Diary of a snake (and her girl)...

[guidofatherof5]

I doubt many local Vets. would know the difference in garter snakes.

[kibakiba]

Probably not. I wouldn't be surprised if I told them that and they believed me. The vets told me my collared mini macaw was a conure, I spent hours looking for what species. After turning up no results, I googled "collared macaw" and one of the results was a page about collared mini macaws, and there was Willy (our bird).

[ConcinusMan]

Another question...how long do snakes gestate?

Depends on the species, and the conditions. I can only speak for T. ordinoides, and T. sirtalis concinnus.

70-90 days for northwestern garters
90-115 days for Oregon Red Spotted

Some northwesterns mate in the fall, and give birth in late spring. Others mate in late winter/early spring and give birth in late summer.

T.s. concinnus' mate in April and give birth sometime in August.

You're right Steve, and so are you Chantel. Most vets in WA wouldn't know one garter from the other, and yes, it's illegal for them to treat native wildlife. As a result vets here just refuse to treat garters of any kind.

However, most would be willing to do a reptile fecal exam. All they need to know is that it's a reptile, and be provided with a fresh fecal sample (or several). If treatment is needed, all they need to know is that it's a snake, and it's weight in grams so you can give them the proper dose yourself.

As a teen, I made money by breeding and hand raising cockatiels. I also made money hand raising newborn macaws for other people over summer vacation. I loved doing it.

[EasternGirl]

Well, I'll bet you guys $150 bucks that it cost more than that here on the east coast. My vet bills for my dog are outrageous...about $300 everytime she sees the vet and has tests run. I do have a friend that is a vet, my dogs vet actually. She would be the one to get to run the test...but I doubt she knows anything about snakes at all. Knowing her, she would think it was very strange that I have a snake. Plus, I do know that it is illegal for vets to treat wildlife around here. She might do it for me as a friend though. Once, I found a opossum in the road that someone had hit and left to die. The thing was suffering and I couldn't leave it. I took it to a local vet ER and asked them to put it down. They wouldn't even let me in the door with it. I had to threaten to leave it on their doorstep to finally get them to agree to take it inside and euthanize it.

New topic...I finally got the garter books I ordered myself for Christmas today. Barron's Garter and Ribbon Snakes, and Quick and Easy Garter and Ribbon Snake Care. I'm so excited to start reading!

[EasternGirl]

Update on Selena...

I couldn't figure out why Selena has not been as active since she has been in my son's room as she was in my room. I realized today that apparently, the place in which her enclosure is situated allows for a reflection. I kept seeing her lift up her head and front of her body and stare straight ahead...looking terrified and frozen still and swaying a bit. I finally realized today that she is seeing her reflection in the glass...I think she thinks it's another snake! I tried to put a dark shirt over the place where the reflection is...but it didn't work...she's in there right now starring at herself and looking spooked. I don't know if there is a way to get rid of the reflection. I also put a small desk lamp with a metal neck with a flourescent bulb next to her enclosure for light...I can't afford to get a hooded flourescent lamp yet. She keeps starring at the lamp looking bugged out as well. She is a very skiddish snake.

[kibakiba]

Snakey does that a lot, only he thinks it's a pretty girl. I have them by a mirror. He stares at himself and courts with the mirror sometimes. It's so funny. I with I could get a video of him doing it. Mama will do it too, but she normally sits there and stares at herself.

[EasternGirl]

That would be so cool if you could get a video of that! Yeah, Selena obviously thinks it's a predator..the way she freezes so still and gets nervous. It's kind of funny but sad at the same time. I got a pic of it earlier but it turned out blurry.

[mustang]

haha
"hey aren't you supposed to be jiminy cricket?

[kibakiba]

Yeah, he seems to only do it when he isn't getting any from Mama. He's a silly boy.

[EasternGirl]

Hey you guys...I'm worried that Selena may have a respiratory infection. She seems to breathe heavy a lot and she does this thing sometimes that looks like a little sneeze or a cough. I didn't think anything of it...the breathing thing seems to happen when she sees me...so I thought it was just a fear thing. But then I was reading one of my new garter books and I was reading about respiratory infections and now I'm wondering if it is labored breathing and if she is sneezing or coughing.