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  • 01-13-2014, 07:19 AM
    CloudtheBoa
    Draco, Albino Checkered Garter
    Draco is fairly new to me, but although he's not my favorite (I think of Cloud as my favorite without any regrets) he is definitely the most entertaining. I have him in a 5 gallon tank right now, but I eventually plan on getting a 20 gallon long or bigger by the end of my first year with him. I do like these tanks I saw at Petsmart. The largest is 20 gallons, but it opens from the front and comes with a decorative foam back! The fact it opens from the front is definitely a major factor in wanting to get it. He is proving to be a problem eater in that he's very picky in what he eats. He only eats live fish, and has so far refused both earthworms and mice. I've tried scenting them, I've tried whole worms so they move around more, I've tried small pieces, and I've tried tilapia and salmon filet. I've tried teasing with the worms and just letting them crawl around, but if he touches the worm he just rubs his face against the floor or wall to wipe the slime off and crawls away. The mice freak him out, like he think they're going to eat him or something. He rattles his tail around, flattens his head, and flings himself through the air to get away from it. So far the only method that works is holding him in one hand and lifting the fish up to him in a spoon. He ignores it if I leave it in his water bowl, he ignores it if I drop the fish in front of him so it flops around, and he ignores it if I just hold him over the fish. He's as particular as my ball python, if not more. :/

    He is incredibly silly, and highly interactive. If I come up to the tank and he sees me he comes right out of hiding up to the glass and looks me straight in the eye, following any movement I make. If people aren't around, he pretty much sticks to his hides (I poke my head out at him every once in awhile and I don't see him out whereas he's constantly on the move with company), but comes out to explore once people are there - he loves stalking and staring at people. All I have to do is look at him - I don't even need to move my head - and his head stiffens up with this comical head wobble of surprise. I can just imagine an exclamation point appearing above his head. lol He then either pulls his head into his hide or continues to stare.

    I was warned that being albino he would be photo-phobic, but he's proven to be the exact opposite. Once the timer kicks on and the light comes on, he comes out to check what's going on. Hopefully I can get some awesome shots of him outside once winter ends, if I can trust him enough. As it is, he's unpredictable when I handle him and he will jump to the floor at the drop of a pin. With constant work, he's calming down considerably and is more likely to just stretch his body out into the air and stare at me than fling himself off of it. He's even calmed down enough that I managed to get an accurate measurement of him: he's a teeny 9 inches long. :)

    His first meal with me. He held onto the meal he had before I got him, but he eventually passed it before I got worried enough to have him checked out (I don't want to imagine the scene that would happen if I tried to take this tiny snake to the vet's and he launched himself through the air like a tiny snake kamekaze):
    http://i1157.photobucket.com/albums/...psafc06057.jpg

    He looks so tiny...and he's definitely grown a decent amount since he arrived. That's also the poo he was holding onto in the corner:
    http://i1157.photobucket.com/albums/...pse8d14a89.jpg

    Grasping my knuckle with his head so that he he could crawl out from between my fingers and across the back of my hand:
    http://i1157.photobucket.com/albums/...ps48d01879.jpg

    http://i1157.photobucket.com/albums/...psa06b777d.jpg

    Soon...
    http://i1157.photobucket.com/albums/...ps31a0080f.jpg

    http://i1157.photobucket.com/albums/...psa2d89906.jpg

    http://i1157.photobucket.com/albums/...psbd4814d1.jpg

    http://i1157.photobucket.com/albums/...ps5c9724f6.jpg
  • 01-18-2014, 02:51 PM
    CloudtheBoa
    Draco has officially started his first shed with me! I noticed he was slightly blue yesterday, and when I took him out today he was very obviously blue.

