Draco Profile

[bigsnakegirl785]

For some reason I never made a profile for Draco. I've had him for almost 4 months now, and he's come a long ways. :)

When I first got him, straight out of the deli cup:
http://i1157.photobucket.com/albums/p600/dtr_2009_/My%20Snakes/Draco/IMG_0099_zps91a07e3b.jpg (http://s1157.photobucket.com/user/dtr_2009_/media/My%20Snakes/Draco/IMG_0099_zps91a07e3b.jpg.html)

When I first got him, he would eat nothing but live fish, so he would get one or 2 guppies every 6 days. He would turn his nose up at earthworms and fish filet, and he was scared to death of the mice I tried to give him.

His first meal with me, with the poo he hung onto for a bit there:
http://i1157.photobucket.com/albums/p600/dtr_2009_/My%20Snakes/Draco/IMG_0641_zpsff5bbe39.jpg (http://s1157.photobucket.com/user/dtr_2009_/media/My%20Snakes/Draco/IMG_0641_zpsff5bbe39.jpg.html)

He passed it a few weeks in:
http://i1157.photobucket.com/albums/p600/dtr_2009_/My%20Snakes/Draco/IMG_0643_zps806fcea7.jpg (http://s1157.photobucket.com/user/dtr_2009_/media/My%20Snakes/Draco/IMG_0643_zps806fcea7.jpg.html)


About 3 months later, he finally began to take scented mouse parts!


His third meal of mouse was unscented.
http://i1157.photobucket.com/albums/p600/dtr_2009_/My%20Snakes/Draco/IMG_1072_zps6c110202.jpg (http://s1157.photobucket.com/user/dtr_2009_/media/My%20Snakes/Draco/IMG_1072_zps6c110202.jpg.html)

He shed soon after, perfectly in one piece.
http://i1157.photobucket.com/albums/p600/dtr_2009_/My%20Snakes/Draco/IMG_1014_zps51ba4ec1.jpg (http://s1157.photobucket.com/user/dtr_2009_/media/My%20Snakes/Draco/IMG_1014_zps51ba4ec1.jpg.html)

http://i1157.photobucket.com/albums/p600/dtr_2009_/My%20Snakes/Draco/IMG_1063_zpsa54a8c67.jpg (http://s1157.photobucket.com/user/dtr_2009_/media/My%20Snakes/Draco/IMG_1063_zpsa54a8c67.jpg.html)

He is now taking them with gusto, and circles his tank when he smells the mouse thawing out. I can waggle it from the opposite side and he'll come right for it.

[bigsnakegirl785]

I've also given him some addition decorations (a fake vine plant and a standing plant), to try to make his tank look better. I'm hoping to upgrade to a large front-opening ExoTerra (I believe) soon. :)
http://i1157.photobucket.com/albums/p600/dtr_2009_/My%20Snakes/Draco/IMG_1327_zps46f14039.jpg (http://s1157.photobucket.com/user/dtr_2009_/media/My%20Snakes/Draco/IMG_1327_zps46f14039.jpg.html)

http://i1157.photobucket.com/albums/p600/dtr_2009_/My%20Snakes/Draco/IMG_1328_zpsca9a1499.jpg (http://s1157.photobucket.com/user/dtr_2009_/media/My%20Snakes/Draco/IMG_1328_zpsca9a1499.jpg.html)

Eating a guppy (there's some music so you can mute if you want):
KmAtpEiHm7o

Eating some mouse parts:
mOA2-zfh_EA

Just being silly:
w0TteDkro6M

[bigsnakegirl785]

And some miscellaneous shots. He's quickly becoming a favorite of mine because of his activity and interactiveness. :) He's not much for handling, but he's getting there. He hasn't flung himself out of my hands in weeks and he's becoming less and less jumpy when I accidentally brush his tail. He still runs around a bit when I try to get him, but he calms right down when I do capture him. He rarely ever musked me, and that trend is continuing. :)

http://i1157.photobucket.com/albums/p600/dtr_2009_/My%20Snakes/Draco/IMG_0794_zps6d69a3ad.jpg (http://s1157.photobucket.com/user/dtr_2009_/media/My%20Snakes/Draco/IMG_0794_zps6d69a3ad.jpg.html)

Next to a pinky mouse:
http://i1157.photobucket.com/albums/p600/dtr_2009_/My%20Snakes/Draco/IMG_1116_zps58c67f04.jpg (http://s1157.photobucket.com/user/dtr_2009_/media/My%20Snakes/Draco/IMG_1116_zps58c67f04.jpg.html)

http://i1157.photobucket.com/albums/p600/dtr_2009_/My%20Snakes/Draco/IMG_1307_zpsde4fea2f.jpg (http://s1157.photobucket.com/user/dtr_2009_/media/My%20Snakes/Draco/IMG_1307_zpsde4fea2f.jpg.html)

Freshly-shed:
http://i1157.photobucket.com/albums/p600/dtr_2009_/My%20Snakes/Draco/IMG_1069_zps8b3e1924.jpg (http://s1157.photobucket.com/user/dtr_2009_/media/My%20Snakes/Draco/IMG_1069_zps8b3e1924.jpg.html)

Another of him in shed:
http://i1157.photobucket.com/albums/p600/dtr_2009_/My%20Snakes/Draco/IMG_1010_zps1a2dfbf1.jpg (http://s1157.photobucket.com/user/dtr_2009_/media/My%20Snakes/Draco/IMG_1010_zps1a2dfbf1.jpg.html)

[bigsnakegirl785]

For some reason the posts are miscounting my photos? When I have 8, it says I have 10, when I have 7 it says 9.....Any ways, here are the two "extras."

http://i1157.photobucket.com/albums/p600/dtr_2009_/My%20Snakes/Draco/IMG_0922_zpsdb438711.jpg (http://s1157.photobucket.com/user/dtr_2009_/media/My%20Snakes/Draco/IMG_0922_zpsdb438711.jpg.html)

http://i1157.photobucket.com/albums/p600/dtr_2009_/My%20Snakes/Draco/IMG_0919_zpsb4fac349.jpg (http://s1157.photobucket.com/user/dtr_2009_/media/My%20Snakes/Draco/IMG_0919_zpsb4fac349.jpg.html)

[Sharlynn93]

very nice! :D he looks so tiny!

[Jinxygirl]

He is so cute and tiny! :) beautiful little guy

[sharthun]

Stunning little one!

[Jim Smith]

Very pretty little guy. I especially like the name, how did you arrive at it?

[drumcrush]

Wow! nice pics! Great to see him growing nicely!

[bigsnakegirl785]

Thanks everyone! :D

Very pretty little guy. I especially like the name, how did you arrive at it?

I got some suggestions from a friend, and Draco was my favorite. :) It means "dragon," so I felt it fit. XD He can be feisty at times, although before it was always directed at the mice I tried to feed him. lol He would rattle his tail at the pieces, strike repeatedly at them, and then shoot off. Now he chases after them to eat them. He's weird. >.>

Wow! nice pics! Great to see him growing nicely!

Thanks! I am as well, and I'm sure now that he's on mice he'll be growing even more. :D I'll have to try to measure him again and see if he's grown any, it's been a month or so.

[bigsnakegirl785]

Here are some more photos and a few new videos. :D

Draco from overhead. He's now about 10 inches, and he's eating pinkies cut in half down their length. He's still too small for whole ones. Well, at least for the ones I get since they are apparently fairly old pinkies.
http://i1157.photobucket.com/albums/p600/dtr_2009_/My%20Snakes/Draco/IMG_1491_zpse4936859.jpg (http://s1157.photobucket.com/user/dtr_2009_/media/My%20Snakes/Draco/IMG_1491_zpse4936859.jpg.html)

His little tail.
http://i1157.photobucket.com/albums/p600/dtr_2009_/My%20Snakes/Draco/IMG_1494_zps3ed59858.jpg (http://s1157.photobucket.com/user/dtr_2009_/media/My%20Snakes/Draco/IMG_1494_zps3ed59858.jpg.html)

Escaping into his vine.
http://i1157.photobucket.com/albums/p600/dtr_2009_/My%20Snakes/Draco/IMG_1502_zps9a9303a3.jpg (http://s1157.photobucket.com/user/dtr_2009_/media/My%20Snakes/Draco/IMG_1502_zps9a9303a3.jpg.html)

His tail moonlights as a sewing needle.
http://i1157.photobucket.com/albums/p600/dtr_2009_/My%20Snakes/Draco/IMG_1505_zps7186277a.jpg (http://s1157.photobucket.com/user/dtr_2009_/media/My%20Snakes/Draco/IMG_1505_zps7186277a.jpg.html)

See-through!
http://i1157.photobucket.com/albums/p600/dtr_2009_/My%20Snakes/Draco/IMG_1490_zpseeec0b87.jpg (http://s1157.photobucket.com/user/dtr_2009_/media/My%20Snakes/Draco/IMG_1490_zpseeec0b87.jpg.html)

6fOSxTOiP7g

yJSa7ZCBALU

[drumcrush]

Glad to see he's doing well:) love the pics and videos!

[Lickeypie]

He is SO cute! And his colors are just darling!

[sharthun]

Awesome pics and vid! :cool:

[bigsnakegirl785]

Thanks everyone! He's quite the character. lol

[Tsubaki]

Draco is very cute! so tiny :D


For some reason the posts are miscounting my photos? When I have 8, it says I have 10, when I have 7 it says 9.....Any ways, here are the two "extras."

Did you count the emoticons as well? They count as an image.

[thinkbig317]

Aww.....what a cute lil guy!!!

[bigsnakegirl785]

Draco is very cute! so tiny :D




Did you count the emoticons as well? They count as an image.

No, I hadn't. XD I did go back to one post, but there was still one image unaccounted for. I'll remember that for next time, though!

