Question for all who have milksnakes

[Pogie]

Ok I've had Cersei for a while now. When do they calm down???? I can't even catch her without chasing her around the tank. Once caught she is fine. I'm afraid of stressing her out during the "chase"!

She still won't eat outside of a paper bag, so at feeding time I have to catch her, put her in a bag and leave her for about 15 mins and then let her out. But really, it's stressing me because I'm afraid I'm stressing her out.

I know it's going to take a while, probably much longer, but really do they ever calm down enough to catch easily?

I have several hides in her tank, and probably about 3 or 4 inches of bedding. So it's a hide and seek game to even see her.

[Jim Smith]

Chasing her around will most certainly stress her out. If you have to remove her from her cage, then lift the hide and gently engulf her in your hand. To feed her, try leaving a small live pinkie outside the hide she's in and leaving her alone to eat it when she wants to. She will calm down after she gets more comfortable that you're not a predator trying to catch and eat her. Just my two cents worth...

[Pogie]

Chasing her around will most certainly stress her out. If you have to remove her from her cage, then lift the hide and gently engulf her in your hand. To feed her, try leaving a small live pinkie outside the hide she's in and leaving her alone to eat it when she wants to. She will calm down after she gets more comfortable that you're not a predator trying to catch and eat her. Just my two cents worth...

I try to do exactly that. However she is rarely in her hides, she goes under the bedding and if she is in the hide once I lift it she is off and running. I catch her by scooping her up once I have her in a corner with both hands, but even that is hard to do she is so fast. I'm not saying it takes hours or anything but it takes a few moments lol. Maybe I'm just over thinking it. Like I said once I have her she is fine.

I have also left the mouse in her tank over night, didn't work. Was still there in the morning.

Maybe it's because she is older and wasn't handled much? I'm guessing it's going to take a long while to get her use to me. It's worth it though, she is a pretty girl.

Thank you for replying :)

[Bandit]

Milks can certainly take a while to calm down. I understand that you're worried about stressing her out, but you need to handle her in order to get her used to it. There are certain species that are extremely sensitive to stress, and honestly Milks aren't one of them. They may freak out a lot, but they tend to get over it and it definitely doesn't stop them from eating most of the time. I would say try handling her every couple of days (aside from feeding days and a couple days after). Milks are very slow to show improvement in that aspect. You just have to have patience.

Just curious, how old is she?

[Bandit]

Also, the faster you can scoop her up the better. If you give her the chance to freak out and try to escape, it will make things harder.

[Pogie]

Milks can certainly take a while to calm down. I understand that you're worried about stressing her out, but you need to handle her in order to get her used to it. There are certain species that are extremely sensitive to stress, and honestly Milks aren't one of them. They may freak out a lot, but they tend to get over it and it definitely doesn't stop them from eating most of the time. I would say try handling her every couple of days (aside from feeding days and a couple days after). Milks are very slow to show improvement in that aspect. You just have to have patience.

Just curious, how old is she?

She is a yearling. She doesn't musk or act crazy once I have her.
She eats fine, once in her paper bag, so at least she is eating :)

Thanks! I'll start handling her more. That makes me feel much better.

[Bandit]

She really just sounds like a normal milk snake at that age. If you can locate her, just try to scoop her up quickly. The more you chase her the more she is going to want to get away. But if you open the lid, figure out where she is and scoop her up before she knows what hit her, she'll probably be calmer than if you chase her.

[Rattlehead]

Mine used to be like that around a year ago (same age as yours). now she is still like "Oh, here comes this guy again" but I don't have to chase her anymore :D just be patient, and move slowly while opening the enclusure and moving your hands

[D Grade]

Mine is still a bit flighty but not nearly as bad as he used to be. Something that helped alot was using a small hook to get him out instead of trying to grab him. I do that with almost all my snakes and it seems to lower the stress level alot. Give that a try.

[Andy_G]

Milksnakes as a whole are notoriously darty, secretive, and nervous by nature. The worst of the subspecies has to be pueblans for nervousness. Even the calmest of adults will have the odd freak out accompanied by musk. Adult sinaloans and hondurans can be quite tame and relaxed but will dart the odd time like a little spaz. Black milks and andean milks however tend to be quite docile even as hatchlings. Sounds like you are doing everything just fine. Patience is key.