Considering a Black Milk Snake

[Craiga 01453]

I love my MBK... she is definitely still very squirmy, musks EVERY SINGLE TIME I take her out right now, still hides a lot, and believe it or not tends to be more shy when it comes to eating. Very often I have to just leave the mouse in the enclosure and leave, and she'll grab it at her own leisure. Its actually funny, cause she'll go under the substrate and slowly get closer to the mouse. She'll peek her head out of the substrate like a periscope, look around, then go under and come back up a little closer. Eventually.. she'll get the mouse, having "surprised" it in its predatory hunt.[/FONT][/COLOR]

Wow, my King is the total opposite. He'll rattle and tense up every once in a while, but not often at all. Typically he's a mellow sweetheart. But he's also an adult. Still has an insane feeding response. As soon as he smells mouse he's a completely different animal.

[Ax01]

HannahLou has a Black Milk. she's on a long, extravagant vacay right now tho. Chip07 has one also. they are the current members who might know best for source.

but if u want the the ultimate big black snake, the grand daddy Eastern Indigo Snake is where it's at. (but u know finding these is much harder)

[chip07]

I have an adult female at about 3 years old now. She still has some faint white banding in spots. She’s probably around 5ft and very shy. Hides all the time. She’s in a 4ft but would be fine in a 3ft since she’s not an active one. Bought from Isis Reptiles.

[piedpiperballs]

We have three adults, the male being about 6'9" and the females about 5 1/2 to 6 feet. To me they are the easiest snakes to care for as long as you don't let them get too warm. They seem to enjoy being handled and are very curious. You won't regret it if you get one.

[Charles8088]

...But he's also an adult.

Yes, I've always heard that they'll calm down and stop musking all the time when they get older. Mine is 8 months old and 90 grams. She definitely squirms a little less then when I first got her, but the musking and peeing is full force. I usually pick her up and suspend her in her enclosure, and let her get "it" all out of her system before I actually pull her out. So, not as messy, but just as stinky.

...but if u want the the ultimate big black snake, the grand daddy Eastern Indigo Snake is where it's at. (but u know finding these is much harder)

Don't think I haven't considered it. As long as the permit is fairly easy to get, that would be an awesome snake to own. But, I don't know much about them yet. And, I am far from experienced, having only kept the MBK and the ball python for under a year. That plus a lot of reading and skimming the forums daily. But, yes, in my crosshairs. Black Pearl Reptiles "seems" to be selling them, at about $1,000 a pop... but, availability is minimal, supposedly a long waiting list on these guys.

The other thing that concerns me about the Eastern Indigo is that someone posted how messy poopers they are. To the point of having to clean their enclosure several times a week. I wouldn't mind as much if I were retired already, but right now, if there's any truth to that, it just seems logical to stick to the milk snake.

I have an adult female at about 3 years old now. She still has some faint white banding in spots. She’s probably around 5ft and very shy. Hides all the time. She’s in a 4ft but would be fine in a 3ft since she’s not an active one. Bought from Isis Reptiles.

Chip... that is a beautiful snake. Thank you for the photos.

We have three adults, the male being about 6'9" and the females about 5 1/2 to 6 feet. To me they are the easiest snakes to care for as long as you don't let them get too warm. They seem to enjoy being handled and are very curious. You won't regret it if you get one.

Can I ask you what size enclosure you have your adults in?

[6strings]

These are among the most docile milksnakes. They do not tolerate too high of background temps, so make sure wherever you keep it does not get over 80 deg F ambient. The heat pad can be at 82-84, but the rest of the cage should be lower. They can tolerate cool ambient temps very well. If you find a breeder, they will give you advice about the correct temp range, so follow what they say. Adults are really impressive looking.

[Charles8088]

Going to probably start looking soon. Just working out where to put new enclosures... because I still want a Woma as well.

[dakski]

Going to probably start looking soon. Just working out where to put new enclosures... because I still want a Woma as well.

Snakes and potato chips; you can never have just one! Of course we tend to cram more snake tanks into a house than they put potato chips in the bag, but that's for another thread.

Good luck in your search and keep us posted. I didn't even know about Black Milk Snakes until I read this thread. Pretty cool.