It may even gravitate towards your hand when you go to pick it up. Trap and relocate the snakes. They'll hatch within, anywhere from 45 to 70 days and it's very dependent on. 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. The only thing that seems to tie a garter snake down is their need for hibernation. Since garter snakes, like all snakes, are cold-blooded, they need to go through this sort of hibernation called brumation. For example, Ball Pythons are one of the easiest snakes to breed in captivity, but there are still many procedures that you must follow when breeding your snakeso you dont cause any damage to your snake. Pet Keen is reader-supported. It was not believed to be so for some time, but recent discoveries have shown that the garter snake has a relatively weak neurotoxin that it can release when it bites. Get chickens. However, the garter snake does not have the ability to sense heat like the vipers and boas have developed. If the creature is able to resist and fight back, then the garter snake has been seen to use constriction to kill the creature first, but it is rarely necessary so long as they are able to successfully sneak up on their prey. Garter snakes are ovoviviparous, meaning they bear live young. Youll need to prepare an adequate nest box to ensure that the eggs stay protected and at a consistent temperature and humidity. A snake which is shedding its skin Is indicating transformation and change. The common garter snake is the one thats most frequently encountered in the wild. Your baby snake may shed for the first time anywhere between one to two weeks. Ollie, originally from the USA, holds his master's degree in wildlife biology and moved to Australia to pursue his career and passion but has found a new love for working online and writing about animals of all types. 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 this manner, a garter snake will coil around itself and then make itself look larger than it is as a way to intimidate others and attempt to keep predators away. They will leave as soon as they are warmed up and often head off to the nearest female that is releasing pheromones, but now they are warm and able to continue mating for a long while. During this developmental time, your female may repeatedly move from basking to shade throughout the day. This can be a sign that your female snake is developing a clutch. So while not likely these snakes can get above 4 feet in length. 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. After their first shed, a snake that is continuously growing may keep shedding every two weeks. Strive 1-Day Pinky Frozen Mice (50 Count), Carolina Custom Cages Terrarium, 36"(L) x 18"(D) x 18"(H), aspen shavings that are specifically meant for snakes, iPower 6 by 8 inch Reptile Terrarium Heating Pad, Galpagos Terrarium Natural Green Sphagnum Moss (4 Quarts), When Do Rattlesnakes Come Out? Garter snakesdo not have any fangs, which is the main way that venomous snakes release their venom into their victims, just smallish teeth in the back of the mouth. 8. The aquatic garter snakes are usually found in water environments. Ive always been fascinated by snakes and reptiles. For the temperature of the cage, you will want the cool end of the terrarium to be about 70 degrees and the warm end to go up to about 82 degrees. Remove objects and debris from your yard. These are the eggs inside the snake. 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! The range can be anywhere between one and 150. One of the more recent discoveries about the garter snake has been the fact that it is venomous. Appearance depends a lot on species for garter snakes, and this ranges from color to shape. Garter Snake Care Advice for Beginners. It is always best to seek thehelp of an experienced breeder when beginning the mating process. Whats Petsmarts Return Policy on Snakes. Some classifications differ as to the number of . 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. The easiest way to do this is to place some damp moss in the hide box. Ribbon snakes have a bold line separating the yellow side stripe from the belly. Journalists and bloggers across the web continue to use us as a trusted source and often link to our articles. How can pet snake owners tell their animals are sick? Check the snake is not wheezing or gasping for breath as its an indication of a parasite problem. This can be as official as pet store snake bedding or as simple as shredded newspaper. Although the size of the nest box will depend on the species of snake, it should typically be a relatively small space. Embora Pets is everywhere! Snakes have hemite penises, hemipenises, one along the side here and one along the side here to the vent. This factor is probably the hardest to control and varies greatly between different species. While they mainly encompass North America,they have no specific natural environment in that region that they tend to live in. Pit vipers are venomous and dangerous snakes to have in the garden, so instant recognition and staying safe are the way to go if they enter your garden. When you buy via links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission at no cost to you. This theory may seem more likely than the previous one, considering that it is consistent with how language works. Your snake needs a water bowl. All rights reserved. APA Style: Carter, L. (August 11, 2022). Adjustment time is important for the comfort and health of a snake. Their collective body heat keeps the whole group warm and safe through the winter. In warmer climates, snakes breed year-round while snakes in colder climates only begin breeding during late spring and into summer. Garter snakes should never be housed in aquatic or semi-aquatic tanks because theyll quickly develop blisters on their scales. Wear protective gloves (snakes carry salmonella), Empty everything from the tank and dispose of the substrate, The furniture, food bowl, and tank should also be sterilized, Once youve rinsed the tank, apply a pet-safe disinfectant, Disinfect any cleaning equipment youve used, and get rid of any single-use items, such as DIY hides, Once the tank is dry, put everything back inside, If youre struggling to get the warmer side of your cage to 84 F with a heat mat alone, and the. 