Rate your MBK

[trailblazer295]

Hey all

The gears are turning but I need some more info and an average. So I want you to rate your MBK in terms of cage activity, handableity, how often bitten?, how often musked?

I'm trying to get a real world baseline for the average of these snakes. I know some will have angels and others little devils and everything in between.

In general I expect one to be fairly cage active and well handled when not hungry. I'd tap train like I do my boa and I keep my hands out of the cage at feeding time. Is an active snake that's easy to handle a realistic expectation for them?

[Minkness]

On a scale of 1-10 with one being a total s*** and 10 being an angel.

Tank activity. 3-hardly ever seen other than to remind me that I actually still had a snake....sometimes...

Bite. 10-never was bitten, even when I knew I scared the bajeebus out of her a few times.

Handling. 3-super squirmy and took forever to calm down, and even when calm, was not exactly a 'hang out with me' type of snake.

Musk. 3-mine didn't smell particularly aweful and it seemed to dissappear quickly, but she would do it about 9 times out of 10 if I messed with her.

Feeding resonse. 8-never turned down a meal, but because of her skittishness, she would often run away when I opened the tub and required some coaking to come out, then, as soon as she had her meal, dragged it into her hide to eat in peace. I don't feel tap training is needed, but tongs most definitely are!

[reptiledude987]

Mine is 10s across the board. active in the enclosure but calm enough to be easily handled. nipped me once but was so damn cute and didnt hurt at all or even draw 1 drop of blood.

[trailblazer295]

Mine is 10s across the board. active in the enclosure but calm enough to be easily handled. nipped me once but was so damn cute and didnt hurt at all or even draw 1 drop of blood.

I expect to get tagged by a baby because everything wants to eat them. So that's possible. Doesn't hurt or draw blood. Got tagged by a baby spotted python, he was all attitude looked sideways at my thumb then BAM.

It's the rest of time as they grow I'm trying to determine.

[reptiledude987]

mines adult and still no worries. barely even felt it

[trailblazer295]

mines adult and still no worries. barely even felt it

Thanks man, expo coming up in a few weeks so might be making a trip.

[reptiledude987]

Is that the one on jan 17th?

[trailblazer295]

Is that the one on jan 17th?

Yeah, think the one after is Feb 27

[reptiledude987]

I think Ill be at that one too.

[trailblazer295]

Assuming I don't get stuck working I will be.

[EL Ziggy]

I'm going to give my girl an 8. She'll be 3 y/o in April and she's never musked or bitten me and only struck at me once during a feeding. She's really easy to handle now but she was flighty as a hatchling. She's probably my most shy snake even though my new coastal carpet is challenging that. She'll cruise her tank when she's hungry but she normally hides a lot. I rarely saw her at all for the first few months that I had her. She's beautiful, really sweet, and a beast at feeding time. None of my snakes strike their prey as hard as she does.

[trailblazer295]

Thanks, heard some tend to be shy.

[Pogie]

Tyrion is probably an 8 also. He don't move much around his tank, but he will come out when it's food day. He use to eat very well. Now I'm not sure if it's cool in my house or what but he has refused food a couple times. Never longer than the second week though. Like he will eat go off feed for the next one then eat the following week.

As for handling or biting he has never bit or struck at me and let's me hold him when ever I feel like it, no musking at all. Never has.

[prairiepanda]

I helped a friend of mine tame his. She has changed quite a bit from the time she was baby.
Baby ratings:
Activity - 2 - Barely ever saw her out of her hide
Handling - 5 - Super squirmy and not a fan of handling at all; eventually calmed down but was always moving
Defensiveness - 9 - Never saw any musking, but she really liked to bite in the beginning. Her teeth were too tiny to draw blood or have any other effect, though. I would get bit several times whenever I took her out, when she was new.
Feeding - 8 - Pretty consistent feeder, but we had to put a towel over her cage and leave it like that overnight or else she would ignore the mouse.

Adult Ratings:
Activity - 5 - Often see her out and about in her cage, but hides if you get too close or make noise. She's not curious about things going on outside her cage at all; just wants to look for ways to escape I think.
Handling - 10 - Total sweetheart. Still pretty active while handling(not a TV-watching snake, by any means), but doesn't move too fast and is very cooperative overall.
Defensiveness - 10 - Never musks or bites at all. People can touch or grab her anywhere, even her head, without getting a defensive response.
Feeding - 10 - Eats within a few minutes of dropping a mouse in, no fuss. Sometimes refuses food when in shed, but not always.

She doesn't get handled much these days, but she's always consistently tame like this. I've had some snakes that only stay tame if you continue working with them, but this girl doesn't need that kind of commitment.

[reptiledude987]

None of my snakes strike their prey as hard as she does.

Really? More agressive feeding response than your carpets?

[EL Ziggy]

Really? More agressive feeding response than your carpets?
My carpets are smaller and younger. They'll pretty much eat anything anytime, so I'd say their appetites are more voracious, but they've never knocked the tongs out of my hands. Neither have my much larger and stronger bull snakes. The other snakes yank or grab their food but my MBK really hits hers. I love the sound she makes when she strikes. It's like a shhwoomp sound :).