He is very very tiny, but he's grown a whole lot in the nearly 5 months I've had him, it's insane. lol As he's getting bigger, he's getting less flighty, and it's becoming easier for me to handle him. He's just so tiny, I'm always scared of squishing him. He's definitely the tiniest snake I've "officially" kept. I tried keeping ringnecks as a child about his size and smaller, but I always let them go because I couldn't get them eating. I knew they ate earthworms and slugs, they were just so stressed from captivity they wouldn't eat. I did get the water snakes I caught to eat, though.

[bigsnakegirl785]

Well I tried feeding him yesterday, and found out he's starting a new shed cycle!

http://i1157.photobucket.com/albums/p600/dtr_2009_/My%20Snakes/Draco/IMG_1628_zpsa0f31f20.jpg (http://s1157.photobucket.com/user/dtr_2009_/media/My%20Snakes/Draco/IMG_1628_zpsa0f31f20.jpg.html)

http://i1157.photobucket.com/albums/p600/dtr_2009_/My%20Snakes/Draco/IMG_1638_zpseb12f5ea.jpg (http://s1157.photobucket.com/user/dtr_2009_/media/My%20Snakes/Draco/IMG_1638_zpseb12f5ea.jpg.html)

http://i1157.photobucket.com/albums/p600/dtr_2009_/My%20Snakes/Draco/IMG_1635_zps0ae18a5a.jpg (http://s1157.photobucket.com/user/dtr_2009_/media/My%20Snakes/Draco/IMG_1635_zps0ae18a5a.jpg.html)

http://i1157.photobucket.com/albums/p600/dtr_2009_/My%20Snakes/Draco/IMG_1636_zps4f7093dc.jpg (http://s1157.photobucket.com/user/dtr_2009_/media/My%20Snakes/Draco/IMG_1636_zps4f7093dc.jpg.html)

[poomwah]

he is SO beautiful. I wish I could have garter snakes but the DNR frowns upon it :[
Well,they won't let me have them in the house, but they can't do anything about the ones that decided to live in my shed :Phttp://i604.photobucket.com/albums/tt126/poomwah/20130619_094401_zps1xsdaryu.jpg (http://s604.photobucket.com/user/poomwah/media/20130619_094401_zps1xsdaryu.jpg.html)

[bigsnakegirl785]

he is SO beautiful. I wish I could have garter snakes but the DNR frowns upon it :[
Well,they won't let me have them in the house, but they can't do anything about the ones that decided to live in my shed :Phttp://i604.photobucket.com/albums/tt126/poomwah/20130619_094401_zps1xsdaryu.jpg (http://s604.photobucket.com/user/poomwah/media/20130619_094401_zps1xsdaryu.jpg.html)

Thanks! And that's too bad, they are so goofy. I miss finding snakes around where I live. The only snake I've seen in the past 2-3 (maybe 4) years is a baby ringneck. I used to find ringnecks, garters, and water snakes all the time.

Well, I found Draco's little present today. It was a bit dark for photos, but I'll try to get some better ones tomorrow during the day.

It was threaded through his vine, so I accidentally ripped it in half. He also got a meal since he refused his food and took it quite ravenously.
http://i1157.photobucket.com/albums/p600/dtr_2009_/My%20Snakes/Draco/IMG_1731_zps94581ef1.jpg (http://s1157.photobucket.com/user/dtr_2009_/media/My%20Snakes/Draco/IMG_1731_zps94581ef1.jpg.html)

http://i1157.photobucket.com/albums/p600/dtr_2009_/My%20Snakes/Draco/IMG_1732_zps431ccc4e.jpg (http://s1157.photobucket.com/user/dtr_2009_/media/My%20Snakes/Draco/IMG_1732_zps431ccc4e.jpg.html)

http://i1157.photobucket.com/albums/p600/dtr_2009_/My%20Snakes/Draco/IMG_1722_zpse25812ab.jpg (http://s1157.photobucket.com/user/dtr_2009_/media/My%20Snakes/Draco/IMG_1722_zpse25812ab.jpg.html)

http://i1157.photobucket.com/albums/p600/dtr_2009_/My%20Snakes/Draco/IMG_1724_zps28847204.jpg (http://s1157.photobucket.com/user/dtr_2009_/media/My%20Snakes/Draco/IMG_1724_zps28847204.jpg.html)

I got him out and he musked me a little...
http://i1157.photobucket.com/albums/p600/dtr_2009_/My%20Snakes/Draco/IMG_1725_zps91d975d2.jpg (http://s1157.photobucket.com/user/dtr_2009_/media/My%20Snakes/Draco/IMG_1725_zps91d975d2.jpg.html)

[drumcrush]

Real nice! Mrs. Buttercup shed as well:) 13"!

[bigsnakegirl785]

Real nice! Mrs. Buttercup shed as well:) 13"!

Cool. :D

I didn't measure this shed, but it wasn't much bigger than his last one when I put them next to each other. It was bigger around, but not noticeably longer. It's probably ~10 inches though.

[poomwah]

nice, he's looking great :]

[drumcrush]

Cool. :D

I didn't measure this shed, but it wasn't much bigger than his last one when I put them next to each other. It was bigger around, but not noticeably longer. It's probably ~10 inches though.

Sweet, makin progress:p

[bigsnakegirl785]

Well, I can finally sit down and almost relax with him instead of hovering over his tank. I had him out for about 30 minutes a few days ago and he was being fairly calm, just threading through my fingers, crawling up my arm, and wrapping around my wrist. He hasn't launched himself out of my hand in a long time now. :D

It's always funny bringing Cloud out of his enclosure, because it's only about a foot away from Draco's tank. It's amazing how aware garters are of everything, because as soon as Cloud is out Draco can smell him and he comes out of hiding to watch him. Neither Bud nor Cloud ever notice each other, so it's pretty cool (and funny lol) to see a snake so interested in another. He also got a chance to go outside a few weeks ago - he was not allowed to leave my hand, of course!

http://i1157.photobucket.com/albums/p600/dtr_2009_/My%20Snakes/Draco/IMG_1750_zps7a796945.jpg (http://s1157.photobucket.com/user/dtr_2009_/media/My%20Snakes/Draco/IMG_1750_zps7a796945.jpg.html)

http://i1157.photobucket.com/albums/p600/dtr_2009_/My%20Snakes/Draco/IMG_1747_zps0e8493f9.jpg (http://s1157.photobucket.com/user/dtr_2009_/media/My%20Snakes/Draco/IMG_1747_zps0e8493f9.jpg.html)

http://i1157.photobucket.com/albums/p600/dtr_2009_/My%20Snakes/Draco/IMG_1765_zps5d58da1a.jpg (http://s1157.photobucket.com/user/dtr_2009_/media/My%20Snakes/Draco/IMG_1765_zps5d58da1a.jpg.html)

[drumcrush]

Real nice! It's funny for me when it comes to feeding time. I will lay the mouse somewhere in the tank, and she shoots out of the aspen once she smells it and realizes there is food haha Nice to Hear Draco is doing fine:)

[pdomensis]

So cute. I like the double yellow dots on his head.

[sharthun]

Beautiful Garter!:cool:

[JW360]

Ugh I want one so bad the local place has like five or six baby albino checkerds like yours they are so fun and active I love it.

[bigsnakegirl785]

Thanks everyone. :D

Real nice! It's funny for me when it comes to feeding time. I will lay the mouse somewhere in the tank, and she shoots out of the aspen once she smells it and realizes there is food haha Nice to Hear Draco is doing fine:)

lol Yup, they're quite the hunters. Draco's preferred ambush spot is his vine now. :O_o: He'll poke his head out from wherever he's hiding, look at the food, and then run off to his vines. Then I just wave it randomly and he'll slowly slink out of the vines to grab it.

Ugh I want one so bad the local place has like five or six baby albino checkerds like yours they are so fun and active I love it.

Yup, they are awesome. :D You should definitely get one if you can.

[drumcrush]

Thanks everyone. :D



lol Yup, they're quite the hunters. Draco's preferred ambush spot is his vine now. :O_o: He'll poke his head out from wherever he's hiding, look at the food, and then run off to his vines. Then I just wave it randomly and he'll slowly slink out of the vines to grab it.



Yup, they are awesome. :D You should definitely get one if you can.

One time she jumped out of the aspen and grabbed onto the mouse like a shark, I died when she did that lol

[bigsnakegirl785]

One time she jumped out of the aspen and grabbed onto the mouse like a shark, I died when she did that lol

lmao Garters are just the goofiest. Ah, man, I'm dying just picturing it. XD

I am thinking about deepening Draco's substrate, because I don't think there's enough for him to bury in. Next time I expand some EcoEarth, I'll give him a little more.

[bigsnakegirl785]

Some photos from yesterday. It's been in the high-70's pretty much all week (and I think it was 80F today!), and it's supposed to mostly stay in the 60-70's over the next 10 days, so I think winter is finally starting to back off. :D Now we'll just be getting rainy weather for next month or so....

You can see his little "belly button." :D
http://i1157.photobucket.com/albums/p600/dtr_2009_/My%20Snakes/Draco/IMG_2040_zps531c4f44.jpg (http://s1157.photobucket.com/user/dtr_2009_/media/My%20Snakes/Draco/IMG_2040_zps531c4f44.jpg.html)

http://i1157.photobucket.com/albums/p600/dtr_2009_/My%20Snakes/Draco/IMG_2045_zps3c8ff8dd.jpg (http://s1157.photobucket.com/user/dtr_2009_/media/My%20Snakes/Draco/IMG_2045_zps3c8ff8dd.jpg.html)

What appeared to be damaged scales. They just appeared yesterday, and were gone today. I thought it might have been dirt, but it didn't rub off, so idk what it was but I took him out today and it wasn't there anymore.