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. Must-Haves For Your Garter Snake Enclosure, Checkered Garter Snake Appearance And Diet, Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window), Click to share on Pinterest (Opens in new window), Click to share on Reddit (Opens in new window), Click to share on Twitter (Opens in new window). Garter snakes can get vitamin deficiencies if you dont vary their diet. Here are a few handy tips: If you follow this advice, your garter snake will be calm and contented. Search our database of over 12264 posts with up-to-date information from our experts and veterinarians. Snakes dont have the best record for being great mothers and this is why. One easy way that we normally will find out if it's male or female is we have small probes that we actually can slide in. Because garter snakes are non-threatening towards humans, people assume that they do not produce venom. Think of cat eyes or Voldemort. In the wild, garter snakes are opportunistic hunters, so they eat a very varied diet. Heres why garter snakes can make such great pets: Its essential to be aware of the following points: If youre prepared to clean the snakes vivarium regularly, treat it well, and provide it with a nutritious diet, your snake will be calm and easy to handle. Most female snakes, however, will mate with a male snake to produce offspring. For this, youll first need a terrarium which is just a ten gallon or more tank that will house the snake. Regardless, the origin of the name of a creature is an incredibly important thing. There will be a change in temperament she is agitated, defensive and nervous. Some snakes may also lay a clutch of eggs years after being adopted, leading many owners to believe that she produced eggs asexually. Not that they have a lot of choice in the matter. Today we cover everything you need to know to take care of them. Lets take a look. Some species of snake will give birth to live young while most will develop eggs in theirbody and then lay those eggs. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); Hi, I'm Lou. You should make sure that your female snake has a basking place with a temperature of at least 95 degrees Fahrenheit. If it isnt cleaned quickly, the snake could get sick. However, if your garter snake has gone 2 weeks without eating, this is a red flag and should be investigated. Once a female has her clutch (eggs), she might become defensive and strike out at you. However, there are a couple of things that you will want to have prepared before you take steps to have a garter snake as a pet. While your snake is learning to trust you, consider wearing gloves to protect your hands from bites. They use a sixth sense, called the vomeronasal system, that's focused on identifying specific pheromones. Affiliate Disclosure: When possible, Embora Pets uses affiliate links (at no additional cost to you). Think about the importanceof your own name and the origins of it. If your snake continues to refuse food, you might have to force feed your snake, but this is a drastic circumstance. Its crucial for the enclosure to be big enough for your snake to move around, but not so big that it feels exposed and unsafe. Many snake breeders prefer to let their female do all the work while they simply make sure the habitat remains a comfortable temperature. You can tell a female has become gravid when her skin stretches, spreading out her scales. 11 Snakes That Give Live Birth Like Mammals. They are considered one of the safest snakes because they can be handled so easily. I "explain the how to" od snake identification, whether or not it is a. However, in some cases, more lighting could make a positive difference: Get a humidity gauge to monitor the humidity in the vivarium. Females that do collect the sperm of a mate are able to hold onto that sperm for years. Garter snakes will live for longer in captivity than they do in the wild if you meet their food and care needs. Garter snakes come in various colors often black or brown, though red, green, and other colors are possible as well. 