen.

[Lori P]

Ok... the baby ratsnake with the regurge problem ate a small pinky head yesterday (I'd waited a little over 2 weeks to offer food again). So far, so good, but last time it took her 3 days to regurge.

If she keeps it down, I'll offer her another pinky part next Saturday. Everyone cross your fingers, toes and boobies for her!!!!! :D

[adamanteus]

Everything crossed, Lori!

[Hornets23]

Fingers, toes and .........boobies? lol, good luck.

[Lori P]

Thanks guys. :)

And here are my meerkat snakes yesterday morning... "Is she gonna feed us? Peek higher..."

http://www.thamnophis.com/thamphotos/data//500/medium/Is_she_gonna_feed_us_2.jpg

http://www.thamnophis.com/thamphotos/data//500/medium/Is_she_gonna_feed_us_3.jpg

And I'm not sure exactly what Mr. Mordecai was going for here... but I do love that belly!!!

http://www.thamnophis.com/thamphotos/data//500/medium/belly_001_resize.jpg

Gosh, he's gotten big... he was such a slow starter!

[Snake lover 3-25]

lol cute pics lori:D

[olive oil]

They look so pretty together :)

[jitami]

Very nice Lori! Love Mordecai's belly shot :)