Sinaloan Milk Snake husbandry questions and behavior of my new baby girl...

[clark.matt9]

Hello, I've had a ball python for a year and half now. She sheds well, is active at night, and eats every time. Yesterday I got a baby Sinaloan milksnake and I'm wondering where the husbandry differs from Ball pythons...

1. Temperature for hot side/normal side? I currently have it at 88-90 on the hot side, and am getting a new thermostat for her any day now so I can change it independently from the temperature in my BP's cage.

2. Tight fitting hides? At least one on each side?

3. Feed once every 5 days?

4. Humidity requirements? 50%?


I fed her for the first time yesterday and she took it so that's good.

However...

She doesn't seem to be using the provided hides, she always goes underneath the paper towel substrate. Is this normal or cause for concern?

[DennisM]

milk snake not using hides and burrowing under the substrate? perfectly normal.

hot spot of 90 is OK, but you'll want to make sure cool side is near 80. you're better off with cooler than too hot with these.

every 5 day feeding for young milks is ok

50% humidity good. don't let it get too high, these aren't pythons.

[clark.matt9]

So I'm pretty much good to go?

[DennisM]

So I'm pretty much good to go?

yup

[DennisM]

keep the hides nonetheless. baby milks are so small it's hard to find a tight hide for them, but get the smallest you can and stuff it with crumpled newspaper/paper towels. They'll use it, but they'll still spend more time under the substrate.

[clark.matt9]

Got it, thanks. I went to a hydroponic store and got some small plastic planters that I cut up and also put some toilet paper cardboard tubes in until I can get some fake plants.