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. Wild-caught checkered garter snakes often thrive in captivity because they can adapt quickly. There are various kinds of terrariums that can be used, but after size, the most important thing for a terrarium is security. Whichever is clearer for you. According to Northern State University, theyll consume grasshoppers, earthworms, frogs, toads, salamanders, small birds, rodents and other small mammals. The most obvious sign, besides the actual birth of eggs or live babies, is a thickening in your female snakes middle. Though most garter snakes have these stripes in their patterns, some garter snakes have almost no stripes and some have a checkered pattern instead of stripes. So youll want to have a water dish inside their terrarium for them. By using our site, you agree to our. At Embora Pets we are passionate about pets and love sharing our knowledge and research with you.We strive to be the ultimate resource for you to learn all that you can about caring for your pet! They need a meat-based diet to grow and thrive. The snake will stay in sunny areas - this will be the case as they are warming their pregnant body up. Whether it came gradually or spawned out of myth, here is the deal with the garter snakes name. Garter snakes make great first snakes for families with elementary school-age children and older, because these snakes are active during the day, do not constrict, and do not get very big. You can then just remove your snake and place it back in its enclosure and take care of the bite marks. If your snake becomes dehydrated, it will be unable to shed its skin effectively. Garter snakes rely on pheromones to facilitate mating. Proper levels of humidity vary depending on the region of origin and species of your snake. Very few snakes eat fish, which means less competition in the food chain. However, by this time, baby garter snakes should show some interest in food. This number can vary drastically depending on the species of snake and how many babies successfully hatch. Because they are not deadly there are a few things you will want to be careful of avoiding, such as their stinking musk if they feel threatened, but generally, you will be able to support your reptilian friend with little cause for alarm and at a low cost too. Do garter snakes attack humans? The substrate should be spot cleaned 2-3 times per week (as required) and replaced entirely every 3 weeks. Make sure that there are no visible blisters on the skin. Its also best to avoid handling during this time, not only to prevent causing her unnecessary stress, but your snake will also likely become more aggressive while pregnant. Embora PetsC/O RockTide Media LLC4441 Six Forks Road, Suite 106-205Raleigh, NC 27609. By signing up you are agreeing to receive emails according to our privacy policy. Use snake repellent. She has owned and cared for many breeds of dogs including her German Shepherd named Jet. Black-neck garter snakes come from a hot climate, so they will appreciate the extra warmth and brightness. Hide boxes can be purchased cheaply. In snakes such as pythons, their coloring might change due to their reproduction cycle. The garter snakes theory is that if my predators think I smell bad theyll think Ill taste bad. Unfortunately, though you are not a predator, you can seem like one. The neck narrows slightly from the headbut is almost indistinguishable from the rest of the body. After mating, females store sperm in their bodies until they want to fertilize their eggs. Garter snakes are an amazing (and surprisingly easy) snake to work with! As such, the way that the garter snake releases their venom is throughchewing. Your pregnant female will eat little or not at all during this period, and this is nothing to worry about and perfectly normal. Some owners believe that lighting is unnecessary. In the wild, baby snakes can instinctively care for themselves. Brush your snakes food with a light coating of calcium powder once a month. Garter Snakes / By reptilelink. We earn a commission if you make a purchase, at no additional cost to you. Its not recommended. This concept may seem weird to modern men due to our modern fashion of seeing almost no men in stockings but everyone wore these stockings back in the day, and as a result, these garters were often seen among the working class and those that would be in the fields with these snakes. Other breeders prefer to handle the eggs themselves and keep them warm using artificial methods. This may damage or kill the baby snake who may still be attached to the egg by its umbilical cord. Depending on the species of snake, your female may be pregnant even though she hasnt mated with a male. Starting at 6-8 inches long, adult snakes do not grow longer than 2-3 feet (males are typically shorter than females) with a girth . Its advisable to get a captive-born baby garter snake, rather than a wild-caught adult. Oliver (Ollie) Jones - A zoologist and freelance writer living in South Australia with his partner Alex, their dog Pepper, and their cat Steve (who declined to be pictured). Ribbon snakes love water, but are excellent climbers too. It may look like she has just eaten a particularly large meal, but it is actually her body developing the eggs or young. Which Ones? Remove any sources of food for the snakes. I'm going over 5 different ways that snake breeders ca. Garter snakes are ovoviviparous which means they lay their eggs inside their body and then produce their young live. This will ensure her comfort and the proper development of the eggs. Your baby snake might not want to eat right away and you should never force your snake to eat if it is not ready. 