I lost a bet...snake musk?!

[Foxrun402]

Suzi doesn't musk me anymore either, they also might be getting used to your scent. Garters have a very acute sense of smell and can often pick up the scent of a mate or trails left behind by other snakes through the pheromones given off by their skin. They might possibly recognize our pheremones and then deem us as trustworthy or friendly. That would result in less musking as they grow and realize your not a threat but yet a source of food and water... and housekeeping lol

I always talk to them when I enter the room to let them be aware of my presence. Maybe they also learn to recognize the vibrations given off by your voice as with each tone there is a different vibe.

[jwolfe152]

yea Ekoh has started to really calm down before when i got close to the top he would flee especially when i talked but he does much better with me now too. it probably helps that i hold each one of them for at least a few mins after they calm down and try to put them back before they get squirmy and want to musk. i figure that handling often for short periods would be better than longer times being held and then they start squirming. thats just my $0.02

[EasternGirl]

Interestingly, my garter that has the worst smelling musk, is one of my babies...Bella, my Oregon Red-Spotted. She is a year old...still very small, but that girl can musk up a room with the worst smell...and she does it every time you pick her up. It's funny, because she is not terribly skiddish. She loves to come up to the glass to look at me...and she will come right over to my hand if I put it in the tank. But pick her up and she freaks out.