2020 Plains Garter Litters

[CloudtheBoa]

I had two litter of garters born recently.

Leeloo had 19 babies and 0 stillborns on 8/2. So far they've taken earthworms and silverside pieces, but I haven't been able to get them to take any rodent parts yet. I tried offering the ASF feet/tails together with the worm pieces on platter, but no luck. I'd scent with fish, but most of the litter isn't a big fan of it. I've been thinking of getting those frog Reptilinks to try them on, and see if that will help get more to eat on feeding days. The most I've gotten to eat in one day was 17, but it jumps around each feeding day.

Summer had 25 babies and 5 stillborns on 8/7. I could see she still had babies in her after the initial birthing, but after 3 hours she still hadn't passed them. I didn't feel any when I palpated, but I'm not experienced with palpating gravid snakes. I figured she was done, or would pass the others on her own time, so I left her alone. Well, 2 days later she gave birth to another 4 live babies, and another stillborn. She continues to do well and is getting her appetite back: Lee also took a few days after birth to get her appetite worked up.

Here are some of Lee's babies freshly fed.



And one of the babies doing what it does best: climbing up the tub walls. Summer's babies don't seem as inclined to climb the walls to sit on the handles as Lee's babies are. I have yet to see any of them hanging out up there, but they do love magnetic vine I put in there.



I'll try to get some pics of Summer's babies here soon, there's one baby in there that has a really interesting color to it. Brighter than any of its siblings, and slightly faded looking.