I added more bedding to his tank, and I set up his humid hide, so maybe the added humidity solved it (it's been dry lately since it's been hot and it hasn't rained yet).
http://i1157.photobucket.com/albums/p600/dtr_2009_/My%20Snakes/Draco/IMG_2049_zpsf99c557f.jpg (http://s1157.photobucket.com/user/dtr_2009_/media/My%20Snakes/Draco/IMG_2049_zpsf99c557f.jpg.html)

And some videos. :D

Digging him out so I could check on him.
0GwPzN7AfBk

When I put him back in, he immediately climbed into his vine.
qadEmV6b0Wo

A short video of his heartbeat.
K6Jg1-IXEBg

[drumcrush]

Sounds like things are going good! I've noticed some funky scales too from time to time. I think it was just her getting messy with her feces -.- because I use aspen, don't know what else it would be lol I can't wait for it to get warm here. The highest it has really been was like 56f

[bigsnakegirl785]

Sounds like things are going good! I've noticed some funky scales too from time to time. I think it was just her getting messy with her feces -.- because I use aspen, don't know what else it would be lol I can't wait for it to get warm here. The highest it has really been was like 56f

Yeah, idk what it was. lol I tried water and a cloth and everything. :confused: We've had several warm days so far, several mid-70's days and it even got like 80F the day I took those photos. :Wow: It's supposed to be in the mid-70's for the next several days, and then in the 50's-60's.

[drumcrush]

Yeah, idk what it was. lol I tried water and a cloth and everything. :confused: We've had several warm days so far, several mid-70's days and it even got like 80F the day I took those photos. :Wow: It's supposed to be in the mid-70's for the next several days, and then in the 50's-60's.

Well, it went away so I guess it's not that big of a deal :p I hope for a nice summer :)

[bigsnakegirl785]

Well, it went away so I guess it's not that big of a deal :p I hope for a nice summer :)

Same here, I want lots of days to take the snakes out. :D

[bigsnakegirl785]

I haven't been on here in awhile, so I've got some photos of Draco to provide. ;) He's now just over a foot long and is taking whole pinkies. He's shed maybe 3 times since I last logged on.

http://fc04.deviantart.net/fs71/i/2014/239/4/9/keeled_by_luckisgone-d7wyu2i.jpg

http://th01.deviantart.net/fs71/PRE/i/2014/232/f/3/light_and_shadow_by_luckisgone-d7vzyxx.jpg

http://fc05.deviantart.net/fs71/i/2014/196/5/9/albino_glow_by_luckisgone-d7qu8x9.jpg

[sharthun]

I haven't been on here in awhile, so I've got some photos of Draco to provide. ;) He's now just over a foot long and is taking whole pinkies. He's shed maybe 3 times since I last logged on.

http://fc04.deviantart.net/fs71/i/2014/239/4/9/keeled_by_luckisgone-d7wyu2i.jpg

http://th01.deviantart.net/fs71/PRE/i/2014/232/f/3/light_and_shadow_by_luckisgone-d7vzyxx.jpg

http://fc05.deviantart.net/fs71/i/2014/196/5/9/albino_glow_by_luckisgone-d7qu8x9.jpg

Draco is looking great!

[bigsnakegirl785]

Draco is looking great!

Thank you! :D

[drumcrush]

I haven't been on here in awhile, so I've got some photos of Draco to provide. ;) He's now just over a foot long and is taking whole pinkies. He's shed maybe 3 times since I last logged on.

http://fc04.deviantart.net/fs71/i/2014/239/4/9/keeled_by_luckisgone-d7wyu2i.jpg

http://th01.deviantart.net/fs71/PRE/i/2014/232/f/3/light_and_shadow_by_luckisgone-d7vzyxx.jpg

http://fc05.deviantart.net/fs71/i/2014/196/5/9/albino_glow_by_luckisgone-d7qu8x9.jpg

Wow, getting big!

[bigsnakegirl785]

Wow, getting big!

I know right! I didn't realize how much he'd grown until I looked at some old photos. lol

[drumcrush]

I know right! I didn't realize how much he'd grown until I looked at some old photos. lol

Yeah, I looked at the very first pic of Mrs. B when she was like 9" and now she is about a foot and a half!

[bigsnakegirl785]

Yeah, I looked at the very first pic of Mrs. B when she was like 9" and now she is about a foot and a half!

Yeah, it's always amazing to see the growth snakes go through, and they're still going to get bigger! :)

I also have a new photo of Draco, he was confused by the water bowl no longer being on top of him. This is his favorite place to hide, sometimes I find him in one of his hides above ground.

https://38.media.tumblr.com/58d0821c5b848692ca9a216bc0b89426/tumblr_nbbmgbACe51sjttato1_1280.jpg

[EL Ziggy]

He's a real beauty BSG. Awesome colors, amazing pattern, and I love the jewel dot on top of his head :).

[Obsidian_Dragon]

They're so neat, I love them. It's always funny to be eyeballed from across the room. My MBK doesn't really seem to care what I'm doing--until I try to reach in and pester him, of course.

I just wish mine wasn't the world's biggest weenie and wanted anything to do with me! I don't dare handle her yet, they disdain gravity and have a magical ability to teleport.

[bigsnakegirl785]

They're so neat, I love them. It's always funny to be eyeballed from across the room. My MBK doesn't really seem to care what I'm doing--until I try to reach in and pester him, of course.

I just wish mine wasn't the world's biggest weenie and wanted anything to do with me! I don't dare handle her yet, they disdain gravity and have a magical ability to teleport.

Yes, they are very silly snakes. I've turned my head to look over a few times to see him looking at me. Whenever he saw I noticed, he either jumped or went into hiding. lol He spends most of his time underground now, but if we're hanging out in the living room he'll come out for a bit to see what's going on.

And yeah, mine's a weenie, too. XD He used to fling himself out of my hand all the time, but with regular handling he's calmed down. He's still not good enough that I'd let him crawl through the grass like the other two, but he's easier to handle. If they manage to break free, they'll be gone in a flash. :yes: I'd say she'll calm down after a bit of handling, just be extra careful, and sticking close to her enclosure might be a good idea. haha

[bigsnakegirl785]

I decided to try putting Draco into Cloud's weighing tub outside to let him crawl around, and make it easier on me to take photos. I pulled some grass blades for him to crawl through and hide under as well. He didn't try very hard to crawl out of the tub, and after only a few times of keeping him from crawling over the edge and he contented himself with crawling under and through the grass. I had it half in and half out of the sun so I could take sharper photos while allowing him the option to escape into the shade if he wanted.

http://fc05.deviantart.net/fs71/i/2014/252/a/6/grass_snake_by_luckisgone-d7yk1x6.jpg

http://fc04.deviantart.net/fs71/i/2014/252/b/1/scale_super_detail_by_luckisgone-d7yk1l2.jpg

http://fc02.deviantart.net/fs71/i/2014/252/f/f/checking_for_danger_by_luckisgone-d7yk1ra.jpg

http://fc02.deviantart.net/fs70/i/2014/252/d/d/climb_that_wall_by_luckisgone-d7yk1ze.jpg

http://fc08.deviantart.net/fs70/i/2014/252/4/5/plastic_sunshine_by_luckisgone-d7yk25h.jpg

[SnoopySnake]

Nice pics! I really like that second one. He's a cutie :)

[bigsnakegirl785]

Nice pics! I really like that second one. He's a cutie :)

Thanks! He's a handful, too. Probably the worst of the trio, he needs constant attention and doesn't just chill like the others. lol He might have periods where he'll sit still, but they're few and it doesn't last long. Even though the other two make it their business to redecorate, they're a lot easier to deal with.

[EL Ziggy]

His colors are phenomenal BSG.

[bigsnakegirl785]

His colors are phenomenal BSG.

Thank you! And would you believe me if I said these photos did him no justice? The last photo is probably the closest to his true colors, but the purples are just slightly paled out. He literally glows in my hand now. He started out so dull and pale, he's definitely changed over the past (almost) year!

[drumcrush]

Thank you! And would you believe me if I said these photos did him no justice? The last photo is probably the closest to his true colors, but the purples are just slightly paled out. He literally glows in my hand now. He started out so dull and pale, he's definitely changed over the past (almost) year!

I hate that, the camera sucks at catching Mrs. Buttercups colors. Like she is sooo much brighter in person.

[bigsnakegirl785]

I hate that, the camera sucks at catching Mrs. Buttercups colors. Like she is sooo much brighter in person.

Yeah, Draco is the hardest to photograph due to his light coloration. Many times his patterns are wiped out by the light, or when he's in the shade. I need to find that middle line to properly capture him. Unfortunately cameras are not human eyes, maybe 20 years down the line we'll get ones that will do so. :P

I also weighed him for the first time since when I first got him, and he's a whopping 12 grams.

[Obsidian_Dragon]

Ha, he's only a smidge bigger than my pastel girl, then--she was a whole 11.7 grams when I managed to get her in the weighing cup!

[bigsnakegirl785]

Ha, he's only a smidge bigger than my pastel girl, then--she was a whole 11.7 grams when I managed to get her in the weighing cup!

Yay for baby garters! :P

I'm not sure if my scale include decimals or not, it does it for the ounces, but it was 12 grams flat on the screen at least.

Luckily if he's in a hide, if I just pick him up and plop him in the bowl he usually sits still. Watching me distrustfully, but still. lol Now, if he's been up and about or I've been handling him, that's another story....The only one that's guaranteed to give me problems is the ball python.

[Obsidian_Dragon]

Dart can go from still to SUDDENLY TELEPORTING ACROSS THE ROOM so I always use a deli cup with a lid.

I do the same with my kingsnake, even, because even though he's my "tame" snake he's still a colubrid. Suddenly on a mission to nowhere, etc...

[infernalis]

Looks great.. in fine care too.

[bigsnakegirl785]

Dart can go from still to SUDDENLY TELEPORTING ACROSS THE ROOM so I always use a deli cup with a lid.

I do the same with my kingsnake, even, because even though he's my "tame" snake he's still a colubrid. Suddenly on a mission to nowhere, etc...

Hahaha, yeah I know that feeling, Draco used to do that all the time, but luckily he's calmed down a lot since I first got him. He's still difficult, but not quite as bad. They all seem to retain that manic energy whenever they're left to their own devices, though. I chalk it up to the colubrid attitude. :P

Looks great.. in fine care too.

Thanks! :) He's been a great little guy, I'm looking forward to getting more eventually.