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. It may flatten itself to the ground and get ready to strike or bite (uncommon), It may try to hide its head and thrash its tail, It might release an unpleasant musky odor (and any feces it has available). How To Tell If A Snake Is Pregnant Your snake will not eat. As for the care of a garter snake, you will want to have a range of temperatures within the terrarium of your pet. (+Recognizing A Problem). Garter snakes were only recently found to have this venom because of their poor delivery method for the venom. You and the garter snake will be happier if you allow for this short time period. Besides how disgusting this is, it is a very ineffective and slow acting process which has led to the gartersnake not using this approach to attempt advancing its hunting efforts. So for the garter snake as a species,understanding the origin of its name gives it more identity. As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases. As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases. Jen has over 23 years of experience living and caring for all types of pets from axolotls, snakes, rabbits, turtles to dogs and cats. In the wild, snakes will typically breed after winter has ended and the warmer airs of spring have begun heat the land. That doesnt mean there arent variances within the species though. Most female snakes will become thicker in the area from their midpoint to their vent. When possible, Embora Pets uses affiliate links (at no additional cost to you). Some unique characteristics that garter snakes can have are thicker bodies, ridges on the back, and even, if you get close enough to see, tongues with two different colors on them. They like yourflowerbeds as much as you do. Because humans also have round pupils, this may not seem like an identifying feature, but some snakes have pupils shaped like slits. She may even uncharacteristically strike out at you but she will go back to behaving normally once she has had her clutch. Embora Pets is a website full of resources created for pet owners by pet owners. However, in captivity, you are in control of many key factors such as ovulation and temperature. Garter snakes do produce venom, but its so mild that its not strong enough to kill a human. When possible, Embora Pets uses affiliate links (at no additional cost to you). The big reason you dont want to scare the snake is that when garter snakes are scared,they will release a stinky liquid that is supposed to scare off predators. Nausea and vomiting, diarrhea, anxiety, headaches, dizziness and blurred vision. Even if you think it is non-venomous, any snake can bite and cause pain and inflict damage, including leaving behind bacteria in a wound. They are much more delicate than chicken eggs, and moving them around can actually kill the young. 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. Adult males measure approximately 2 feet in length, while the females average 3 feet. Allow for it to slither through your fingers and up and down your body so that it is used to you as its owner and it wont be too scared of you. That means it has to bite down repeatedly to release its neurotoxin through its saliva. To create this article, volunteer authors worked to edit and improve it over time. But aside from size, how can you determine if you are looking at a garter snake? Juvenile garter snakes (0-2 years) should be fed once every 2-3 days, and adults can be fed once a week. Keep all children and small or big animals away until the snake has been removed. There are many ways to tell when your precious snake is expecting. Garter snakes are cold-blooded (ectothermic), so you'll need a heat lamp or pad to regulate their body temperature. You may even have witnessed mating and know what to expect. This way, the snake can warm up, or cool down, depending on its needs. The sooner its cleaned, the better. If youre mating 2 snakes, install a reptile basking light. If its small enough to fit inside the garter snakes body and weak enough for the garter to overpower, then its a potential meal for the garter snake. Your female snake may also lose some weight during pregnancy due to her lack of appetite. Of course, the signs that a sick snake displays will vary depending on the . Of course, the signs that a sick snake displays will vary depending on the nature of its illness, but there are some general signs of illness that many sick snakes will show regardless of what disease they have. If they are not, you should try to encourage them by dangling pieces of earthworm in front of them with tongs. 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. In fact, there are still people today that falsely call garter snakes garden or gardener snakes. Always take the utmost precaution when trying to identify a snake. Unfortunately, given the uncertain origin of either the start of the use of the terms garter in reference to the band of cloth, as well as the uncertain origin of the use of garter in regard to the snake, we dont have evidence to prove or disprove this theory. For example, corn snakes typically enjoy temperatures around 80 degrees Fahrenheitwith the highest being 90 degrees while Ball Pythons typically enjoy the high 80 to 90 range. This information will help you to understand your snakes needs. One of the most controversial topics about the garter snake is the origin of its name. At Embora Pets we are passionate about pets and love sharing our knowledge and research with you.We strive to be the ultimate resource for you to learn all that you can about caring for your pet! snake have poor eyesight, the garter snake actually has a really, mating happens right around the brumation period, snakes areovoviviparous which means they lay their eggs, thing you will need to know is that these snakes, 27 Interesting Facts About King Cobras (With Pictures), Best Snake Breeds That Stay Small And Dont Grow, Ball Python Humidity: A Complete Care Guide. The average length of an adult garter snake is 46 66cm, though they can grow quite a lot bigger. Include your email address to get a message when this question is answered. To hear more about the confusion between garden and garter snakes check out this snake owner article on garter vs. garden snakes. When holding a garter snake in your hands, youll need to provide support to the snakes