2013 Black Milk

[knox]

Getting some size on him. Today is 12-6-15, and he is a little over 2 years old.

http://i102.photobucket.com/albums/m82/knoxf4i/Mobile%20Uploads/D1A9286C-C240-491E-8149-88AF2BD7AA79_zpsddzz0hhw.jpg

[EL Ziggy]

He's looking great Knox. I remember when you first got him. :)

[Bandit]

Great looking Milk!

[knox]

Yep, he's been around for a while. Thanks!

[Wingbeats]

Wow, gorgeous! I've decided as of yesterday that a black milk snake would be my ideal third snake, if I ever get a third snake :)

[knox]

Wow, gorgeous! I've decided as of yesterday that a black milk snake would be my ideal third snake, if I ever get a third snake :)

They don't disappoint. Very gentle and so easy to care for. I don't even use heat for him in the summer!

[SerpentineDream]

He's a beautiful boy. What size and type of prey is he eating?

[knox]

Jumbo mice. Could probably take medium rats but they are more expensive. However, if he starts eating 2 mice at a time, 2 rat would probably be cheaper.

[IW17]

Love black milks. I've been holding off on another snake until I get the rest of my crew in their adult enclosures. At what temp do you supplement heat?

[knox]

Love black milks. I've been holding off on another snake until I get the rest of my crew in their adult enclosures. At what temp do you supplement heat?

Around 68. Which is most of the winter in my house.

[Andy_G]

Black milks like it cool mostly due to the very high altitudes that they occur. 68 to 78 is warm enough for them to thrive, but some keepers will offer a basking spot in the low 80s. Don't really know why.

[Wingbeats]

That's part of why I want one....beautiful snake, and I keep my rainbow boas at those same temps. Easy-peasy setup from what I have going already :)

[SerpentineDream]

I am getting a black milk this spring or summer. :) My husband says "Gee, thanks." I got the idea from you guys and your intriguing, docile black beauties.

Do the females get significantly larger than the males or vice versa, and do they have different metabolic rates as adults? FWIW my adult female corn eats every week, but adult males only need feeding every 10 - 14 days, so I wondered if it was the same with milks.

Also what size cage is ideal for them? I was looking at 120 gallons (48" long x 24" deep x 24" high). That's an awful lot of cage compared to the rest of my crew, but black milks seem like an awful lot of snake!

[knox]

Males tend to get larger in these believe it or not. And that tank will be great!

I feed my guy once a week like my other colubrids. (However, I am going to cut my Corn back to every 2 weeks. He is getting a little chunky.)

[Andy_G]

Males in most (but not all!) colubrid species tend to get larger, while the opposite is true of most boids.