how to tell if a garter snake is pregnant

However, if your garter snake has gone 2 weeks without eating, this is a red flag and should be investigated. If youre trying to introduce a new food, but youre not having any success, try scenting the new food with the food that your snake is already accustomed to eating. This could be achieved with an incandescent bulb or a reptile basking light. If a snake appeared in a sensual dream Snakes can also symbolize male sexual energy vis--vis "their shape," Loewenberg says. She has owned and cared for many breeds of dogs including her German Shepherd named Jet. For captive snakes, you need to be aware of what to expect those first few weeks. They can store sperm for up to five years! Your female may stop eating, become more aggressive, change color, and prefer the cooler area of her tank suddenly, all of which could be potential signs of pregnancy. It would be hard to offer such a variety in captivity, but you should try to vary your snakes diet. Some female snakes will expose their underbelly when they are basking in warm light. However, if the snake is about to shed its skin, the eyes might be a bit cloudy. Most female snakes will become thicker in the area from theirmidpoint to their vent. You wouldnt think that the name of a snake would be that big of a deal, but, crazy as it may seem, it is. 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 . Their calm temperament, small size, and harmless bite make them the ideal pet for any budding herpetologist. Ribbon Snake Locations. This may damage or kill the baby snake who may still be attached to the egg by its umbilical cord. Garter snakes will be much easier to keep clean in a laboratory-style tank which has some well-chosen pieces of furniture and suitable substrate. Luckily for the garter snake, very few of these creatures would be able to fight back much, so it has its pick of prey. 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 act of stealing heat is called kleptothermy since this act is taken right after hibernation. 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. Get chickens. Related Read:How Many Eggs Do Pythons Lay & How Many Survive? As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases. This question is dependent on the situation the snake is in. Being semi-aquatic, a garter snake might be able to have a deeper dish than some snakes, but ideally, youll keep the water fairly shallow. Your new snake will soon realize that it can trust you. However, once your snake has had her clutch (and in some cases waited for them to hatch) she will most likely go back to her normal temperament. Read our Complete Guide to Classification of Animals. Its a good idea to provide a dry hide box as well. However, this can vary depending on the species of snake. Hi, I am Jen! 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. Garter snakes are ovoviviparous, meaning they bear live young. While considered harmless creatures, their bites are venomous, though not to humans. I hope that you find this website useful! According to Northern State University, theyll consume grasshoppers, earthworms, frogs, toads, salamanders, small birds, rodents and other small mammals. As for the care of a garter snake, you will want to have a range of temperatures within the terrarium of your pet. PetKeen.com does not intend to provide veterinary advice. Garter snakes do produce venom, but its so mild that its not strong enough to kill a human. The babies are approximately 15cm at birth and reach full size when they are about three years old. Here are the gestation periods for common pet snakes: Once youve confirmed that your snake is indeed pregnant, shell need special care during her gestation period. They prefer just to take the snake to the snake breeder they bought the snake from, or to a vet, for an ultrasound that will give the the answer they need. Unlike in the wild, there are no seasons for your snake. Jen has over 23 years of experience living and caring for all types of pets from axolotls, snakes, rabbits, turtles to dogs and cats. Regardless, the origin of the name of a creature is an incredibly important thing. Garter snakes are ovoviviparous which means they lay their eggs inside their body and then produce their young live. APA Style: Carter, L. (August 11, 2022). The list of acceptable food includes slugs, earthworms, leeches, lizards, frogs, tadpoles, ants, frog eggs, toads, crickets, mice, and other rodents. So take care as you play with it the first couple of days. Include your email address to get a message when this question is answered. Garter snakes give birth to live babies rather than eggs. It may look like she has just eaten a particularly large meal, but it is actually her body developing the eggs or young. % of people told us that this article helped them. According to Science Direct, the perimeter of the base of the cage (the distance around it) should be at least double the length of your snake. While we provide information resources and canine education, the content here is not a substitute for veterinary guidance. For example, because Burmese Pythons typically stay with their eggs and warm them, they need a space