Questions about our first garter snake

[jitami]

Welcome & congrats on Binky. It sounds like you are off to a great start with her

[Char361979]

Well, she's still out and about. It's the longest she's been out of hiding so we must be getting the hang of it... I hope.

[RedSidedSPR]

She is and will. She's a garter snake. Activity is what we love about them! (well one of many things). They are active snakes. Once she feels secure in her environment, and around you, she'll stay active.

[dieselbaby]

Isn't it awesome just watching her explore her new world. I can sit for hours and watch them.

[chris-uk]

I missed Binky's first feed.
I'll have to make up for it when I get home in a couple of days.

Got some interesting information from the shop we got her from - I asked if they had details of her breeder because I'm curious about the genetics (I have a Medical Genetics degree...) and they checked with their supplier who apparently sources all their garters from the US. So, Binky isn't a European line.

I'm learning a lot about garters very quickly, thanks to everyone for chipping in and answer our questions. There's more to come.

[RedSidedSPR]

Bring 'em on.

[chris-uk]

Bring 'em on.

I'll take that as a challenge then.

I've been wondering about the ages of garters, and see the following terms banded about:

1. Hatchling (same as a scrub?) - up to 2 weeks old?
2. Baby - 2 weeks to ?
3. Juvenile - ? to 1 year?
4. Yearling - 1 year to 2 years?
5. Sub-adult - same as a yearling?
6. Adult - Once sexually mature? 2 years?

As you can see, with a bit of searching I've filled some gaps and made some assumptions. Anyone feel like filling the gaps I've not filled and correct my incorrect assumptions?
It would be useful to put the age categories into a chronological order to help me make more sense of other posts.

As you may tell, Binky is a science project to me... takes me back to my favourite subject at school. And when we start talking vitamin deficiencies it's like biochem at uni. Binky will love Char for feeding her, and grow to tolerate me measuring and weighing her.

[guidofatherof5]

Looking forward to those questions.

[guidofatherof5]

Some of the terms you listed can be subjective to each individual keeper.

For me A baby is a baby at birth and that for a year.
Juv. and yearlings are the same term to me.
I don't use sub-adult.
After 2 years I call them an adult.
These are just the terms I use and how I understand them.

Other keepers may use a completely system of terms.

[kibakiba]

For northwesterns at least, they technically aren't big enough to breed until they are about 3 years old. It can be less depending on their growth rate. I don't use "adult" until they are that age.