    http://i1157.photobucket.com/albums/...ps51ba4ec1.jpg

    http://i1157.photobucket.com/albums/...psa86ac621.jpg

    http://i1157.photobucket.com/albums/...ps4578cc33.jpg

    http://i1157.photobucket.com/albums/...psc8e43412.jpg
  • 01-19-2014, 04:40 PM
    Bluebonnet Herp
    Wow. Checkered garter snakes are somewhat a favorite of mine, as I've caught them before in my flowerbed and while walking my dog. I think they're actually quite beautiful and very underrated. (I might need to get me one some day...)
    You have a nice albino! Very cool.
  • 01-19-2014, 06:26 PM
    CloudtheBoa
    Re: Draco, Albino Checkered Garter
    Quote:

    Originally Posted by pythonminion View Post
    Wow. Checkered garter snakes are somewhat a favorite of mine, as I've caught them before in my flowerbed and while walking my dog. I think they're actually quite beautiful and very underrated. (I might need to get me one some day...)
    You have a nice albino! Very cool.

    Definitely! He's the most interactive snake I've ever had, and he does well as a display snake because 9 times out of 10 when people are around, he's out and about being goofy. They also take up so little space and are so cheap to feed, it's easy to have a bunch. lol I'm actually expecting a second garter snake in the spring. An e-friend of mine is giving me one of her baby eastern garter snakes, a male named Demigod. He's already on mouse parts and taking them readily. Draco is proving to be difficult on that front, though. :rolleyes:
  • 01-19-2014, 07:25 PM
    Bluebonnet Herp
    I like the though of only having to get night crawlers at the nearby walmart and occasionally dusting them to feed my snake. Doesn't get any easier than that haha. (Provided it wasn't a picky eater, as you would know.)
    I also think that their color and markings are quite attractive, and that dot they have on their heads is just one of the prettiest things I've seen on a snake.
  • 01-19-2014, 07:47 PM
    CloudtheBoa
    Re: Draco, Albino Checkered Garter
    Quote:

    Originally Posted by pythonminion View Post
    I like the though of only having to get night crawlers at the nearby walmart and occasionally dusting them to feed my snake. Doesn't get any easier than that haha. (Provided it wasn't a picky eater, as you would know.)
    I also think that their color and markings are quite attractive, and that dot they have on their heads is just one of the prettiest things I've seen on a snake.

    I like feeding fish or rodents, because you'd have to feed them every other day on worms. With fish and rodents you only have to feed once a week, or about every half a week for fish filet. I'm hoping to get Draco to at least take rodents, and hopefully both of the garters will take a variety of food.

    The only slightly problematic thing for me is just how absolutely tiny they are as babies. Draco is only 9 inches long and weighs 4 grams, and he's active when handling. So, I need to have my eyes on him at all times, and it's more difficult to get photos of him because of that. Not saying photographing my ball python is easy, but he moves slower at least. lol I just feel like I'm gonna squish Draco every time I pick him up. XD
  • 01-21-2014, 06:36 AM
    Bluebonnet Herp
    Re: Draco, Albino Checkered Garter
    Quote:

    Originally Posted by CloudtheBoa View Post
    I like feeding fish or rodents, because you'd have to feed them every other day on worms. With fish and rodents you only have to feed once a week, or about every half a week for fish filet. I'm hoping to get Draco to at least take rodents, and hopefully both of the garters will take a variety of food.

    The only slightly problematic thing for me is just how absolutely tiny they are as babies. Draco is only 9 inches long and weighs 4 grams, and he's active when handling. So, I need to have my eyes on him at all times, and it's more difficult to get photos of him because of that. Not saying photographing my ball python is easy, but he moves slower at least. lol I just feel like I'm gonna squish Draco every time I pick him up. XD

    Commercial earthworms are only 2 minutes away at the nearby Walmart. I'd have no trouble; all I'd have to do is buy some with my groceries.
    They are quite small and squirmy but something about that I found enjoyable whenever I managed to catch them. They were awesome to release too because of the way they moved was so liquid and surreal, they looked like miniature flying serpents. Definitely a lot different than my sluggish ball pythons.
    You're really making me consider getting one now lol. Here I though I'd be a Boa-or-Python-Only-(Maybe-A-Lizard) guy.
  • 01-21-2014, 12:38 PM
    CloudtheBoa
    Re: Draco, Albino Checkered Garter
    Quote:

    Originally Posted by pythonminion View Post
    Commercial earthworms are only 2 minutes away at the nearby Walmart. I'd have no trouble; all I'd have to do is buy some with my groceries.
    They are quite small and squirmy but something about that I found enjoyable whenever I managed to catch them. They were awesome to release too because of the way they moved was so liquid and surreal, they looked like miniature flying serpents. Definitely a lot different than my sluggish ball pythons.
    You're really making me consider getting one now lol. Here I though I'd be a Boa-or-Python-Only-(Maybe-A-Lizard) guy.

    It will also depend on whether or not the snake will take the earthworms. I've been told checkereds readily take earthworms, but Draco turns his snout up at them. You'll just have to see. Whatever it will take it will be cheap because they stay small (2-3ft). :) Their humidity requirements are ridiculously low, so you don't really need a hygrometer and they do well in tanks because of their low temps and humidity. It's been around 10-13% humidity in the house and I haven't been spraying his tank or anything. I do have some EcoEarth in his tank for looks, but I've let it dry out and he still shed a perfect shed. To be safe, you can still spray them down anyway.


    Draco shed yesterday, so here are some photos of his fresh paint job. :D

    http://i1157.photobucket.com/albums/...ps42c50c31.jpg

    http://i1157.photobucket.com/albums/...psbf932446.jpg

    http://i1157.photobucket.com/albums/...ps8b3e1924.jpg

    http://i1157.photobucket.com/albums/...ps7c6f35a2.jpg

    I also made use of the huge appetite snakes get after they shed, and offered some scented pinky mouse parts. He took two legs willingly, and even just about ripped the second piece out of the tweezers. He didn't want a third, though, and just fear-struck it. Not sure if this is a fluke or not, but I'll be getting him a guppy in the next few days and I'll try the other pinky with it. I'll get it today if I can because the weather channel is calling for snow later in the day.
  • 01-21-2014, 03:33 PM
    Bluebonnet Herp
    Re: Draco, Albino Checkered Garter
    Quote:

    Originally Posted by CloudtheBoa View Post
    It will also depend on whether or not the snake will take the earthworms. I've been told checkereds readily take earthworms, but Draco turns his snout up at them. You'll just have to see. Whatever it will take it will be cheap because they stay small (2-3ft). :) Their humidity requirements are ridiculously low, so you don't really need a hygrometer and they do well in tanks because of their low temps and humidity. It's been around 10-13% humidity in the house and I haven't been spraying his tank or anything. I do have some EcoEarth in his tank for looks, but I've let it dry out and he still shed a perfect shed. To be safe, you can still spray them down anyway.

    Considering they're native here, I'd just match them to outdoor conditions. Shoot, I could even brumate them outside. And yeah, fish bait, mice, or fish, finding food for them is easy as cake.
    He's looking good! Say, could you get a size comparison pic, like next to something like a sharpie or some other sort of common household object. Man, those big red eyes remind me of Invader Zim...
  • 01-21-2014, 11:15 PM
    aaront126
    awesome snake, I may have to get a garter some day, but I've got my eyes set on something else first...
  • 01-22-2014, 04:27 PM
    CloudtheBoa
    Re: Draco, Albino Checkered Garter
    Quote:

    Originally Posted by pythonminion View Post
    Considering they're native here, I'd just match them to outdoor conditions. Shoot, I could even brumate them outside. And yeah, fish bait, mice, or fish, finding food for them is easy as cake.
    He's looking good! Say, could you get a size comparison pic, like next to something like a sharpie or some other sort of common household object. Man, those big red eyes remind me of Invader Zim...