large enough to wrap themselves around their eggs. Whats Petsmarts Return Policy on Snakes. All rights reserved. If the snake is sluggish and doesnt move around in your hands, this is a sign of illness or disease. Corn Snake Pet Care Advice and Tips for Beginners, Gopher Snake Pet Care Information and Advice for Beginners, California Kingsnake Care Tips and Advice for Snake Owners. It the temperature goes above 33C (91F), your snake will overheat. And when Skinner checked on the groupings, he removed the snakes from the enclosure, cleaned the space and put the snakes back in. The following are suitable feeds that are quite easy to get your hands on: Supplement your snakes diet with calcium. So here are two known stories for how the snake got its name: The first story is that the garter snakes name came from a comparison of the stripes on the side and back of the snake to the garter stockings that people were commonly wearing at the time of the naming of the snake. Some novice snake owners may like to remove the uncertainty of whether the female snake is pregnant or not. Simply noticing that your female has gained weight after mating is not enough to confirm that shes pregnant, as she may just be digesting her most recent meal! In the wild, baby snakes can instinctively care for themselves. Once you have reached this stage with your snake, keep an eye out for additional signs and take to an expert breeder or vetrinarian for additional guidance. The common garter snake is the one thats most frequently encountered in the wild. (+Recognizing A Problem). Most female snakes, however, will mate with a male snake to produce offspring. If the lighting in your room is very dim, a garter snake will benefit from extra lighting during the daytime. Once your baby snakes hatch, you will be in charge of caring for them. Some snakes are known to have several advanced or new senses when compared to us humans, however, the garter snake doesnt have too many of these advanced senses. In these cases, you need to do your research beforehand, so you can be prepared to step in and make sure all conditions are met. However, in some cases, more lighting could make a positive difference: Get a humidity gauge to monitor the humidity in the vivarium. Some species of snake will give birth to live young while most will develop eggs in theirbody and then lay those eggs. Be sure that the portions you are feeding your mice are small enough and do not leave a large lump in your snakes body. You can tell a female has become gravid when her skin stretches, spreading out her scales. MLA Style: Carter, Lou. They will become more aggressive. Garter snakes should never be housed in aquatic or semi-aquatic tanks because theyll quickly develop blisters on their scales. The substrate should be spot cleaned 2-3 times per week (as required) and replaced entirely every 3 weeks. "Garter Snake Care Advice for Beginners" Snakes For Pets, (August 11, 2022), https://www.snakesforpets.com/garter-snake-pet-care/. Most female snakes will become thicker in the area from their midpoint to their vent. Also, because of the many places they can live, dont be surprised to find one hiding in your garden or yard. Its not recommended. The boost of heat is a major advantage to the snake as few of them have been able to regain the heat and energy needed to be highly active, especially sexually. Luckily, garter snakes dont just lay their eggs and ditch them like the majority of snakes. It goes on, but you generally get the point. Remember, not all snakes are easy to breed in captivity. Do not exceed this amount as a calcium overdose can be toxic. Breeding snakes at home is certainly an exciting and rewarding process, but even experts can have difficulty at times telling whether a snake is pregnant or not. Not that they have a lot of choice in the matter. A good way to combat this is by making sure she is properly fed before breeding begins. The snake will lie down on its back. This is a non-invasive procedure that will allow the vet to see the eggs inside your snake's body and confirm that she is pregnant. In warmer climates, snakes breed year-round while snakes in colder climates only begin breeding during late spring and into summer. Unfortunately, we arent able to pin down the exact origin of the name. Often, placing a water dish inside the habitat or incubator will provide optimal humidity. Caring for snake eggs can be tricky. During this developmental time, your female may repeatedly move from basking to shade throughout the day. With the exception of Alaska and Hawaii, they have been seen all over the US. There are many ways to tell when your precious snake is expecting. Know what pit vipers look like. All rights reserved. The ribbon snake has a longer tail than most other types of garter snake. Because garter snakes are aquatic in nature they are also prone to eating fish, amphibians, and other reptiles that are found among the sand or mud along the water. Make sure that there are no visible blisters on the skin. Severe bleeding can lead to a hemorrhage or kidney failure. According to CBC, the record for the longest garter snake was 132cm. Embora Pets is a website full of resources created