Garter snake disposition

[confused]

Never had a garter that continued to bite beyond the first day or two. I think she just hates you!

Apparently she has gone emo, she has been striking at herself too! Her rear has surprised her coming around my fingers twice lately, and pow! She bit herself, it was pretty funny, and kinda sad.

Good news, I raised her temp and light hours, and have been harassing her and making sure she is awake. I was rewarded with a snake with a healthy appetite again. I think I woke her up, fingers crossed I can keep her in this spot for awhile. She gives me the "where the hell is my food stare" now, and is active all day. I'm so relieved for the moment.

[guidofatherof5]

Good news, I raised her temp and light hours, and have been harassing her and making sure she is awake. I was rewarded with a snake with a healthy appetite again. I think I woke her up, fingers crossed I can keep her in this spot for awhile. She gives me the "where the hell is my food stare" now, and is active all day. I'm so relieved for the moment.

You've created a monster

[ConcinusMan]

Well I'll say it again. You just got one of those rare individuals that just doesn't adapt well to human interaction. You got a biter. Not surprising though, that appetite/sleeping/hiding is affected by day length/ temperature. That's perfectly normal. It doesn't harm the snake to get cooled down and eat less for a while. Garters have evolved to do just that. Inactive and not feeding, up to 9 months a year for northernmost garters. I don't know where your relief is coming from, or where your worrying about inactivity and no appetite is coming from. Those two things are normal!

[confused]

You've created a monster

Hehe, nah. She is really a sweetie. If there is no one around she will hang out with/on me for hours now with no drama. However, if she sees movement that isn't me, something is probably going to get bit. I feel bad waking her up, but, I think considering how weak she was a few months ago, she has a better chance awake for now. Maybe I am wrong, but the temps are pretty extreme up here for me to feel safe with a home built brumater. I'm just too sloppy to get it right first time.

[confused]

I'm really sad. She managed to break out somehow, I'm sure I am to blame, but there was no gap I could see and she had three large books weighing down her lid. She jumped about 18 inches or so onto a wood floor, I just hope she is ok.

The good news: If she makes it through the winter qithout being caught she is where she wants to be. lol. I found where she is, she went right back to where we caught her, near my other computer under the floorboards. Easy access spot right there. I left flour trails and fish for her to eat. She left me a nice trail and ate the fish when my back was turned for 5 minutes, literally. So I put her lamp, some food and water, her heating pad and a few hides she likes in the area, and I am going to pray. I also have a wireless video camera on the area I can switch to on the tv and check every so often. Keep her in your thoughts.

Things have been going so well. =(

(it's kind of ironic, my girlfriend was complaining about sharing space with the snake this morning, her exact words were, "I never wanted a snake in the first place!". Well, now the snake is living "in" her computer desk again. ha!)

[confused]

Cheeky bugger ate another fish helping when I wasn't watching for ten minutes! I wish I had a vhs tape so I could verify I wasn't feeding a mouse or something. No mouse tracks, just smeared flour everywhere.

[ConcinusMan]

Hmmm.. fishy smell, smeared flour, and a snake on the loose. GF must be overjoyed!

[drache]

hey - you got yourself a free roaming snake
we've got a tortoise free roaming the house over the winter
it's okay as long as you don't have carpeting

[drache]

Rhea,
You've got to post a few photos of that set-up. Sounds great and I know I'd like to see it. Maybe step by step photos to help us visual learners.
You can do it when you are trying to figure out what to do with all your free time

my camera is out of commission, but I could use my cell - even make a video - but then I wouldn't know how to get it onto the computer
I suppose I could text it to someone more tech savvy

[confused]

I am starting to think there is more than one snake under there, or a mouse. I would think something was eating the flour it is so thoroughly smeared but piles not by the entrance aren't really touched. Three helpings of fish disappeared over the night, sushi at best would only eat a half a serving (only thing there I can think of if it is her is she just hated captivity that much) with all the flour smeared everywhere in two connecting entrances to the floor/wall space.