    I would be careful brumating outside, it can get colder or warmer than what you need since you can't control the temps. Sure, wild snakes survive it in the wild but if it gets too cold some can die and it if gets warm enough to get them active again and they don't get back in their den they can get locked out in the cold. Garters normally brumate together as well, which keeps them slightly warmer than they would out in the open. I wouldn't keep it any colder than 40F. Of course, it would be easier to skip brumation altogether so you don't have to worry about slowly lowering/rising temps and watching temps. :P They don't have to brumate, and I'm not brumating Draco. As long as you keep their temps nice and warm and stable they won't go into brumation.

    Quote:

    Originally Posted by aaront126 View Post
    awesome snake, I may have to get a garter some day, but I've got my eyes set on something else first...

    They are fun. :D What are you getting?
  • 01-22-2014, 07:24 PM
    Badgemash
    He's so stinking cute! I love the little dot on top of his head. I cannot get over the cuteness, thanks for that, I needed something cheerful at the moment and he totally did the trick! :D
  • 01-22-2014, 07:31 PM
    fishdip
    I use to feed the ones I had with frogs. of where I lived tho I was able to collect the frogs from the snakes natural habitat.
  • 01-22-2014, 11:41 PM
    aaront126
    Re: Draco, Albino Checkered Garter
    Quote:

    Originally Posted by CloudtheBoa View Post



    They are fun. :D What are you getting?

    A Sunglow Motley Corn caught my eye recently, should be set up by the end of the weekend, hope they still have one left since they only have 2 as of this morning!
  • 01-23-2014, 12:26 AM
    Kenj620
    I love garters! they are so alert and have amazing personalities. You have a very beautiful animal there!
  • 01-23-2014, 12:56 PM
    CloudtheBoa
    Re: Draco, Albino Checkered Garter
    Quote:

    Originally Posted by aaront126 View Post
    A Sunglow Motley Corn caught my eye recently, should be set up by the end of the weekend, hope they still have one left since they only have 2 as of this morning!

    How nice! I hope you get (got?) it. :)
  • 01-23-2014, 07:52 PM
    CloudtheBoa
    Re: Draco, Albino Checkered Garter
    Quote:

    Originally Posted by pythonminion View Post
    Considering they're native here, I'd just match them to outdoor conditions. Shoot, I could even brumate them outside. And yeah, fish bait, mice, or fish, finding food for them is easy as cake.
    He's looking good! Say, could you get a size comparison pic, like next to something like a sharpie or some other sort of common household object. Man, those big red eyes remind me of Invader Zim...

    I didn't get a photo of him next to anything, but I did get a video so maybe that will give you a better idea of his size. I'll get around to getting a photo like that at some point, but he's just so difficult to work with.

    I was going to wait until next week to feed him again but he just digested those pinky legs so quickly...I gave him a nice-sized chunk this time, though, so hopefully this will last longer.

    http://i1157.photobucket.com/albums/...ps6c110202.jpg

    And a video of him. I tried the mouse parts unscented at first, but he didn't want them, so I ended up having to scent them again. I just dip them in some fish water.
    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mOA2-zfh_EA
  • 01-23-2014, 08:21 PM
    Lupe
    I almost got a pair (worked at petco and these guys were the only snakes we ever carried) but figured if I'm going to have a project other than balls I'd breed my Blue Beauty. I wish I could help with the feeding but ours were all good with pinky mice (they were pretty well grown when we got them in) and minnows. Never did get to try earth worms.
  • 01-23-2014, 08:25 PM
    CloudtheBoa
    Re: Draco, Albino Checkered Garter
    Quote:

    Originally Posted by Lupe View Post
    I almost got a pair (worked at petco and these guys were the only snakes we ever carried) but figured if I'm going to have a project other than balls I'd breed my Blue Beauty. I wish I could help with the feeding but ours were all good with pinky mice (they were pretty well grown when we got them in) and minnows. Never did get to try earth worms.