I've started seeing Draco out more again, I guess before I was just out of the room whenever he was out; I've seen him out and about twice this week. He was also fed Friday, and last week I had the relief of all snakes being fed around the same time. :D My ball python has been a bad eater for the past 2 years, and I suspect it's from moving stress as I've moved homes 3 times and he's changed enclosures 3 times as well.

[Obsidian_Dragon]

I'm lucky enough to catch mine out more often now that I've "cluttered" her enclosure. 2 plants, 2 plastic hides, 2 cardboard tubes doesn't leave a lot of open space and she seems to appreciate this.

Yesterday I caught her out...and up.

https://38.media.tumblr.com/bae9032c31533cc80a4878cc38435b88/tumblr_nbwi4wMBuV1qdg59lo1_1280.jpg

"Excuse you, what are you doing?"
"Uh....hanging out."

[drumcrush]

Mine is always out! Racing around the tank all the time. When I handle her though, she stays extremely calm. She will just sit there and let me pet her head

[bigsnakegirl785]

I'm lucky enough to catch mine out more often now that I've "cluttered" her enclosure. 2 plants, 2 plastic hides, 2 cardboard tubes doesn't leave a lot of open space and she seems to appreciate this.

Yesterday I caught her out...and up.

https://38.media.tumblr.com/bae9032c31533cc80a4878cc38435b88/tumblr_nbwi4wMBuV1qdg59lo1_1280.jpg

"Excuse you, what are you doing?"
"Uh....hanging out."

Oh wow. What a little climber, reminds me of my ball python. lol She's got some gorgeous colors, too. :) About how old is she?

I've got most of the floor space, maybe 95% of it covered, so he's got lots of places to hide. I do have a plastic vine in there, but I'd like to add a branch-like decoration to it as well.

Mine is always out! Racing around the tank all the time. When I handle her though, she stays extremely calm. She will just sit there and let me pet her head

Lucky, that's not Draco, even by a drop. :P I think if I can ever move out to a place where I have my own room I'll be able to see him explore more often, but I'm usually in a different room, unfortunately.

[Obsidian_Dragon]

I'm not 100% sure how old she is--I was so worried about asking about what she was eating I forgot I ask the breeder when she hatched! Not very, though. My precious little baaaaaby.

She was a nice bright yellow when I first got her a month ago, but she's greened up some since her last shed. Het pastels are only obvious as babies, as adults they looked like your standard checkered, iirc. It's hard to say as I can't find many pictures of them. :P Google invariably wants to show me pastel balls. Noooo, google.

Dart definitely doesn't race around, but I come into the room and catch her climbing her plants, or...well, apparently climbing everything else, too. I could probably buy her a nice stick to climb on, but I can only shove so much stuff in a 10 gallon!

[bigsnakegirl785]

I'm not 100% sure how old she is--I was so worried about asking about what she was eating I forgot I ask the breeder when she hatched! Not very, though. My precious little baaaaaby.

She was a nice bright yellow when I first got her a month ago, but she's greened up some since her last shed. Het pastels are only obvious as babies, as adults they looked like your standard checkered, iirc. It's hard to say as I can't find many pictures of them. :P Google invariably wants to show me pastel balls. Noooo, google.

Dart definitely doesn't race around, but I come into the room and catch her climbing her plants, or...well, apparently climbing everything else, too. I could probably buy her a nice stick to climb on, but I can only shove so much stuff in a 10 gallon!

Are you still able to get in touch with the breeder? Maybe they'd still have her records idk.

lol Yeah Google can be weird.

Well at least you know she's getting her exercise. :P

[bigsnakegirl785]

I haven't made updates in here in a little while.

Draco now weighs 15 grams, unfortunately I have no way to see how much length he's grown as he won't sit still long enough for me to take a good photo for SerpWidgets. lol

Here are some recent photos.
http://i1157.photobucket.com/albums/p600/dtr_2009_/My%20Snakes/Draco/IMG_2883_zps44cb8de5.jpg (http://s1157.photobucket.com/user/dtr_2009_/media/My%20Snakes/Draco/IMG_2883_zps44cb8de5.jpg.html)

http://i1157.photobucket.com/albums/p600/dtr_2009_/My%20Snakes/Draco/IMG_3036_zpsbdf06969.jpg (http://s1157.photobucket.com/user/dtr_2009_/media/My%20Snakes/Draco/IMG_3036_zpsbdf06969.jpg.html)

http://i1157.photobucket.com/albums/p600/dtr_2009_/My%20Snakes/Draco/IMG_3039_zpse9acaec4.jpg (http://s1157.photobucket.com/user/dtr_2009_/media/My%20Snakes/Draco/IMG_3039_zpse9acaec4.jpg.html)

I assume this swelling is indicative of sexual maturity? It's after his cloacal opening, in the area where his hemipenes are.
http://i1157.photobucket.com/albums/p600/dtr_2009_/My%20Snakes/Draco/IMG_3043_zps313aa8e7.jpg (http://s1157.photobucket.com/user/dtr_2009_/media/My%20Snakes/Draco/IMG_3043_zps313aa8e7.jpg.html)

[sharthun]

Looking good!

[drumcrush]

Sweet pics!

[bigsnakegirl785]

Thanks guys! :D

[bigsnakegirl785]

I last weighed Draco at 23 grams. It seems like he gained a lot of weight, because last month I only have him at 17 grams, and for the past several months he's only been putting on one gram a month. I just weighed him again and he's 18 grams, but I did figure out what the problem was. I didn't tare off the weight of the cap! So it added another 5 grams to his weight. Whoops.

He's also large enough that the pinkies barely leave a bulge, so I'm going to try feeding him 2 pinkies per feeding, as I don't think he's big enough to go up a whole size and I've heard of there being impaction problems feeding furred rodents to garters and I just want to be safe.

Here are some phone photos, in the absence of a working camera. :)

http://i1157.photobucket.com/albums/p600/dtr_2009_/My%20Snakes/Draco/IMG_0147_zps888bafb8.jpg (http://s1157.photobucket.com/user/dtr_2009_/media/My%20Snakes/Draco/IMG_0147_zps888bafb8.jpg.html)

Found him under his humid hide.
http://i1157.photobucket.com/albums/p600/dtr_2009_/My%20Snakes/Draco/IMG_0626_zps87fe9644.jpg (http://s1157.photobucket.com/user/dtr_2009_/media/My%20Snakes/Draco/IMG_0626_zps87fe9644.jpg.html)

http://i1157.photobucket.com/albums/p600/dtr_2009_/My%20Snakes/Draco/IMG_0514_zps1ae3f5b3.jpg (http://s1157.photobucket.com/user/dtr_2009_/media/My%20Snakes/Draco/IMG_0514_zps1ae3f5b3.jpg.html)

http://i1157.photobucket.com/albums/p600/dtr_2009_/My%20Snakes/Draco/9C17A304-B6F3-4F32-8337-CD0CFFCF90F9_zpseg9vyone.jpg (http://s1157.photobucket.com/user/dtr_2009_/media/My%20Snakes/Draco/9C17A304-B6F3-4F32-8337-CD0CFFCF90F9_zpseg9vyone.jpg.html)

[drumcrush]

good to see he is growing! Mrs. B is on adult mice, it is crazy how fast she has grown!

[bigsnakegirl785]

good to see he is growing! Mrs. B is on adult mice, it is crazy how fast she has grown!

It's always amazing to see how fast babies grow. I just wonder when male garters usually stop growing or stop growing a noticeable amount. lol He's almost 1.5 years now. I have a feeling he'll get another growth spurt with the bump in food, too. He grew fast, but it still took him awhile for the pinkies to not leave a bulge anymore. haha I guess I'll see if he takes his two pinkies today, after I get some sleep. -.-

[Obsidian_Dragon]

How is Dart so much younger and yet about the same size? O.o o.O

I wonder if it's because he's been mouse fed from the get go. Hmm.

Dart takes two, but they're only day old pinks, because...his head is tiny. Well, sometimes. Sometimes he wants only one, thank you.

[drumcrush]

It's always amazing to see how fast babies grow. I just wonder when male garters usually stop growing or stop growing a noticeable amount. lol He's almost 1.5 years now. I have a feeling he'll get another growth spurt with the bump in food, too. He grew fast, but it still took him awhile for the pinkies to not leave a bulge anymore. haha I guess I'll see if he takes his two pinkies today, after I get some sleep. -.-
Probably because he is a male and the fact that they don't grow as big. Mrs. B is about the same age. I can't wait till she is fully grown!

How is Dart so much younger and yet about the same size? O.o o.O

I wonder if it's because he's been mouse fed from the get go. Hmm.

Dart takes two, but they're only day old pinks, because...his head is tiny. Well, sometimes. Sometimes he wants only one, thank you.

It is probably because he is a male. They don't grow as big as females do, normally stopping about 2- 2.5 ft. Depending on the species but since it's checkered, it should be around that range. With that, he probably won't grow as fast. Kind of hard for me to explain lol

[bigsnakegirl785]

How is Dart so much younger and yet about the same size? O.o o.O

I wonder if it's because he's been mouse fed from the get go. Hmm.

Dart takes two, but they're only day old pinks, because...his head is tiny. Well, sometimes. Sometimes he wants only one, thank you.

I'm not sure. Draco has been on mice pretty much the entire time I had him, but the first 3 months or so he would eat nothing but live fish. As soon as I could switch him to mice, he was eating mouse parts. Maybe I just didn't feed him enough mouse parts when I switched him, or I didn't put him on whole pinkies fast enough? Idk, he's still steadily growing, though, so I'm sure he'll get there. :)

Also, the double pinky plan worked! He took both of them. I laid one as close to his head as I could (he had it poking out of his bedding on his hot side, just looking around), and I laid the other one just behind it. He took one and then the other with no hesitation. I honestly didn't think he'd eat both! Guess I was proved wrong. :P

[Obsidian_Dragon]

I'll admit, watching them eat live fish is neat. Shame about the parasites, etc. Not that Dart lets me watch him eat anyway. Siiiigh.