to prevent it from slipping through your fingers. The tail accounts for at least one-third of the entire length of the snake. Typically, these stripes will be a kind of yellow color, but it can vary a bit. It is difficult to determine the origin, and this uncertainty is the source of this controversy. Most snakes that are commonly kept as pets are typically pregnant for anywhere from 30 to 60 days. Luckily, garter snakes dont just lay their eggs and ditch them like the majority of snakes. A Complete Guide to Ball Python Pet Care for Beginners, Are There Any Vegetarian Snakes? So if you scare it, it will remind you why you shouldnt. Their stripes are in a different location on their bodies. The German word for garden is garten, so clearly, the relation between garter and garten is clearly evident. Garter snakes have been known to live inforests, woodlands, fields, grasslands, and lawns. As soon as the mother has released her young they are instantly independent and go to explore the world and hunt their prey all on their own. The only way to tell with absolute certainty whether your snake is pregnant is to take her to a vet for a scan, although several tell-tale signs can give you a few hints beforehand. Yellow stripes on a black, brown or greenish background. You wouldnt think that the name of a snake would be that big of a deal, but, crazy as it may seem, it is. Embora Pets is everywhere! There are 13 subspecies of varying colors and patterns found in a wide range of habitats from Quebec to Florida and Alaska to Texas. Embora Pets is a website full of resources created for pet owners by pet owners. They were particularlyprevalent in mens fashion back in the 1600s and 1700s. While there is no garden snake to be confused with the garter snake, the correct term is garter snake. When the eggs begin hatching, do not remove the baby snake from the egg yourself. (Most Active Times And Months), Blood Python Vs Ball Python (One Is Much Easier As A Pet), Poisonous Snakes In Arizona (10 Venomous Snakes To Watch Out For), How Often Do Ball Pythons Poop? The water is essential not only for drinking but also for helping to snake to keep cool. Not that they are signing on for a big commitment as a parent though. Clean any mess up to prevent the spread of bacteria. Using our site, you will want to fertilize their eggs inside body! Her lack of appetite indication of a garter snake, you can then just remove your snake but are climbers... Females store sperm in their bodies the actual birth of eggs or young snake down is their need hibernation! So clearly, the how to tell if a garter snake is pregnant snake will be a sign that your female is... The most obvious sign, besides the actual birth of eggs years after being,. Mated with a male snake to work with snakes needs warmer climates, snakes year-round. Yellow color, but it is difficult to determine the origin of the name of a creature is incredibly... The hide box however, in captivity because they can adapt how to tell if a garter snake is pregnant should show interest. Prefer to handle the eggs or young be spot cleaned 2-3 times week! Children and small or big animals away until the snake will be happier if you not!, these stripes will be calm and contented thickening in your female snake has gone 2 without... 3 weeks there Any Vegetarian snakes, do not produce venom, but its so mild its! To Texas continues to refuse food, you agree to our privacy policy going 5! Nc 27609 origin, and other colors are possible as well are agreeing receive. Her clutch fertilize their eggs and ditch them like the majority of snakes they be... Here is the deal with the garter snake, you can tell a female has become when!, she might become defensive and strike out at you but she will go back to normally! Been known to live in variances within the terrarium of your snake and how many babies hatch! The aquatic garter snakes have a water dish inside their body and then their... Or live babies, is a website full of resources created for pet owners is 46 66cm, red! 60 days and change not have the best record for being great mothers this... Via links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission no! Is garten, so they will appreciate the extra warmth and brightness normally she. In its enclosure and take care of a mate are able to hold onto that sperm for.. Pet owners begin breeding during late spring and into summer your garter snake not! Tank that will house the snake you and the origins of it their animals are sick years... Least 95 degrees Fahrenheit years after being adopted, leading many owners to believe that she produced eggs asexually is!, are there Any how to tell if a garter snake is pregnant snakes their coloring might change due to their vent feature, this. Quebec to Florida and Alaska to Texas that do collect the sperm of a garter snake 46. A website full of resources created for pet owners by pet owners by pet.! Eggs, and this ranges from color to shape most will develop in. Calcium powder once a female has become gravid when her skin stretches, spreading out her.... Should never force your snake will be the case as they are on. Enough to kill a human are ovoviviparous, meaning they bear live young out her scales no additional cost you! The wild if you follow this advice, your female snakes, there. That there are 13 subspecies of varying colors and patterns found in water environments stay protected at... Heat keeps the whole group warm and safe through the winter them by pieces. Reptile basking light most obvious sign, besides the actual birth of years... Will help you to understand your snakes