    I got this guy from BHB, an e-friend of mine on another website got me interested in a couple of garters when she offered to give me one of her eastern babies (T. s. sirtalis). She wanted to wait until the weather warmed up and she got him on pinkies for me, though. Hopefully he'll be coming in in the next few months, weather permitting. She does updates on the snakes every once in awhile and mine is the biggest of the litter, chowing down mice and getting all chubby. :D
  • 01-23-2014, 08:28 PM
    fishdip
    Re: Draco, Albino Checkered Garter
    Quote:

    Originally Posted by CloudtheBoa View Post
    I got this guy from BHB, an e-friend of mine on another website got me interested in a couple of garters when she offered to give me one of her eastern babies (T. s. sirtalis). She wanted to wait until the weather warmed up and she got him on pinkies for me, though. Hopefully he'll be coming in in the next few months, weather permitting. She does updates on the snakes every once in awhile and mine is the biggest of the litter, chowing down mice and getting all chubby. :D

    How did you like working with BHB?
  • 01-23-2014, 08:32 PM
    CloudtheBoa
    Re: Draco, Albino Checkered Garter
    Quote:

    Originally Posted by fishdip View Post
    How did you like working with BHB?

    I didn't personally talk with them because I was in class at the time, but my mom says they were really nice and personable and were willing to work with a schedule. He arrived here in perfect health the next day, just with that bit of poo that he eventually passed. So, it was a good experience and I got a nice animal. I would buy from them again. :gj:
  • 01-28-2014, 08:03 PM
    CloudtheBoa
    I got a photo of Draco next to an average-sized pinky mouse. The only reason he sat still was because he was getting excited by the scent of the mouse.
    http://i1157.photobucket.com/albums/...ps58c67f04.jpg

    This was the 4th successful feeding with mice, and this time he actually took the chunks unscented! Just like last time, he started doing laps around his tank once he got a whiff of the thawing rat, and when it seemed he was going to take the rats unscented this time I made him hunt for it. :P I waived the two chunks I gave him a few inches away, around the side of the water bowl, and he crawled after them hungrily and took them from the tweezers without any hesitation.
  • 02-07-2014, 09:02 PM
    CloudtheBoa
    In his bowl for a bit of a swim. I'm hoping to put a decent part of one side of his permanent tank as a large swimming pool, since he seems to like to take a dip every once in awhile.
    http://i1157.photobucket.com/albums/...ps1616fd93.jpg

    I got a new decoration for him recently, a fake vine plant. He liked it for the first few hours, but I haven't seen him hanging out in it since.
    http://i1157.photobucket.com/albums/...ps936a01c8.jpg

    http://i1157.photobucket.com/albums/...pscf4948c6.jpg

    http://i1157.photobucket.com/albums/...psde4fea2f.jpg

    http://i1157.photobucket.com/albums/...psf150685a.jpg

    http://i1157.photobucket.com/albums/...ps80446dce.jpg

    http://i1157.photobucket.com/albums/...ps967ad1f8.jpg

    http://i1157.photobucket.com/albums/...psc9646151.jpg

    Hanging out at the top of the plant.
    http://i1157.photobucket.com/albums/...ps46f14039.jpg

    I moved the camera slightly and it spooked him. lol He shot out of the plant like a bullet shortly after.
    http://i1157.photobucket.com/albums/...psca9a1499.jpg
  • 02-18-2014, 06:36 PM
    Boanerges
    Colors pop!! Very pretty :gj:
  • 02-22-2014, 12:08 AM
    CloudtheBoa
    Took some new photos of Draco today. He's starting to get rather fat, so I may reduce the size of his pinky parts, or space out his feedings.

    Any advice on which would be better?

    http://i1157.photobucket.com/albums/...psb50fc78f.jpg

    He's see-through! :D
    http://i1157.photobucket.com/albums/...pseeec0b87.jpg

    http://i1157.photobucket.com/albums/...ps253000b2.jpg
  • 02-22-2014, 02:07 AM
    Bluebonnet Herp
    With more pics, there is greater want in this one...
    He's looking better with every update! I'm not sure he's getting fat, although I'm not a garter owner (yet) but I would just say he's just growing since he's still a little guy.
  • 02-22-2014, 05:15 PM
    aaront126
    Re: Draco, Albino Checkered Garter
    Quote:

    Originally Posted by CloudtheBoa View Post
    How nice! I hope you get (got?) it. :)

    Just arrived the other day finally after waiting for weeks for the weather to warm up enough to ship. They had 2 of the sunglow's left when ordered mine back in Jan.
  • 02-23-2014, 09:51 PM
    CloudtheBoa
    Re: Draco, Albino Checkered Garter
    Quote:

    Originally Posted by pythonminion View Post
    With more pics, there is greater want in this one...
    He's looking better with every update! I'm not sure he's getting fat, although I'm not a garter owner (yet) but I would just say he's just growing since he's still a little guy.

    Could be. lol I'm used to snake's necks being smaller around than their head, so maybe having the neck the same circumference is normal for garters. He was looking a slight bit heavy around his cloaca as well, but with how often he poops that could have just been a poo getting ready to come out. I can take him out again and look.

    He's growing pretty fast now, too. :D He was roughly 6-7 inches when I got him, and he's now right around 10 inches.

    Quote:

    Originally Posted by aaront126 View Post
    Just arrived the other day finally after waiting for weeks for the weather to warm up enough to ship. They had 2 of the sunglow's left when ordered mine back in Jan.

    Congrats! :D I'm still waiting on word about my little garter, but I'll be putting up his profile once I have word he'll be on his way. :)
  • 02-23-2014, 10:59 PM
    CloudtheBoa
  • 02-24-2014, 12:21 AM
    CloudtheBoa
    Video #1.
    Just some of his activity from outside the tank. I was trying to get him to follow my finger for you guys, but he wasn't interested that day. >.>
    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yJSa7ZCBALU
  • 02-24-2014, 12:23 AM
    CloudtheBoa
    Video #2 because only one video per post.
    http://youtu.be/6fOSxTOiP7g
  • 03-02-2014, 09:05 PM
    CloudtheBoa
    So, Draco's started his second shed with me. :D I first noticed it yesterday, when I went to feed him and his eyes were slightly blued over.

    This shows his blueness really well.
    http://i1157.photobucket.com/albums/...psa0f31f20.jpg

    http://i1157.photobucket.com/albums/...ps0ae18a5a.jpg

    http://i1157.photobucket.com/albums/...pseb12f5ea.jpg

    His head isn't in focus, but I like how well his scales showed up.
    http://i1157.photobucket.com/albums/...ps4f7093dc.jpg

    http://i1157.photobucket.com/albums/...psdbe8666d.jpg
  • 03-11-2014, 09:52 PM
    CloudtheBoa
  • 03-11-2014, 09:55 PM
    CloudtheBoa
  • 06-11-2014, 10:19 PM
    CloudtheBoa
    I finally got Draco a new tank last month. A 20 gallon with front-opening doors. I've also been keeping his bedding deep enough to bury, which he spends most of his time doing and rarely ventures above ground. He no longer hunts for his mice, so I just set them out on his piece of styrofoam and he grabs it when he feels it's safe enough. Right now, I have a half-log hide and a large piece of cardboard taking up space, but I'd like to add another vine or two and maybe branch to span the back or something for climbing and decoration.

    A little entrance leading to one of Draco's many tunnels.
    http://i1157.photobucket.com/albums/...psfbbab5fa.jpg

    http://i1157.photobucket.com/albums/...ps280f7242.jpg

    http://i1157.photobucket.com/albums/...psdaad747d.jpg

    http://i1157.photobucket.com/albums/...psbbe0b85b.jpg

    http://i1157.photobucket.com/albums/...ps345c5e22.jpg
  • 10-17-2014, 06:53 AM
    CloudtheBoa
    So, Draco turned a year old earlier this month, and he is about 12 grams and 12-16 inches long. He's started becoming more active lately, and has taken his mice from the tongs several times, where he had stopped doing that for awhile.