I'm just worried I accidentally powerfed my poor bab. I'm still new enough at this to be utterly paranoid about ruining everything forever. He kept to an expected shedding cycle, though? Maybe he's just gonna be a big boy. Maybe...sexing via tail was wrong and he's actually a girl. ~it's a mystery~

Anyway, I'm glad Draco took both! It doesn't seem to actually be too hard to get them to take multiples.

[drumcrush]

I'll admit, watching them eat live fish is neat. Shame about the parasites, etc. Not that Dart lets me watch him eat anyway. Siiiigh.

I'm just worried I accidentally powerfed my poor bab. I'm still new enough at this to be utterly paranoid about ruining everything forever. He kept to an expected shedding cycle, though? Maybe he's just gonna be a big boy. Maybe...sexing via tail was wrong and he's actually a girl. ~it's a mystery~

Anyway, I'm glad Draco took both! It doesn't seem to actually be too hard to get them to take multiples.

PM me a pic of the tail

[bigsnakegirl785]

I'll admit, watching them eat live fish is neat. Shame about the parasites, etc. Not that Dart lets me watch him eat anyway. Siiiigh.

I'm just worried I accidentally powerfed my poor bab. I'm still new enough at this to be utterly paranoid about ruining everything forever. He kept to an expected shedding cycle, though? Maybe he's just gonna be a big boy. Maybe...sexing via tail was wrong and he's actually a girl. ~it's a mystery~

Anyway, I'm glad Draco took both! It doesn't seem to actually be too hard to get them to take multiples.

I doubt you were power-feeding from what you've said about his feeding schedule.

I'm not too sure about sexing from the tail, I'd think it would be easier when they're full grown, but idk. Draco has some slight swelling where his hemipenes would be located, so that makes me fairly sure he's male. Also his small size and spazzy attitude. lol

[bigsnakegirl785]

Well today was his next feeding day, and I found those tweezers I used to feed him from and tried tong-feeding him again. He actually took his first pinkie off the tongs! I think he's just afraid of those big pair I use for the other snakes. haha He didn't take the second one from the tongs, but did actively chase it down when I moved it away from him. I set it down next to him and put his humid hide back on top of him. I'll check and see if he ate the other one later.

Here he is, almost done swallowing his pinkie. Didn't leave a bulge at all once he had it all the way down.
https://40.media.tumblr.com/87ff624131bc86331ca092d0c1b7075c/tumblr_nkncvtvbW71sjttato1_1280.jpg

[bigsnakegirl785]

Here are some photos I apparently neglected to post. They're kinda old-ish but from this year.

Belly to wall must be the new thing.
http://i1157.photobucket.com/albums/p600/dtr_2009_/My%20Snakes/Draco/IMG_0916_zpsyhipgvbz.jpg (http://s1157.photobucket.com/user/dtr_2009_/media/My%20Snakes/Draco/IMG_0916_zpsyhipgvbz.jpg.html)

http://i1157.photobucket.com/albums/p600/dtr_2009_/My%20Snakes/Draco/IMG_0908_zpsg1rstiwf.jpg (http://s1157.photobucket.com/user/dtr_2009_/media/My%20Snakes/Draco/IMG_0908_zpsg1rstiwf.jpg.html)

http://i1157.photobucket.com/albums/p600/dtr_2009_/My%20Snakes/Draco/IMG_0872_zpsmjidoole.jpg (http://s1157.photobucket.com/user/dtr_2009_/media/My%20Snakes/Draco/IMG_0872_zpsmjidoole.jpg.html)

[elkied243]

I think Draco and you have convinced me to get another garter. My first snake was a garter and I haven't been able to bring mysef to get another since he passed but I think the time has come!
Sweet story and gorgeous snake!

[bigsnakegirl785]

Cool! You should definitely make a thread once you get it. :D

[bigsnakegirl785]

Well I weighed Draco yesterday and he weighed in at 25 grams. It was 4-5 days after he ate, so he should have been empty. I'll be re-weighing him before I feed him tomorrow to double-check.

http://i1157.photobucket.com/albums/p600/dtr_2009_/My%20Snakes/Draco/IMG_1057_zpsai4ltejb.jpg (http://s1157.photobucket.com/user/dtr_2009_/media/My%20Snakes/Draco/IMG_1057_zpsai4ltejb.jpg.html)

http://i1157.photobucket.com/albums/p600/dtr_2009_/My%20Snakes/Draco/IMG_1058_zpskc81ar4y.jpg (http://s1157.photobucket.com/user/dtr_2009_/media/My%20Snakes/Draco/IMG_1058_zpskc81ar4y.jpg.html)

[drumcrush]

Wow, looking good!

[Pogie]

Oh he is pretty! I didn't know that came in different colors.

[bigsnakegirl785]

Oh he is pretty! I didn't know that came in different colors.

Yup, garters come in many different colors/morphs. The only other checkered morphs I know of, though, are granite and pastel.

[Pogie]

Are they nippy at all? I always thought they might be, i'm probably wrong lol. I had thought of getting one of them but didn't want a snake that tried to strike all the time.
Which is what I thought garter snakes did? I guess I'm wrong :)

[bigsnakegirl785]

Are they nippy at all? I always thought they might be, i'm probably wrong lol. I had thought of getting one of them but didn't want a snake that tried to strike all the time.
Which is what I thought garter snakes did? I guess I'm wrong :)

Draco isn't, but the other garter, Demigod, was when he first arrived. But I made sure to handle him 1-2 times a day and he stopped that after about a week. Draco mostly just musks if he's in an especially spazzy/nervous mood.

[bigsnakegirl785]

Here are some old-ish photos of Draco from last week. He's now 26 grams, still on two pinks a week.

I'm really close to having the money for a (used) camera! If I end up having to save up for a brand new camera, it might take awhile longer unless I manage to get another couple 30 hour weeks in...

http://i.imgur.com/WcXIuKd.jpg

http://i.imgur.com/01s20CC.jpg

http://i.imgur.com/dcmzoKn.jpg

http://i.imgur.com/duyuPtr.jpg

http://i.imgur.com/gU7Ig1B.jpg

[bigsnakegirl785]

Draco loves his mice. Even if he initially mistakes them as a predator attempting to eat him, and awkwardly flops around his tank desperately trying to get away from them.

http://i1157.photobucket.com/albums/p600/dtr_2009_/My%20Snakes/Draco/IMG_1256_zpselhw6zqk.jpg (http://s1157.photobucket.com/user/dtr_2009_/media/My%20Snakes/Draco/IMG_1256_zpselhw6zqk.jpg.html)

[Pogie]

That video is the BEST! He is so darn cute eeeek!

[bigsnakegirl785]

This crazy thing has now reached 30 grams, and is starting to look like he'll be able to take 3 mouse pinks at a time soon. So it's probably about time to bump him up to rat pinks.

Last time I fed him, he actually managed to bite me, and it bled a little. The poor thing was just so scared of the mice I was trying to offer off the tweezers, he wouldn't have any of it. I set them down and he gobbled them up in like 5 minutes. >.> He's such a wuss.

http://i1157.photobucket.com/albums/p600/dtr_2009_/My%20Snakes/Draco/IMG_1329_zpsfoo0ghtk.jpg (http://s1157.photobucket.com/user/dtr_2009_/media/My%20Snakes/Draco/IMG_1329_zpsfoo0ghtk.jpg.html)

http://i1157.photobucket.com/albums/p600/dtr_2009_/My%20Snakes/Draco/IMG_1331_zpsuedevk9d.jpg (http://s1157.photobucket.com/user/dtr_2009_/media/My%20Snakes/Draco/IMG_1331_zpsuedevk9d.jpg.html)

http://i1157.photobucket.com/albums/p600/dtr_2009_/My%20Snakes/Draco/IMG_1333_zpsey5yvgfp.jpg (http://s1157.photobucket.com/user/dtr_2009_/media/My%20Snakes/Draco/IMG_1333_zpsey5yvgfp.jpg.html)

http://i1157.photobucket.com/albums/p600/dtr_2009_/My%20Snakes/Draco/IMG_1336_zpszghi6z6y.jpg (http://s1157.photobucket.com/user/dtr_2009_/media/My%20Snakes/Draco/IMG_1336_zpszghi6z6y.jpg.html)

http://i1157.photobucket.com/albums/p600/dtr_2009_/My%20Snakes/Draco/IMG_1334_zps12x88c67.jpg (http://s1157.photobucket.com/user/dtr_2009_/media/My%20Snakes/Draco/IMG_1334_zps12x88c67.jpg.html)

Here's a video of one of his feedings. I was trying to tape the fit he was having thinking the mouse was out to eat him, but failed. I think this was the feeding where I got that picture from on the other page.

Xrm8fPQUsmE

[bigsnakegirl785]

I caught him undressing today...

Sorry I had to zoom in to take this as he was too far away to be seen easily on camera....
http://i1157.photobucket.com/albums/p600/dtr_2009_/My%20Snakes/Draco/IMG_1845_zpsmlao8lzx.jpg (http://s1157.photobucket.com/user/dtr_2009_/media/My%20Snakes/Draco/IMG_1845_zpsmlao8lzx.jpg.html)

http://i1157.photobucket.com/albums/p600/dtr_2009_/My%20Snakes/Draco/IMG_1848_zpsfsntwdmy.jpg (http://s1157.photobucket.com/user/dtr_2009_/media/My%20Snakes/Draco/IMG_1848_zpsfsntwdmy.jpg.html)

http://i1157.photobucket.com/albums/p600/dtr_2009_/My%20Snakes/Draco/IMG_1849_zpscdjwotyz.jpg (http://s1157.photobucket.com/user/dtr_2009_/media/My%20Snakes/Draco/IMG_1849_zpscdjwotyz.jpg.html)

[misskirbyd]

Its so cool to be able to watch him growing! Thank you! (I also love the name, but that could be because all my pets are named for Harry Potter characters, haha)

[bigsnakegirl785]

Its so cool to be able to watch him growing! Thank you! (I also love the name, but that could be because all my pets are named for Harry Potter characters, haha)

Yeah, it's amazing how much growth even these teeny guys go through. And his colors have become better with age. :D

When I first got him, he was scared to death of the mouse pink parts I tried to feeding him, and the way he rattled his tail and struck at it reminded me of a dragon lashing out (was rather reminded of Haku from Spirited Away tbh) so I named him Draco.