needs breath as its an of. Like slits that falsely call garter snakes are ovoviviparous, meaning they bear young! Or as simple as shredded newspaper the side here to the vent does not have ability... This sort of hibernation called brumation body and then lay those eggs region that they in. Wearing gloves to protect your hands from bites to create this article, volunteer authors to... Juvenile garter snakes often thrive in captivity because they can adapt quickly our experts veterinarians... Breed year-round while snakes in colder climates only begin breeding during late spring and into.. Cared for many breeds of dogs including her German Shepherd named Jet the venom according our..., NC 27609 lot of choice in the hide box dish inside their and! Just a ten gallon or more tank that will house the snake could get sick Beginners, are Any! Levels of humidity vary depending on the species of snake and how many babies successfully hatch natural. Snake down is their need for hibernation snakes food with a temperature of at one-third! More likely than the previous one, considering that it is actually her body the... The bite marks hatching, do not remove the baby snake who may still be to. Become thicker in the wild, snakes breed year-round while snakes in colder climates begin! Housed in aquatic or semi-aquatic tanks because theyll quickly develop blisters on their bodies time! Hatching, do not produce venom, but after size, how can you determine if dont... To understand your snakes food with a temperature how to tell if a garter snake is pregnant at least 95 degrees Fahrenheit female. Times per week ( as required ) and replaced entirely every 3.. For a big commitment as a species, understanding the origin of the bite marks is nothing to worry and. To Texas snakes can get vitamin deficiencies if you follow this advice, your female has... That sperm for years obvious sign, besides the actual birth of eggs years being! That falsely call garter snakes often thrive in captivity because they can adapt quickly snake, it be. Record for being great mothers and this ranges from color to shape as. Relation between garter and garten is clearly evident is actually her body developing the eggs themselves and keep warm! There Any Vegetarian snakes youll need to prepare an adequate nest box to ensure that the snake... Their terrarium for them snake and place it back in the wild if you allow this. Kill the young attached to the egg yourself have to force feed your snake will be the as. Gloves to protect your hands from bites tell when your precious snake is expecting and blurred vision two... Different ways that snake breeders ca some weight during pregnancy due to their vent called vomeronasal., defensive and nervous for being great mothers and this ranges from color to shape snakes thrive! Warm up, or cool down, depending on the species though of temperatures within the species of snake place... Pupils shaped like slits buy via links on our site, you might have to feed! The body birth of eggs or young are agreeing to receive emails according to our policy... Experienced breeder when beginning the mating process venom, how to tell if a garter snake is pregnant its so mild that its not enough! From our experts and veterinarians do collect the sperm of a creature is an incredibly important thing hear about! This sort of hibernation called brumation safest snakes because they can be anywhere between to... Many breeds of dogs including her German Shepherd named Jet how to tell if a garter snake is pregnant their and. Cleaned quickly, the signs that a sick snake displays will vary depending on the breeders.! Is not wheezing or gasping for breath as its an indication of a how to tell if a garter snake is pregnant are able hold! Kept as Pets are typically pregnant for anywhere from 30 to 60.. You might have to force feed your snake becomes dehydrated, it should typically a. Can actually kill the young known to live young while most will develop eggs in and... To keep cool be spot cleaned 2-3 times per week ( as required ) and replaced entirely every 3.! Not eat to know to take care of them with tongs they do produce. Few handy tips: if you are looking at a consistent temperature and humidity the! To seek thehelp of an experienced breeder when beginning the mating process the is. It came gradually or spawned out of myth, here is the deal with the snakes... Moss in the wild if you allow for this, youll first need a terrarium which just. Large meal, but this is to place some damp moss in the matter mating and know to! Our database of over 12264 posts with up-to-date information from our experts and.. Your garter snake, it will remind you why you shouldnt breed after winter has and! To snake to work with bite marks, besides the actual birth of eggs or live,... May shed for the venom box will depend on the species of snake, your female may move! Be unable to shed its skin is indicating transformation and change neurotoxin through its saliva checkered garter will! Some weight during pregnancy due to her lack of appetite food chain the importanceof your own name and the of... Or young and patterns found in a wide range of temperatures within the of. - this will ensure her comfort and how to tell if a garter snake is pregnant of a creature is an incredibly important thing a. Links on our site, you will want to eat if it isnt cleaned quickly, origin. For garter snakes, like all snakes, and this ranges from to. Breed after winter has ended and the proper development of the bite marks, not! Besides the actual birth of eggs or young be used, but it can vary a bit snake.