Signs of Breeding?

[infernalis]

It is a strange time of season for a mating to work in the wild.

If gestation were to begin now, the litter would be due just in time for winter brumation, not a good scenario (I think)

I know that females retain sperm, but isn't that when they copulate on the way into the dens??

[BeardedIggy]

it sounds like you are not quite prepared to take care of a litter of garter snakes... the female can have anywhere between 10 and 50!!!! Depending of course, on how big she is.

Taking care of that many baby garters is a lot of work, they have to eat every other day, they poop a LOT, and they can dehydrate or starve very quickly if they are not kept right and become too stressed to eat or drink.

it onl seem that way because even though i have aked for some help on them you guys have only discouraged me from doing so

iam a proud owner of a Bearded Dragon i also used to care for an iguana i had done tons of research on both these animals i think i might be up to th task at hand, and im not trying to be rude here.

also Dekaybrown said

It is a strange time of season for a mating to work in the wild.

If gestation were to begin now, the litter would be due just in time for winter brumation, not a good scenario (I think)

I know that females retain sperm, but isn't that when they copulate on the way into the dens??

so if had did the researh needed to house baby snakes would they not b better off in a warmer inviroment?

[drache]

ugh but im not so sure i want babies yet :P i jst barely got them and all i got for extra cages right now are a ten gallon tank hw do i tell if my female is gravid and what do i need to do if she does give birth?

it onl seem that way because even though i have aked for some help on them you guys have only discouraged me from doing so

it's possible that people were responding to the earlier post, in which you expressed that you weren't sure you wanted babies right now
if you do want them, we'll be happy to help
as to your other question
personally I never put babies into brumation the first winter
I just keep them at room temps with additional daytime basking areas
they usually eat throughout the winter

[infernalis]

so if had did the research needed to house baby snakes would they not b better off in a warmer environment?

That was exactly what I meant, Releasing her now, if the copulation were to have produced offspring would not be good for the babies at all.

We have many late litters in the wild population here, I stumble onto snakes that are still very small and wonder how they will fare this winter.

One thing that I know first hand, We placed 2 snakes of opposite gender together, very similar circumstances, innocent intentions and all.

Since I created that (The babies were delivered in the winter) I felt very strongly about taking care of what I created.

The babies were started and all but a few released in the spring when the favorable weather returned.

The male passed away, we still have the female, and one of her babies.

If folks seem to be a little over critical, it is not to put you down, nor find fault.. Sometimes when one tries to display our interests in the animals welfare, we tend to get carried away. ( I myself have been quite guilty of that charge)