[bigsnakegirl785]

We had an interesting feeding last time. Or the time before, don't remember. lol He was a bit late since he refused the rat before that, but after thawing it out and setting it in his tank for a few minutes, it was kinda bloated so that's probably why. I decided to wait to offer anyways, just in case it stressed him out.

So, because of that he was particularly hungry and actually came out on his own to get food as soon as he felt vibrations (usually I have to remove pretty much all of his decorations and sift through his bedding to scare him out, if I don't he doesn't realize there's food and won't eat). He poked his head out and immediately grabbed it in an awkward way, and ended up eating it upside down. I tried to get a picture of it when he first grabbed the rat, but by the time I came back with my phone he'd already changed positions and started eating. :/

After he swallowed it, he just kinda sat there with his mouth slightly open and drool coming out of his mouth which freaked me out, but he immediately responded to movement when I waved my finger in front of his face and turned right side up. -.-

http://i1157.photobucket.com/albums/p600/dtr_2009_/My%20Snakes/Draco/IMG_1873_zps2kya5sus.jpg (http://s1157.photobucket.com/user/dtr_2009_/media/My%20Snakes/Draco/IMG_1873_zps2kya5sus.jpg.html)

http://i1157.photobucket.com/albums/p600/dtr_2009_/My%20Snakes/Draco/IMG_1874_zps1h1qedej.jpg (http://s1157.photobucket.com/user/dtr_2009_/media/My%20Snakes/Draco/IMG_1874_zps1h1qedej.jpg.html)

http://i1157.photobucket.com/albums/p600/dtr_2009_/My%20Snakes/Draco/IMG_1875_zpsxolclilt.jpg (http://s1157.photobucket.com/user/dtr_2009_/media/My%20Snakes/Draco/IMG_1875_zpsxolclilt.jpg.html)

He's just about finished off the rat pinks that are small enough for him to eat whole, so I'm going to have to start cutting them up again, which I'm not looking forward to. Mouse pinks weren't so bad because they're so small, but rat pinks are huge and they smell really strongly of blood when you cut them, as well as being 10x messier so yeah...

[bigsnakegirl785]

It's hard to believe how much this guy is still growing at 2.5 years old! His most recent weight was 43 grams, and he's now taking small to medium rat pinks with ease. They still leave a bulge, but they're easier to get down.

Even Demigod is hitting a growth spurt, he's been 23 grams the majority of the time I've had him, but when I weighed everyone a few weeks ago he came out to 27 grams.

Some of these aren't the best, but these are my favorites of the photo shoot. Everyone was out and about from the warm weather, and Draco was hoping I was giving him food, so he was easy to lure out. He ate 4 days ago and his bulge just disappeared the other day, the pig. >.>

http://i1157.photobucket.com/albums/p600/dtr_2009_/My%20Snakes/Draco/DSC_0130_zpsy7rd321w.jpg (http://s1157.photobucket.com/user/dtr_2009_/media/My%20Snakes/Draco/DSC_0130_zpsy7rd321w.jpg.html)

http://i1157.photobucket.com/albums/p600/dtr_2009_/My%20Snakes/Draco/DSC_0140_zps9f81nais.jpg (http://s1157.photobucket.com/user/dtr_2009_/media/My%20Snakes/Draco/DSC_0140_zps9f81nais.jpg.html)

http://i1157.photobucket.com/albums/p600/dtr_2009_/My%20Snakes/Draco/DSC_0138_zpso8jmnek5.jpg (http://s1157.photobucket.com/user/dtr_2009_/media/My%20Snakes/Draco/DSC_0138_zpso8jmnek5.jpg.html)

http://i1157.photobucket.com/albums/p600/dtr_2009_/My%20Snakes/Draco/DSC_0151_zpsdw4k3zp1.jpg (http://s1157.photobucket.com/user/dtr_2009_/media/My%20Snakes/Draco/DSC_0151_zpsdw4k3zp1.jpg.html)

http://i1157.photobucket.com/albums/p600/dtr_2009_/My%20Snakes/Draco/DSC_0147_zpsxcfhto1c.jpg (http://s1157.photobucket.com/user/dtr_2009_/media/My%20Snakes/Draco/DSC_0147_zpsxcfhto1c.jpg.html)

[macandchz]

bigsnakegirl1785 loved the pictures! he almost looks like he has a checker board pattern on his back.

[Obsidian_Dragon]

If Draco can take rat pinks now then Dart should be able to. Butthead hasn't been taking multiple mice pinks for me. :|

...I have a food order to make anyway.

[Albert Clark]

Dracos looking grown up these days. Very impressive albino checkered. Haha.

[bigsnakegirl785]

If Draco can take rat pinks now then Dart should be able to. Butthead hasn't been taking multiple mice pinks for me. :|

...I have a food order to make anyway.

He's been eating rat pinks since last July, and whole pinkies since at least August. He's mostly been getting the smallest ones of the bunch, but he's now able to take mid-sized ones fairly well. I do mix it up and offer him 3 mouse pinks every other meal, because the rat pinks are a big meal for him still.

Demigod isn't nearly as big, I've been giving him 2 mouse pinks because 3 pinks seems to be a bit much for him, but he seems to have gotten a bit bigger so it may be time to up his quantity. I've tried offering both rat pinks and mouse hoppers to him, and he can't get either down. :/ I was hoping the hoppers would hold him over until I got my next rodent shipment, but alas. I'll have to give him earthworms in the meantime, because I'm not buying from Petsmart, the local pet store shut down, and I haven't found the time to drive 45+ minutes one way to the other pet store. (I even tried cutting up a rat pink, and he just drug it around wildly because that's what Demigod does, and got it full of aspen so he couldn't eat it.)

bigsnakegirl1785 loved the pictures! he almost looks like he has a checker board pattern on his back.

Yup, that's where this species gets their name from! :)

Dracos looking grown up these days. Very impressive albino checkered. Haha.

Thanks! It's really surprising that he's still growing so fast with how old he is. I thought they reached full size at 1-2 years old, but he's still going strong, and dwarves his size just from this past September!

[bigsnakegirl785]

Well, Demigod's thread got closed, so I guess I'll just integrate him here. I don't post about him often, so I figure it's not worth trying to re-open the thread.

I got Demigod some worms last night, to hold him over until I get him some more mouse pinks. I offered him two, but I guess that ended up being too much because he ended up spitting the second one out. I'll be giving him worms every 2-3 days until my next shipment comes in, or I go to the other pet store. After some thinking, I'd rather feed him some worms than buy any mice from Petsmart.

The bucket is dirty because I expand EcoEarth in it, and no amount of rinsing has completely cleaned it out. This was the only thing I had that was tall enough to keep him in it, because he likes to climb backwards up walls while he's eating, and I don't have any Tupperware big enough to keep from smashing his body under the lid while he wildly attempts to escape.

For some reason, I really startled him getting him out of his tank, and he got super inflated and was striking at me. >.> Never bit me, but he did put on a display, never seen him this upset.
http://i1157.photobucket.com/albums/p600/dtr_2009_/My%20Snakes/Demigod/DSC_0154_zpsox8j2zfb.jpg (http://s1157.photobucket.com/user/dtr_2009_/media/My%20Snakes/Demigod/DSC_0154_zpsox8j2zfb.jpg.html)

He fine as soon as I put the first worm in front of his face, though.
http://i1157.photobucket.com/albums/p600/dtr_2009_/My%20Snakes/Demigod/DSC_0157_zpstixaqxb1.jpg (http://s1157.photobucket.com/user/dtr_2009_/media/My%20Snakes/Demigod/DSC_0157_zpstixaqxb1.jpg.html)

http://i1157.photobucket.com/albums/p600/dtr_2009_/My%20Snakes/Demigod/DSC_0158_zps8q7uirfk.jpg (http://s1157.photobucket.com/user/dtr_2009_/media/My%20Snakes/Demigod/DSC_0158_zps8q7uirfk.jpg.html)

http://i1157.photobucket.com/albums/p600/dtr_2009_/My%20Snakes/Demigod/DSC_0160_zpsa9e69j1v.jpg (http://s1157.photobucket.com/user/dtr_2009_/media/My%20Snakes/Demigod/DSC_0160_zpsa9e69j1v.jpg.html)

[sam]

Draco looks stunning! those markings on his head really gives him character. :)

[bigsnakegirl785]

Ugh uploading photos to Photobucket is becoming so irritating lately, it keeps randomly failing to upload photos, so I have to do it again. I may start using another website to post photos here, but it could also just be my computer, it's slowly descending into the realm of being unusable. I've had it around 4 years now, but between the NextCoup adware and accidentally kicking it off the table when I get up, it's starting to just become harder and harder to use. Still worlds better than the ancient computer my grandparents let me use, but not where I want it to be.

Anyways, back on topic...

Draco's bulb blew out today, but since it's nighttime it isn't so important to have it, I'll need to go by and get a new one tomorrow after school so his day/night schedule doesn't become too messed up (hopefully).

I took him out and noticed his belly was very pink, the same sort of red I see on the other snakes when they shed, but his last shed was in January, so maybe I just managed to catch him in his pre-blue colors. lol Usually I only catch a shed when he's in blue or already shedding.