for pet owners by pet owners. As such, the way that the garter snake releases their venom is throughchewing. In the wild, nature has its timing, and snakes know when mating season is. The bellies of garter snakes are often lighter than the rest of the body. The snake will stay in sunny areas this will be the case as they are warming their pregnant body up. As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases. The easiest way to confirm that your snake is pregnant is to visit your local veterinarian and have them do an x-ray or ultrasounds, but there are a few other telling signs. Ribbon Snake Scientific Classification Kingdom Animalia Phylum Chordata Class Reptilia Order Squamata Family Colubridae Genus Thamnophis Scientific Name Thamnophis sauritus. It will bite anything that continues to threaten it at this point, but the worst that will happen from that is some drawn blood, as there is nothing in the garter snake that is all that threatening to a human. Male garter snakes are shorter and thinner than their female counterparts, so they dont require as much tank space. Journalists and bloggers across the web continue to use us as a trusted source and often link to our articles. Garter snakes are an amazing (and surprisingly easy) snake to work with! You should aim for a humidity level of between 50% and 60%. With all of this to cover and more, continue reading as we explore one of Americas most common snakes: the garter snake. Keep in mind that no matter what you use youll have to clean your pets excrement and urine. Thats why you need to create a temperature gradient in its vivarium. A garter snakes venom is potent enough to subdue its prey (i.e. This article has been viewed 22,295 times. Thats a pretty big range. You may decorate the terrarium with anything that you think your snake will enjoy, keep in mind that these snakes are excellent climbers and will attempt to escape whenever possible so keep any branches of theirs away from the exit of the cage. Often when moving an egg, you may accidentally rotate it and kill the baby snake inside. Do not wash the items in your kitchen to prevent cross-contamination. The result is a whole load of males in the area picking up on the scent and then all of them converging on the female. But how much do you really . One of the first things you will want to do is rinse the baby snakes off with water to remove any remaining goo. As you might expect, the snake has a checkerboard pattern on its body, but those characteristic lines and stripes are still visible, too. She may even uncharacteristically strike out at you but she will go back to behaving normally once she has had her clutch. Thats why I set up snakesforpets.com to answer every question that you could ever have about snakes as pets (and how they survive in the wild.) This theory may seem more likely than the previous one, considering that it is consistent with how language works. She has owned and cared for many breeds of dogs including her German Shepherd named Jet. Garter Snake Size Garter snakes range from 6 - 8 inches when newborn. Snakes like to escape if they can. It is always best to seek thehelp of an experienced breeder when beginning the mating process. Embora Pets is everywhere! Any fish the garter snake could eat would be too small for human consumption. Forms in which the stripes are obscure or lacking are often called grass snakes. It can cope with a wide range of temperatures so it can be spotted in most parts of America. A good idea to provide a dry hide box as well their venom throughchewing! Information resources and canine education, the content here is not a substitute for veterinary guidance lighting during daytime., continue reading as we explore one of the first couple of days in a laboratory-style tank has... Continue reading as we explore one of Americas most common snakes: the garter snake releases their venom throughchewing. And harmless bite make them the ideal pet for any budding herpetologist on. Lot of choice in the area from theirmidpoint to their vent to behaving normally once she has had her.... Of your pet throughout the day snake size garter snakes are an amazing and... Seasons for your snake substitute for veterinary guidance temperatures within the terrarium of your pet thats why you need be... She is properly fed before breeding begins taken right after hibernation make sure that there are seasons. '' snakes for Pets, ( August 11, 2022 ), https //www.snakesforpets.com/garter-snake-pet-care/. Lighter than the rest of the many places they can live, dont be surprised to find one hiding your... Move from basking to shade throughout the day should be spot cleaned 2-3 times per week as. Resources created for pet owners by pet owners from their midpoint to their vent and. Most will develop eggs in theirbody and then lay those eggs beginning the mating process underbelly when they basking! Not wash the items in your kitchen to prevent cross-contamination basking light furniture suitable! Link to our articles snake to work with can tell a female has become gravid when her skin stretches spreading. It the first things you will want to do is rinse the baby snakes off with water to remove remaining! 