[SerpentineDream]

Wow, it sounds like they are neat snakes. I'd heard they were nasty - biters, poopers and difficult to handle. That was what swayed me to choose a black milk snake instead. I wanted something I could hold without losing chunks of skin or being showered with poo (though I expect some musking from the milk when it's young).

[trailblazer295]

Oh no it's about 50 50 lol making it a harder choice.

[reptiledude987]

Well there is always the option of a carpet python of sorts....

[Minkness]

He doesn't like Carpets. He wants a hognose, but isn't sure he wants to give up the dream of a sleek, jet black noodle.

[Pogie]

My carpets are smaller and younger. They'll pretty much eat anything anytime, so I'd say their appetites are more voracious, but they've never knocked the tongs out of my hands. Neither have my much larger and stronger bull snakes. The other snakes yank or grab their food but my MBK really hits hers. I love the sound she makes when she strikes. It's like a shhwoomp sound :).

I love feeding Tyrion too lol. He does the same thing. It scared me one time, wasn't expecting him to come out of his hide as fast as he did. I wound up throwing the mouse across the tank ROTFL.

[EL Ziggy]

Doesn't like carpets? Tisk tisk tisk :).

[reptiledude987]

Doesn't like carpets? Tisk tisk tisk :).

Agreed. Whats not to like? Out all the time, active, great feeding response. Im stumped...
Is there already a carpet photo thread? If not maybe we should start one to see if we can turn TB around on this.

[Minkness]

IKR!!!

My carpet QUICKLY became a favorite! I thinknhe would enjouly one as well, but he wants something smaller. (Though an IJ doesn't get very large at all hehe).

[Minkness]

Agreed. Whats not to like? Out all the time, active, great feeding response. Im stumped...
Is there already a carpet photo thread? If not maybe we should start one to see if we can turn TB around on this.

I love this idea!!!

We already have a Kings of the forum, and a garter love thread...we definitely need some kind of Carpet show off thread!

[reptiledude987]

I love this idea!!!

We already have a Kings of the forum, and a garter love thread...we definitely need some kind of Carpet show off thread!

Well get on it there mink. Ill throw some of my pics up on it.

[trailblazer295]

I'm not looking for a high humidity snake this time around. Something I can keep in a glass tank 40 breeder or similar with ambient room humidity.

[reptiledude987]

Bredli carpets dont need high humidity at all :D

Resistance is futile! We will turn you to the carpet side!

[Minkness]

Wait....carpets need high humidity? Mine sheds fine at about 50-60% ambient humidity. O.o

[EL Ziggy]

If you want a snake that can live as an adult in a 40g tank you can't beat a king IMO.

[trailblazer295]

Wait....carpets need high humidity? Mine sheds fine at about 50-60% ambient humidity. O.o

I consider that high. What I want is something that needs 40%. Most houses are 30-40% in winter and 50-60% in summer.

[trailblazer295]

If you want a snake that can live as an adult in a 40g tank you can't beat a king IMO.

Yes a 40g would be adult cage. Baby noodle would start in a 10g and upgrade later. But that's what I'm working with in terms of cage size and general requirements. Temps are easy I have a stat. But no high humidity. Already gone through enough battles lately lol. Want simpler this time. And no money for a PVC setup to maintain high humidity snakes.

[trailblazer295]

Bredli carpets dont need high humidity at all :D

Resistance is futile! We will turn you to the carpet side!

Sorry bud, they don't grab me and those ones need far to big a cage then what I'm prepared for.

[trailblazer295]

Some kind of king seems to be the best fit. If not MBK maybe grey banded or I guess possibly a pit.

[EL Ziggy]

You've got awesome choices blaze. There are so many cool king and pit morphs. Have you seen the mosaic or speckled kings? I do believe that most pits would outgrow that 40g within 18-24 months though. That's when I moved mine to 4x2's. My female was definitely getting cramped. My male is on a similar pace.

[prairiepanda]

I'd say for the setup you're describing an MBK would be your best bet. See if you can play around with some babies at an expo and pick an individual that you like :) I'd suggest a black pine for you if you could offer more space, but pines would go crazy in a 40g.

Or maybe you can get a gray banded king now and plan for a black pine in the future to satisfy your desire for a sleek black low-maintenance snake?

[trailblazer295]

You've got awesome choices blaze. There are so many cool king and pit morphs. Have you seen the mosaic or speckled kings? I do believe that most pits would outgrow that 40g within 18-24 months though. That's when I moved mine to 4x2's. My female was definitely getting cramped. My male is on a similar pace.

Oh I didn't realize they got that big. Have to rethink that one then. We don't get the selection up here so less options in terms of kings. Hardly saw any last expo but it was pet expo not just herps so some dealers didn't show up. See what the next one has on offer.

I'd say for the setup you're describing an MBK would be your best bet. See if you can play around with some babies at an expo and pick an individual that you like :) I'd suggest a black pine for you if you could offer more space, but pines would go crazy in a 40g.

Or maybe you can get a gray banded king now and plan for a black pine in the future to satisfy your desire for a sleek black low-maintenance snake?

Last time I saw one at an expo there was only one. Didn't hold it as I wasn't in the market for one. Didn't see any gray banded last expo but not many kings in general. See what the next one has, hopefully more selection.

Looks like pines are off the list, cage size is an issue at the moment due to $$ mostly.