    I still don't trust him on the ground outside, but I did take a few photos of him outside in Cloud's weighing tub with some grass blades to hide under and use for purchase.

    http://fc05.deviantart.net/fs71/i/20...ne-d7yk1x6.jpg

    http://fc04.deviantart.net/fs71/i/20...ne-d7yk1l2.jpg

    http://fc02.deviantart.net/fs71/i/20...ne-d7yk1ra.jpg

    http://fc04.deviantart.net/fs71/i/20...ne-d7wyu2i.jpg

    http://fc05.deviantart.net/fs71/i/20...ne-d7qu8x9.jpg

    http://fc05.deviantart.net/fs70/i/20...ne-d7uzd4f.jpg
  • 10-17-2014, 09:59 AM
    Pyrate81
    Super pretty snake. Ty for the pics. :)

    The pic with the grass blades is awesome.
  • 10-24-2014, 11:27 AM
    CloudtheBoa
    Some photos from earlier this week.

    http://i1157.photobucket.com/albums/...ps44cb8de5.jpg

    Taking photos in the shade makes his purples look blue. In person, it still appears purple even in the shade, but his colors stand out more.
    http://i1157.photobucket.com/albums/...ps6b4d8cac.jpg
  • 10-29-2014, 12:03 PM
    CloudtheBoa
    Draco weighed in at 15 grams yesterday, so he's put on 3 grams in a little over a month. Today's his feeding day, so I know he's empty (his pinkies wouldn't add much weight anyways lol).

    I think I read somewhere that this is indicative of sexual maturity, but he recently got some swelling in the area where his hemipenes are.
    http://fc06.deviantart.net/fs71/i/20...ne-d844cyi.jpg

    And some general outdoor photos.
    http://fc03.deviantart.net/fs70/i/20...ne-d844d3y.jpg

    http://fc03.deviantart.net/fs71/i/20...ne-d844d5p.jpg

    http://fc00.deviantart.net/fs70/i/20...ne-d844d0y.jpg

    http://fc04.deviantart.net/fs71/i/20...ne-d844czs.jpg

    I actually got a good capture of his tongue!
    http://fc07.deviantart.net/fs71/i/20...ne-d844d2v.jpg
  • 10-29-2014, 01:10 PM
    Bluebonnet Herp
    Wow has he grown. Beautiful, beautiful, beautiful! :)
  • 10-29-2014, 11:15 PM
    CloudtheBoa
    Seems I missed a photo, woops. lol

    Here's a really nice belly shot to make up for that. :)
    http://fc06.deviantart.net/fs71/i/20...ne-d84modb.jpg
  • 11-30-2014, 05:24 PM
    CloudtheBoa
    I switched Draco to aspen last week, and the poor guy seemed so upset by the change. lol He spent several hours pacing his tank and checking out everything before he decided everything was fine and burying himself. Despite this change, he ate for me the next day, which is awesome. Unfortunately, there's no new photos of him either. :/ I was just about to go get update photos of his tank when my camera broke.
  • 01-26-2015, 07:04 AM
    CloudtheBoa
    Re: Draco, Albino Checkered Garter
    Draco is still steadily growing it seems. He's put on another gram in the past month, and now weighs 17 grams.

    http://tapatalk.imageshack.com/v2/15...d156704080.jpg

    http://tapatalk.imageshack.com/v2/15...309036a122.jpg

    http://tapatalk.imageshack.com/v2/15...3f885966a7.jpg


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  • 02-24-2015, 06:11 PM
    CloudtheBoa
    Draco, Albino Checkered Garter
    I weighed Draco yesterday, and he's put on another gram, and now weighs 18 grams.

    I also decided to feed him two pinkies this feeding since the pinkies don't seem to leave much of a bulge anymore. He took both with gusto! So with the increase in food, he may have another growth spurt.


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  • 02-24-2015, 07:00 PM
    Albert Clark
    Re: Draco, Albino Checkered Garter
    Quote:

    Originally Posted by CloudtheBoa View Post
    I like feeding fish or rodents, because you'd have to feed them every other day on worms. With fish and rodents you only have to feed once a week, or about every half a week for fish filet. I'm hoping to get Draco to at least take rodents, and hopefully both of the garters will take a variety of food.

