how to tell if a garter snake is pregnant

Nausea and vomiting, diarrhea, anxiety, headaches, dizziness and blurred vision. Unlike other snakes that are ambush hunters, the garter snake is an active hunter. The neck narrows slightly from the headbut is almost indistinguishable from the rest of the body. If the checkerboard pattern is light in color, this might suggest it is, in fact, a common garter snake rather than a checkered garter snake. Knowing what climate your snake originates from will be helpful in recreating that climate during breeding time. Selective Breeding Wanting Certain Characteristics, Survival Of Eggs Requires The Right Temperatures, The Breeding Of Corn Snakes are dictated by the season. A nest box must be set up in the early stages of a females pregnancy. Some snakes need to see their food moving to kickstart their appetite. Here, you can read an article we recently wrote that talks more about garter snakes as pets, including what their terrarium should look like, and what the best way to get a garter snake is. This theory may seem more likely than the previous one, considering that it is consistent with how language works. Your female snake may also lose some weight during pregnancy due to her lack of appetite. The snake will stay in sunny areas this will be the case as they are warming their pregnant body up. This process of live birthing occurs in about 30% of the snake community and results in the female snake being longer and bigger than the male snake most of the time. This can include up to 25 male snakes. Increased production of saliva and sweat. There will be a change in temperament she is agitated, defensive and nervous. I "explain the how to" od snake identification, whether or not it is a. Since garter snakes, like all snakes, are cold-blooded, they need to go through this sort of hibernation called brumation. Our mission at Pet Keen is to make the life of you and your pets easier and even more enjoyable. If it isnt cleaned quickly, the snake could get sick. Some owners believe that lighting is unnecessary. To create this article, volunteer authors worked to edit and improve it over time. Garter snakes give birth to live babies rather than eggs. Controlling temperature is the largest factor in ensuring that your eggs survive till hatching time. Garter snakes are cold-blooded (ectothermic), so youll need a heat lamp or pad to regulate their body temperature. Size: Don't bump into a 3-meter long snake and try to interact with it thinking that it's a garter snake. According to Northern State University, theyll consume grasshoppers, earthworms, frogs, toads, salamanders, small birds, rodents and other small mammals. Jen has over 23 years of experience living and caring for all types of pets from axolotls, snakes, rabbits, turtles to dogs and cats. Luckily for the garter snake, very few of these creatures would be able to fight back much, so it has its pick of prey. However, if your garter snake has gone 2 weeks without eating, this is a red flag and should be investigated. Garter snakes come in various colors often black or brown, though red, green, and other colors are possible as well. These are the eggs inside the snake. Although many garter snakes are tame, it is best to assume they are not until proved otherwise. Its more likely that the female mated before you adopted her, as some female snakes have the unique ability to store viable sperm for up to 6 years! This is because the high temperatures cause the water to evaporate and moisten the enclosure. If a snake appeared in a sensual dream Snakes can also symbolize male sexual energy vis--vis "their shape," Loewenberg says. Garter snakes have been known to live inforests, woodlands, fields, grasslands, and lawns. When possible, Embora Pets uses affiliate links (at no additional cost to you). Be gentle as youdo this. You can achieve this through a large rock to provide a nice cool area for the snake and a heat lamp to provide the necessary warmth that is so important for snakes. Difficulty breathing, or in serious cases, complete loss of breath. She has owned and cared for many breeds of dogs including her German Shepherd named Jet. Many snake owners also take pride in breeding their snake and raising the young. Given this limitation, the snakes cannot be picky anything that can fit inside their mouth. You can tell a female has become gravid when her skin stretches, spreading out her scales. Jen has over 23 years of experience living and caring for all types of pets from axolotls, snakes, rabbits, turtles to dogs and cats. Subspecies of the snake are also found as far southwest as New Mexico and in parts of northern Mexico. Babies are born 12-18 inches (30 to 45 cm) long and can be up to 3 feet (92 cm) long after one year, according to Stanford University . For terrarium recommendations, check this article. It is also important to keep the water clean. Keeping the correct temperature consistent is vital, and though she will naturally seek out cooler parts of her tank, she may still want to lay under a heat lamp occasionally too. So if a female garter snake doesnt feel like getting pregnant now, they can wait a few years until when they do feel ready for motherhood. The main strategy of the garter snake is to eat their prey live and whole. Their stripes are in a different location on their bodies. As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases. This can create a bit of a problem when you are trying tobreed your snake. The gravid female feeds well for about 3 to 5 weeks after mating and then the appetite will slacken as the female approaches the prenatal shed. wikiHow is a wiki, similar to Wikipedia, which means that many of our articles are co-written by multiple authors. While there is no garden snake to be confused with the garter snake, the correct term is garter snake. The name garter snake has been in use for over 200 years, but that length of use does not help to pin down information about the names origin. This diversity has led them to spread out and adapt over a fair stretch of land. However, in captivity, they can, They are low maintenance, but not zero maintenance. Check periodically for health problems, such as worms, mites, blister disease, and gastrointestinal parasites. The aquatic garter snakes are usually found in water environments. {"smallUrl":"https:\/\/www.wikihow.com\/images\/thumb\/3\/3a\/Identify-Garden-Snakes-Step-1.jpg\/v4-460px-Identify-Garden-Snakes-Step-1.jpg","bigUrl":"\/images\/thumb\/3\/3a\/Identify-Garden-Snakes-Step-1.jpg\/aid5538102-v4-728px-Identify-Garden-Snakes-Step-1.jpg","smallWidth":460,"smallHeight":345,"bigWidth":728,"bigHeight":546,"licensing":"