Thamnophis Concinnus Slugfest... [Archive]

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Albert Clark

11-01-16, 03:26 AM

That really sums it up in my attempt to produce some hatchlings from my 2year old Oregon red spotted garter snake pair. They were brumated late in 2015 for 3 months at 55F. Brought them out in January 2016, beginning with a gradual increase in temps over a weeks time. Both virgin garter snakes and paired them, seeing numerous breedings and locks. Temps up to 78F ambient with a warm spot of 86F controlled in a rack and by thermostat. Locking together to the point where the female was dragging the male across the tub floor. She really didn't ever show signs of being gravid until late in July when she began to refuse food and start to appear thickened and rounded. Over the last 48 hours she has been laying slugs and has put a dent in my hopes for her this season. I am just hoping she passes all of the slugs and by some chance gives birth to at least one or two babies.

Albert Clark

11-01-16, 03:29 AM

Here is what I was looking at late last night. :eek:

Albert Clark

11-01-16, 04:37 AM

Once again, this is what i saw .... Sorry for the small photos, the yellow dark areas are the slugs ( unfertilized ova).

Albert Clark

11-01-16, 04:50 AM

Female Oregon red spotted..

Minkness

11-01-16, 08:43 AM

So sorry to hear this. =(

Better luck next year.

Albert Clark

11-01-16, 09:12 AM

So sorry to hear this. =(

Better luck next year.

Thanks Mink! She still has some bulging and protuberance at the lower third of her body. I presume there will be more expressed tissues and I will remain hopeful for hatchlings until it's pretty obvious she's done. :sad:

SWDK

11-01-16, 09:58 AM

Well that stinks Albert. Maybe she'll drop one viable baby. If not, hope you can get it going for next year and have some success.

Albert Clark

11-01-16, 10:03 AM

Well that stinks Albert. Maybe she'll drop one viable baby. If not, hope you can get it going for next year and have some success.

Thanks Dave, true. I do have several other garter projects ongoing and hope to be successful. :)

sirtalis

11-01-16, 10:50 AM

Dang, sorry about this man, good luck with the rest though.

RAD House

11-01-16, 11:45 AM

That is a bummer hopefully she passes them all. Any idea what caused it, or just a random occurrence?

Andy_G

11-01-16, 04:25 PM

Sorry for the misfortune, Ablert. Hopefully everything goes well and you can try again next season. Has the male fathered previous litters?

sattva

11-01-16, 04:56 PM

Andy_G

11-01-16, 05:09 PM

I sorry that you will not be have babies... I was under the impression that Garter snakes give live birth and that plugs where bad eggs... Sorry! I am pretty new at this and I am misunderstanding something here! Maybe someone could clarify this for me...

You're correct, but with live birth, the ova that weren't fertilized successfully are passed and called slugs.

Albert Clark

11-01-16, 05:44 PM

Dang, sorry about this man, good luck with the rest though.. Thanks sir! It happens in the scheme of things.

That is a bummer hopefully she passes them all. Any idea what caused it, or just a random occurrence?. Tyvm MC. I hope she passes them too. My thinking is it was both the female and males first time breeding thus poor viability in the sperm? They both are mature enough.

Sorry for the misfortune, Ablert. Hopefully everything goes well and you can try again next season. Has the male fathered previous litters?. Thank you Andy! Yes, I will. No, they both were virgins.

I sorry that you will not be have babies... I was under the impression that Garter snakes give live birth and that plugs where bad eggs... Sorry! I am pretty new at this and I am misunderstanding something here! Maybe someone could clarify this for me...

You're correct, but with live birth, the ova that weren't fertilized successfully are passed and called slugs.. Thanks for that clarification.

macandchz

11-01-16, 06:58 PM

such a shame, al. maybe you'll have good luck next season.

Albert Clark

11-05-16, 11:01 AM

such a shame, al. maybe you'll have good luck next season.

Thanks mac! For sure it's a setback but these things happen when you breed. She is back on feed and getting stronger. So many animals don't recover from this bc they either don't pass the slugs or have complications from it.