Hi all! A little background on myself:
I moved from east Texas (beautiful lakes and forests BURSTING with herp life) to southern Michigan (so far seemingly devoid of most herps) last Aug. Well, it seems that spring has arrived (finally) after my first bitter winter to ever see snow.
I began my traditional snakehunts one week ago, and thus my first time herping in Michigan. I've done much research as to the native species, and so far in 5 days have managed to see 3 of those 17 species. (There are 18, but one is found only in the upper peninsula.)
The second day out and about, I came across nothing for hours in the woods, gave up, and found two Eastern Garters as I exitted the forest into a large field... figures. I kept both, as one was considerably smaller (about 8 inches, pencil thin) but has dark brown stripes on a black body. The larger is about 20 inches, give or take, and has the "normal" yellowish stripes, but also has red speckling on either side of the central stipe on most of its body. (I tried feeding them 4 small goldfish, and after 3 days the fish were gasping for air as the snakes swam around them in the bowl, so into the bird-bath went the fish, never to be seen again.....)
Day 3, 2 days ago, I found next to nothing herping another area (only some frogs, many birds, chipmonks, and some larger mammal; perhaps a woodchuck or beaver?). Yesterday, on the other side of town, I found a large (about 26 inches) Butlers Garter Snake right next to a (possibly) Norther Water Snake. (Could have been a copper-bellied, but I didn't get to see its underside.) Of all the snakes I've handled, this Butlers Garter got me the worst. My finger bled in 3 places, but I did manage to calm it down enough to get some cool pics before releasing it.
This morning also turned up nothing of interest except (I believe) a Blanchards ??? Oriele (black with BRILLIANT orange feathers) courting a female. Apon returning home, I got a call from the same house who's field turned up the first two garters that 2 more had been found, and that I just HAD to see the colors, so I (of course) immediately rushed over!!! The smaller of the two was a tad bigger than the larger of the first two, about 22 inches to possibly 2 feet, but had much more red than the first. The best was for last, though. It has to a "she". "She's" about 30 inches, probably more, pretty nice girth (about an inch across when "she" flattens out a little). The 3 stripes are an awesome faded jade green on a dark hunter green base with black "checkers/spots" between the stripes. "Her" belly is an even nicer shade of light sea green. Not only the size makes me think its a girl, but the last third of it seems thicker than the rest, so I believe that either she had a large frog for dinner, or is gravid, possibly by the "red-sided" garter found next to it.
The coolest part is what happened tonight. All four garters are in a large sterlite plastic container with a secure lid, and seem fine with each other. (I usually work with kings and milks, so it makes me nervous to have them all together like that, especially with the size differences...) Since the fish had NO reaction, I tried buying pesticide-free "night crawlers". They INHALED them. All but the smallest anyway. It seemed more intent on escaping than eating.
What I'd like to ask you guys/girls in the forum are these questions: Is it possible that "she" is a "she" and could be gravid at this time of year in Michigan, and if so, how soon could she deliver? How many worms are too many according to size, or will the only eat their fill? I will do my own research as well, but how often should they be fed? Are earthworms a good staple food diet, or should I incorporate other forms of food? Is it okay for long-term captives to be housed together like this, or do I need more containers, especially with the possibility of a "litter" on the way? Have garters been know to canabalize? Best way to rid of any parasites safely?
Any input from anyone would be welcome! Thanx for reading my "story"!!!
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~Venom~
Hybrid Breeders Association