    The only slightly problematic thing for me is just how absolutely tiny they are as babies. Draco is only 9 inches long and weighs 4 grams, and he's active when handling. So, I need to have my eyes on him at all times, and it's more difficult to get photos of him because of that. Not saying photographing my ball python is easy, but he moves slower at least. lol I just feel like I'm gonna squish Draco every time I pick him up. XD

    Hi CloudtheBoa, I can tell you are enjoying Draco but just be cognizant of how afraid and stressed he an become by overhandling. Reptiles in general dislike being held especially for extended periods of time. More especially, baby snakes are easily stressed when held. This can definitely carry over to refusals to feed. I work with several species of garters including Albino checkered. The sooner you get him on whole rodents per meal the healthier he will be. Fish and earthworms, nightcrawlers are ok occasionally but the staple and complete nutrition is rodent based. He is lucky to have you looking out for him!!! Enjoy. Stay in peace and not in pieces. A.C.
  • 02-24-2015, 07:09 PM
    CloudtheBoa
    Re: Draco, Albino Checkered Garter
    Quote:

    Originally Posted by Albert Clark View Post
    Hi CloudtheBoa, I can tell you are enjoying Draco but just be cognizant of how afraid and stressed he an become by overhandling. Reptiles in general dislike being held especially for extended periods of time. More especially, baby snakes are easily stressed when held. This can definitely carry over to refusals to feed. I work with several species of garters including Albino checkered. The sooner you get him on whole rodents per meal the healthier he will be. Fish and earthworms, nightcrawlers are ok occasionally but the staple and complete nutrition is rodent based. He is lucky to have you looking out for him!!! Enjoy. Stay in peace and not in pieces. A.C.

    This thread is fairly old, so that post is also old! He's grown a lot since then and is much older now, and has been on whole pinkies for awhile now. In fact, I just began feeding him two pinkies per feeding, as the pinkies are getting small for him.

    I have only been handling him to weigh him lately, and he's become quite difficult to handle. Before, I was only handling him once or twice every 2 weeks for 10-15 minutes each handling session, so by no means over-handling him. I'm well aware that over-handling stresses them out! Which is why I started only handling him to weigh him. But, with him becoming unruly I may start handling him 1-2 times a week.

    He rarely ever goes off food, and usually it's because I try to feed him at the wrong time of the day, which is nice.

    The only ones that get handled more than once a month as of right now are my two boas, and I try to handle them as often as possible. This is because they are the two that tolerate handling the best.


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  • 03-03-2015, 01:51 AM
    CloudtheBoa
    Draco, Albino Checkered Garter
    Here are some photos. They were taken 5 days after he ate, so I think he was empty, but having eaten two pinkies rather than one, he may still have had some food in him. I weighed him at 20 grams, but I'll give him a few more weeks before I weigh him again to make sure.

    In the jar I now weigh him in, since he jumps out of the bowl I used to use, which I now use for Sanji since I can't use it for anyone else.
    http://tapatalk.imageshack.com/v2/15...a40331a6e7.jpg

    http://tapatalk.imageshack.com/v2/15...a7e2538818.jpg


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  • 03-04-2015, 12:49 PM
    CloudtheBoa
    Re: Draco, Albino Checkered Garter
    He took two pinkies again this feeding. He took the first one from the tongs but I had to lay the other one in his tank, although he did hunt after it as I moved it. Turns out he may just be scared of the tongs. lol I found the tweezers I used to feed him from and he took it from me with no problems. What a weirdo. >.>

    http://tapatalk.imageshack.com/v2/15...a705b3f6e8.jpg


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  • 03-04-2015, 03:04 PM
    anicatgirl
    He is such a pretty boy! This thread has gotten me interested in garters for my second snake :D
  • 03-04-2015, 03:19 PM
    AlexisFitzy
    Re: Draco, Albino Checkered Garter
    This little guy is so stinking cute!! :)
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