Milks/Kings and musking?

Hi all!

I have been a BP owner for the last 10 years, but I have often been intruiged by all of the different subspecies of kings and milks. So, I am thinking about getting one -- not neccesarily soon, but hopefully within the next year (I am hopefully planning on building a rack as well).

So, here's the thing. I have never seen or handled an actual king/milk in person. They look beatiful, but what is there tempermant like? Are they easy to hold like a ball, or are they constantly moving and on the go? Are they fast (bp's sure aren't!)?

And what about musking? I don't know if I really want a snake that is going to be musking on me constantly! I'm guessing they eventually get used to you, and the musking will eventually stop. How much volume of musk are we talking? Getting musked in the living room or on the furniture wouldn't be ideal -- do you need to get the carpets or furniture professionally cleaned after a good musking -- seriously

Also, is there a good website that cleary lists and has pics of all the different subspecies of milks and kings? And are they all fairly comprable in size, or are there big differences among them.

Sorry for all the questions, but I just want to make sure that getting one would be right for me, and I am mainly overwhelmed by all of the different ones to choose from!

Thanks,

George

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Originally Posted by chapskis1

So, here's the thing. I have never seen or handled an actual king/milk in person. They look beatiful, but what is there tempermant like? Are they easy to hold like a ball, or are they constantly moving and on the go? Are they fast (bp's sure aren't!)?

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Yes, they tend to be more fast moving and active while handling. Some milks can be nervous and twitchy, but it all comes down to the individual animal. Some of mine are like corn snakes, and others are afraid of their own shadow. None of them ever musk, bite, or try to get away though (just don't set them down or they'll jet).

Quote:

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Originally Posted by chapskis1

And what about musking? I don't know if I really want a snake that is going to be musking on me constantly! I'm guessing they eventually get used to you, and the musking will eventually stop. How much volume of musk are we talking? Getting musked in the living room or on the furniture wouldn't be ideal -- do you need to get the carpets or furniture professionally cleaned after a good musking -- seriously

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I can't help you much with that one because I never got musked. Had a girl pee on me the first day I got them home but that was it. Didn't smell or ruin carpet etc.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by chapskis1

Also, is there a good website that cleary lists and has pics of all the different subspecies of milks and kings? And are they all fairly comprable in size, or are there big differences among them.

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I can't think of any sites such as the one described. But adults generally range from 3-6 feet. Black Milks and Hondurans tend to be the largest. Sinaloans, Pueblans and Nelson's are good medium sized milks, and I hear they are a bit more mellow than Hondos (don't quote me on that). Hope that helps.

I've got 3 albino California Kings, 1 Pueblan milk and 2 black milksnakes.

I had one Cali king for a year before I got the others. The year old stopped musking at about six months old. Just one day didn't musk and hasn't since. The baby kings and the Pueblan all still musk, and the baby black milks will musk if they're really ticked off.

I generally have a paper towel in hand when I go to handle any of the babies and just keep that around their vent area when I first pick them up until they get their musking done, and then just gently handle them for brief handling sessions (about five minutes). Don't know if it helps or not, but I feel that if they "learn" that musking isn't going to cause me to put them down, they'll eventually just quit. That's my theory and I'm sticking with it! :P

My three milks all seem to move more "jerkily" than the kings - the kings seem to be a little more laid back than the milks. I call my milks my psycho kids! LOL