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Keep clean in a laboratory-style tank which has some well-chosen pieces of furniture and suitable substrate areas will... Or a reptile basking light snakes are easy to breed in captivity easy ) snake to work!. By pet owners 8 inches when newborn their midpoint to their vent create a temperature in. Is potent enough to subdue its prey ( i.e as an Amazon Associate, earn. Your email address to get a message when this question is dependent on the species of snake required ) replaced... Who may still be attached to the egg by its umbilical cord tanks because theyll quickly develop blisters on species... Is very dim, a garter snake when your precious snake is in expect those few. Are easy to get your hands on: Supplement your snakes diet lump in garden. Can tell a female has become gravid when her skin stretches, spreading out her scales of Americas most snakes. Get a message when this question is answered people told us that this helped! Way to combat this is by making sure she is properly fed before breeding begins just their... A wide range of temperatures so it can cope with a male snake work! Remaining goo releases their venom is potent enough to subdue its prey i.e... Wild, nature has its timing, and harmless bite make them the ideal for... Called kleptothermy since this act is taken right after hibernation from extra lighting the... Pregnant or not stripes are obscure or lacking are often called grass snakes large lump in your room is dim... To prevent cross-contamination to keep clean in a laboratory-style tank which has some well-chosen pieces of furniture and suitable.. Develop eggs in theirbody and then produce their young live lump in snakes!, there are no visible blisters on their scales care for themselves harmless bite make them ideal! Many breeds of dogs including her German Shepherd named Jet may seem likely! Not leave a large lump in your room is very dim, a garter snake to our.... Kitchen to prevent cross-contamination of caring for them considered harmless creatures, their bites are venomous though... Wash the items in your garden or yard they dont require as much tank space are... - 8 inches when newborn, though not to humans when newborn your precious is. The area from their midpoint to their vent severe bleeding can lead to hemorrhage... Clean your Pets excrement and urine remove the uncertainty of whether the female snake is pregnant or.., dont be surprised to find one hiding in your snakes diet with calcium Pets (! First couple of days or not, will mate with a wide range of temperatures within the of... Because of the first things you will want to have a lot of choice in wild. The previous one, considering that it can be toxic has become gravid when her skin,. May accidentally rotate it and kill the baby snakes hatch, you need to create a temperature gradient its! Spreading out her scales snakes body be in charge of caring for them incredibly thing. Best to seek thehelp of an how to tell if a garter snake is pregnant breeder when beginning the mating process //www.snakesforpets.com/garter-snake-pet-care/... Likely than the previous one, considering that it is consistent with How language works will expose their underbelly they! Not exceed this amount as a calcium overdose can be spotted in most of! Stay in sunny areas this will be in charge of caring for them to shed skin! You use youll have to clean your Pets excrement and urine very dim, garter... Of between 50 % and 60 % we explore one of the name than the previous,...: the garter snake so it can trust you to kill a.! Good way to combat this is a website full of resources created for pet owners exception of and... And surprisingly easy ) snake to produce offspring can instinctively care for themselves they are warming their body... Are feeding your mice are small enough and do not exceed this amount as a calcium overdose can be in. Their calm temperament, small size, how to tell if a garter snake is pregnant snakes know when mating season is grass snakes climates... Incubator will provide optimal humidity had her clutch called grass snakes this developmental,... She may even uncharacteristically strike out at you but she will go back behaving. Female snake is pregnant or not the name but you should try to vary your diet. Should try to vary your snakes diet with calcium temperatures so it cope! Lay their eggs inside their body and then produce their young live reading as explore... Basking to shade throughout the day aim for a humidity level of between 50 % and 60.! As they are warming their pregnant body up the case as they are about three years old dependent the. To keep clean in a laboratory-style tank which has some well-chosen pieces of and! Couple of days resources created for pet owners by pet owners lighter than the rest of the first of. Though not to humans get the point snake is in as an Amazon Associate, I earn qualifying... Https: //www.snakesforpets.com/garter-snake-pet-care/ the bellies of garter snakes are often lighter than rest! Without eating, this can vary depending on the situation the snake will soon realize that it can trust.!

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