I tried my best to capture his pink belly, but you can't see it too well. No, I do not use belly heat in my garters' set ups.

http://i1157.photobucket.com/albums/p600/dtr_2009_/My%20Snakes/Draco/DSC_0505_zpsziex5zbw.jpg (http://s1157.photobucket.com/user/dtr_2009_/media/My%20Snakes/Draco/DSC_0505_zpsziex5zbw.jpg.html)

http://i1157.photobucket.com/albums/p600/dtr_2009_/My%20Snakes/Draco/DSC_0511_zpsa0brlndj.jpg (http://s1157.photobucket.com/user/dtr_2009_/media/My%20Snakes/Draco/DSC_0511_zpsa0brlndj.jpg.html)

And here's some close up fun. Since I couldn't take him outside today (it was cool and rainy, not cold but didn't feel 75F), I just took some flash photos indoors. I had to open the lens about halfway to get good photos of him, otherwise his colors were completely washed out and it wouldn't focus.

http://i1157.photobucket.com/albums/p600/dtr_2009_/My%20Snakes/Draco/DSC_0520_zpsuykgktin.jpg (http://s1157.photobucket.com/user/dtr_2009_/media/My%20Snakes/Draco/DSC_0520_zpsuykgktin.jpg.html)

http://i1157.photobucket.com/albums/p600/dtr_2009_/My%20Snakes/Draco/DSC_0522_zpsbawqd2mg.jpg (http://s1157.photobucket.com/user/dtr_2009_/media/My%20Snakes/Draco/DSC_0522_zpsbawqd2mg.jpg.html)

http://i1157.photobucket.com/albums/p600/dtr_2009_/My%20Snakes/Draco/DSC_0521_zpsc3dwnn2x.jpg (http://s1157.photobucket.com/user/dtr_2009_/media/My%20Snakes/Draco/DSC_0521_zpsc3dwnn2x.jpg.html)

http://i1157.photobucket.com/albums/p600/dtr_2009_/My%20Snakes/Draco/DSC_0506_zpshar4g3fp.jpg (http://s1157.photobucket.com/user/dtr_2009_/media/My%20Snakes/Draco/DSC_0506_zpshar4g3fp.jpg.html)

[bigsnakegirl785]

And then it was Demigod's turn. :P

http://i1157.photobucket.com/albums/p600/dtr_2009_/My%20Snakes/Demigod/DSC_0533_zpslrj20zgd.jpg (http://s1157.photobucket.com/user/dtr_2009_/media/My%20Snakes/Demigod/DSC_0533_zpslrj20zgd.jpg.html)

http://i1157.photobucket.com/albums/p600/dtr_2009_/My%20Snakes/Demigod/DSC_0530_zpszh5bpru2.jpg (http://s1157.photobucket.com/user/dtr_2009_/media/My%20Snakes/Demigod/DSC_0530_zpszh5bpru2.jpg.html)

http://i1157.photobucket.com/albums/p600/dtr_2009_/My%20Snakes/Demigod/DSC_0527_zpsybwngcdl.jpg (http://s1157.photobucket.com/user/dtr_2009_/media/My%20Snakes/Demigod/DSC_0527_zpsybwngcdl.jpg.html)

Well, these last two photos absolutely would NOT upload to Photobucket, but I posted them elsewhere so I could still share them here. :/ Wonder what's going on, it's been doing this the past week or two now.

https://40.media.tumblr.com/5b4467602f805604c5ffde1ea9c64788/tumblr_o424r2DgKH1sjttato1_1280.jpg

https://40.media.tumblr.com/4a2b603cbe6aeb02c65631749169ecca/tumblr_o424r2DgKH1sjttato4_1280.jpg

[AwesomeGuy376]

Ok ill admit im jealous :P really nice snake :D

[Herpo]

Some beautiful snakes there BSG! Garters are great animals!

[bigsnakegirl785]

Thanks everyone! They aren't the most rewarding snakes to handle, but they've got their quirks and they're fun to watch. Feeding time is especially entertaining with the eastern, Demigod, because he's just so goofy about food.

[bigsnakegirl785]

Well I just checked in on Draco today, and he's in blue! So I was right. :D I've never noticed his belly go pink before, so that was surprising. Guess I'll have to keep an eye out in the future.

[Humble308]

This thread has really opened my eyes to garters! Could they stay in an enclosure with water? 3/4 land and a bit of water at the end?

[bigsnakegirl785]

No, their humidity needs are too low (my garters stay comfortable at 10-50% humidity). I'd only give them small water dish to swim in, not a full sized pool.

Now, if you got an aquatic garter (Thamnophis atratus), you could definitely pull that off. But most garters should only be allowed small swimming dish at most, because a big pool 1/4 the size of the enclosure could still release a lot of humidity. They can swim a bit, but in such a small, enclosed area, it's a lot different than a garter occasionally taking a dip in a lake to catch fish or frogs because the humidity builds up inside the enclosure.

Also wet garters equals escaped garters if you don't have a secure cage, they can climb up the glass with a wet belly.

[Tiny Boidae]

It's great to be able to see him grow throughout this thread- and he's a beautiful little snake. My favorite picture of him had to be the fifth photo you posted (still in the first post). Cute was an understatement for him in that picture!
You always have gorgeous animals though, and I'm a little late to this tea party but Draco is no exception.

[macandchz]

what a pretty snake and lots of great pix. i like the ones with the blue trim the best.

[bigsnakegirl785]

It's great to be able to see him grow throughout this thread- and he's a beautiful little snake. My favorite picture of him had to be the fifth photo you posted (still in the first post). Cute was an understatement for him in that picture!
You always have gorgeous animals though, and I'm a little late to this tea party but Draco is no exception.

Thank you, he's certainly grown a lot!

what a pretty snake and lots of great pix. i like the ones with the blue trim the best.

Blue trim? I'm not sure I know what you mean, I don't frame any of my photos.

[bigsnakegirl785]

Well, Draco shed today, and it looks like Demigod is getting ready to shed, too.

https://41.media.tumblr.com/2a89d4ede8f0f4db10f20de484e55422/tumblr_o4dbuc3hp21sjttato1_1280.jpg

[bigsnakegirl785]

I took Draco out today, since I figured I haven't taken any of the garters recently. He ended up pooping all over my hand so that didn't last long. -.- But, he was well behaved other than that, so I guess that's all I can ask for. lol

http://i1157.photobucket.com/albums/p600/dtr_2009_/My%20Snakes/Draco/IMG_1100_zpsoeomodyj.jpg (http://s1157.photobucket.com/user/dtr_2009_/media/My%20Snakes/Draco/IMG_1100_zpsoeomodyj.jpg.html)

http://i1157.photobucket.com/albums/p600/dtr_2009_/My%20Snakes/Draco/IMG_1101_zpsuq6mjarq.jpg (http://s1157.photobucket.com/user/dtr_2009_/media/My%20Snakes/Draco/IMG_1101_zpsuq6mjarq.jpg.html)

http://i1157.photobucket.com/albums/p600/dtr_2009_/My%20Snakes/Draco/IMG_1104_zpsyu6l3teh.jpg (http://s1157.photobucket.com/user/dtr_2009_/media/My%20Snakes/Draco/IMG_1104_zpsyu6l3teh.jpg.html)

http://i1157.photobucket.com/albums/p600/dtr_2009_/My%20Snakes/Draco/IMG_1105_zpstzdky4km.jpg (http://s1157.photobucket.com/user/dtr_2009_/media/My%20Snakes/Draco/IMG_1105_zpstzdky4km.jpg.html)

http://i1157.photobucket.com/albums/p600/dtr_2009_/My%20Snakes/Draco/IMG_1106_zps7gnh8z2q.jpg (http://s1157.photobucket.com/user/dtr_2009_/media/My%20Snakes/Draco/IMG_1106_zps7gnh8z2q.jpg.html)

His neck has stayed a nice bright yellow and purple, but unfortunately the rest of his body is more of an ashy white.

[bigsnakegirl785]

Draco weighed in at 51 grams a few days ago! So he continues to grow at a rapid rate. :) For a few days there, his back half looked really skinny and I was worried, but he must have just pooped a lot because he went back to normal once he ate.

I haven't weighed Demigod, but he's currently in shed so when he's done I'll get him on the scale, too. Draco and Demigod are looking really close in size lately, so maybe he's put on more grams from his last weight of 27 grams.

[bigsnakegirl785]

I can't believe how much Demigod has grown! As of his last weight, he was 35 grams. :) He's still a string bean so he's putting on size, not just weight.

He's still his usual food-oriented self. Striking at me through the glass, jumping around, doing laps around his tank in excitement whenever I come in the room. I'm feeding him as much as he'll eat, and he acts like he's going to starve any minute. He can't get a mouse fuzzy or a rat pink down, and he can't fit a third mouse pink in his belly, so he gets 2 mouse pinks a week. I don't understand it. lol

http://66.media.tumblr.com/17d721b96402eb7b93aec7c4d2901680/tumblr_o95rqj2TZW1sjttato1_1280.jpg

Draco was also unusually enthusiastic about feeding time! He came right out of his humid hide and took the rat pink from the tongs!

This photo and the one above were from the night before their feeding day.

Draco was apprehensive but still curious to see what was going on, I was going around and checking up on everybody and dug him up and he hid behind his half log hide. That's a weird piece of cardboard that held my copy of the Complete Boa Constrictor iirc, I just cut one end and splayed it out. It's got a bunch of holes so I figured it might be something fun for him to climb on.

http://66.media.tumblr.com/803e9e6e71261fcf6ade22badffd969c/tumblr_o95rqj2TZW1sjttato2_1280.jpg

[SWDK]

It's cool how inquisitive garters are. Mine also acts like it never eats. As of now it get 1 adult mouse per week and some fish or a toad snack in between. It will fly around the enclosure like crazy at times and dives into the water bowl wondering where all the fish went...��

[bigsnakegirl785]

Well looks like another shed party is starting! I found a shed in Draco's tank, and I noticed that Demigod wasn't greeting me like usual, and cam to find him slightly milky!

https://67.media.tumblr.com/71ddf1dc37f6ee0b0dc1d3f5d5fe2e43/tumblr_oaah2uPXzo1sjttato1_1280.jpg

https://67.media.tumblr.com/29897cb3df0c638e0cf37f023e864eeb/tumblr_oaah2uPXzo1sjttato2_1280.jpg

[bigsnakegirl785]

Double post.

[bigsnakegirl785]

So I didn't get to the updates earlier because the site was down, but here's a quick update on these two goofballs.

Last I weighed Draco he was 55 grams, and he's now on a diet because he's gotten quite chunky. lol He's going from eating a rat pink every 7 days to eating a pink every 10-12 days.

He also took an earthworm for the first time a day or two ago! When he was a baby I couldn't get him to touch a worm, and he gobbled up two enthusiastically this time. So I may mix worms into his diet, too.

So I hoped the tub would work to sorta contain him to show his chunkiness overhead (I mainly use it to hold the old dirt when switching bedding), but nope. As soon as the camera went over him, he launched up a couple feet in the air and plopped on the ground next to the tub. So I had to hold him still.

https://ball-pythons.net/forums/cache.php?img=https%3A%2F%2Fc2.staticflickr.com%2F 6%2F5786%2F29895324213_59374aebbb_b.jpg

https://ball-pythons.net/forums/cache.php?img=https%3A%2F%2Fc2.staticflickr.com%2F 6%2F5609%2F30528033465_6c42fa5227_b.jpg

https://ball-pythons.net/forums/cache.php?img=https%3A%2F%2Fc2.staticflickr.com%2F 6%2F5690%2F29895341463_b76d3a1786_b.jpg

Demigod now weighs a whopping 45 grams, and is still significantly smaller than Draco. Demigod has also become chunky, so he's being put on 2 mouse pinks every 10-12 days and 1-2 earthworms every 2-3 days.

About a month ago he refused his first meal of the season, which he's done every year I've had him. He usually eats the next meal, but all I had at the time were mouse fuzzies. He tried his hardest to eat it, but either the fuzzies are still too big or the fur freaks him out because he never ate it. A day or two ago, he ate 2 worms and I found a single mouse pinky so he'll get that next. I want to buy everyone's food at one time, but my main bulk websites are out of the size of rats I need for the bigger snakes, so until then Demi gets worms after he eats the last pink.

He's gotten this weird indent down his back, too, not sure what that is about. He hasn't shown signs of being ill, so I assume it's just his chubbiness.

https://ball-pythons.net/forums/cache.php?img=https%3A%2F%2Fc2.staticflickr.com%2F 6%2F5585%2F30440876591_da76434090_b.jpg

https://ball-pythons.net/forums/cache.php?img=https%3A%2F%2Fc2.staticflickr.com%2F 6%2F5768%2F30440862581_bef60638e3_b.jpg

https://ball-pythons.net/forums/cache.php?img=https%3A%2F%2Fc2.staticflickr.com%2F 6%2F5638%2F29895469833_294454ed61_b.jpg

https://ball-pythons.net/forums/cache.php?img=https%3A%2F%2Fc1.staticflickr.com%2F 9%2F8661%2F29897397144_b845ee6d6f_b.jpg

All these photos are at least a month old, just never got around to posting them. lol

[bigsnakegirl785]

So I haven't updated here in a long time.

I got the FIRST EVER length measurements on Draco and Demi, and they're pretty much what I expected. According to SerpWidets, Draco is 25" and Demi is 20". Demi is a bit bigger than I've been giving him credit for (16"-24" range, but I was expecting under 20" in all honesty), but those 5" really reaaally make a difference between the two. Put together they don't look too far off, but looking at the photos I took of both for the measurements, you'd swear there was a whole foot between them...

I was incorporating worms in their diet for awhile, but it got to be expensive to buy $2-3 worth of worms in what turns out to be maybe 2 feedings before they're frozen to death in the fridge. So, until I can figure out a way to keep them alive I may have to put that off...Now, I would just grab worms out of the yard since we don't use pesticides buuuut...we don't have any! As amazing as that sounds I have yet to see a single earthworm in over a year of living here. Believe me, I've tried. I've taken red lights out after a heavy rain, turned over rocks and logs...nothing. Not a single worm hole, not a single worm.

I have recently been considering starting a small guppy tank since to my knowledge they're easily bred, and they stay a small enough size I could easily feed even an entire adult or two to either Draco or Demi. We do have a well-established axolotl tank, I'll have to do some research, but assuming his water isn't toxic to them or anything I can make the basis of the guppy tank from his tank water and have a tank ready for them in half the time.

[bigsnakegirl785]

Draco was watching me intently while I photographed Homura, so I took his photo, too. :P While Demigod the forever voracious was snapping at me from his tank on the other side of the closet. I think he may be going into shed as well, he looked kinda dark and shiny in the face when I fed him earlier at least.

https://68.media.tumblr.com/d17ff0daf91442d39b59e0d28c6956fa/tumblr_okd1r0j1os1sjttato2_1280.jpg

If you expand the photo you'll see each of his scales have two tiny dots at the tip. They're pores, don't remember the exact name, and not sure what they're used for. I assume to let out oils when shedding and for moisture exchange but I honestly don't know. (Dang the photo isn't big enough to expand so you can see, but you can sorta make them out.)

https://68.media.tumblr.com/db9463ed5892f208cd0029a3263b8f8f/tumblr_okd1r0j1os1sjttato1_1280.jpg

[EL Ziggy]

Draco is looking good BSG. I just noticed that you have S, M, L, and XL snakes. That's pretty cool.

[bigsnakegirl785]

Draco is looking good BSG. I just noticed that you have S, M, L, and XL snakes. That's pretty cool.

lol Yup, I've got a pretty good variety.

[bigsnakegirl785]

Draco was actually pretty well behaved this time when I took him out. He didn't run away from me, and even came up to me and let me pick up without a fuss. I'm afraid to look outside the window for fear of flying pigs...

He's doing quite well on his 12-14 day feeding schedule! He's not too thin and is no longer *quite* as chunky.

My hand is all dirty from doing Cloud and River's bedding.

https://c1.staticflickr.com/5/4163/33683093673_b796264dc8_h.jpg

https://c1.staticflickr.com/5/4161/34493082775_eec5503e87_h.jpg

He has such an angry face, but a scaredy cat personality. lol

https://c1.staticflickr.com/5/4187/33683095333_19f7009de3_h.jpg

https://c1.staticflickr.com/5/4162/34493084355_235822bffc_h.jpg

Demigod on the other hand has me worried...I was 2 weeks late on his and Draco's feeding when my freezer failed recently, and when I went to check on him he was very limp and had lost some color. He has refused to eat twice now, but shed the other day so I'm going to try again. He's gone like 50+ days without food, and I'm afraid he might pass away soon if he doesn't eat and perk back up. :(

All but one of his other siblings have passed away now, all went pretty much the same way. They'd refuse to eat, go limp, and then pass. Me and his previous owner are thinking it's because their mom was so old that maybe their genes are weak. She died from old age 2 years after giving birth. None of our other animals have shown symptoms like that so I doubt it's contagious. If he does pass, I'll get a necropsy. So send good thoughts please. :(

[Albert Clark]

Wow, wishing you the best of luck with Demi. If he's refusing to eat for that long of a period of time I would consider brumating him. It's really unnatural for them to not be brumated, especially once they remain off food and appear healthy and uninjured. If they continue to accept food that's one thing but in a case like this I would consider the brumation and just make sure he has fresh drinking and soaking water. Maybe even mix in a little pedialite into the water. I would do a concentration of 50% pedialite/ water prior to brumation or until he appears somewhat rehydrated.

[bigsnakegirl785]

Wow, wishing you the best of luck with Demi. If he's refusing to eat for that long of a period of time I would consider brumating him. It's really unnatural for them to not be brumated, especially once they remain off food and appear healthy and uninjured. If they continue to accept food that's one thing but in a case like this I would consider the brumation and just make sure he has fresh drinking and soaking water. Maybe even mix in a little pedialite into the water. I would do a concentration of 50% pedialite/ water prior to brumation or until he appears somewhat rehydrated.

He has only refused to eat for about 2 weeks. The rest of the time was because I did not have food on hand to feed him, plus the 2 weeks I usually give him in between feedings. Draco has stood up to the time off food quite well, but only went maybe 30 days before I was able to feed him.

I do not have a way to brumate him, and even if I did he would likely perish before the brumation period was over.

[Albert Clark]

He has only refused to eat for about 2 weeks. The rest of the time was because I did not have food on hand to feed him, plus the 2 weeks I usually give him in between feedings. Draco has stood up to the time off food quite well, but only went maybe 30 days before I was able to feed him.

I do not have a way to brumate him, and even if I did he would likely perish before the brumation period was over. Oh, ok gotcha. If you did have a way to brumate him you would be surprised at the resiliency of garters with a empty stomach and cooling temperatures. As long as he is not sick and or injured but hydrated by drinking, soaking , or misting them they seem to prevail in my experience. Either way, good luck with him.

[bigsnakegirl785]

Oh, ok gotcha. If you did have a way to brumate him you would be surprised at the resiliency of garters with a empty stomach and cooling temperatures. As long as he is not sick and or injured but hydrated by drinking, soaking , or misting them they seem to prevail in my experience. Either way, good luck with him.

If he was healthy, that would be one thing. He's very very weak, and his previous owner has had garters die while brumating or soon after brumating if they weren't at 100% health.

If I get more garters I'll probably find something to use as a brumation chamber. All I have are my fridges, but they freeze everything inside them no matter what setting I have them on.

[dannybgoode]

Love your garters bsg. A snake i can see me owning. I have a 55g aquarium that I'm undecided what to do with and a garter setup is high on the list of ideas.

[bigsnakegirl785]

Good news is that Demi perked up a lot on Thursday, and finally ate two pinks for me. :) This was a few days after he shed, but perhaps he was so languid partly from the shed cycle. I'm thinking he should rebound just fine, he was a lot more active even before feeding him.

[Albert Clark]

Good news is that Demi perked up a lot on Thursday, and finally ate two pinks for me. :) This was a few days after he shed, but perhaps he was so languid partly from the shed cycle. I'm thinking he should rebound just fine, he was a lot more active even before feeding him. Fantastic! Thats great news. One thing that garters are is survivors. :yes: