WC Eastern Milk Snake

[Ritus_Reptile]

Hey, what else would a 2 1/2-3 foot wild caught eastern milk snake eat besides mice? Mice cant be the only thing eastern milks eat in the wild. I am having trouble getting a very calm and very tolerant to handleing eastern to eat. I have read that they eat small mammals and birds. I wouldnt amagine that this snake only eats birds. So any ideas would help thanks.

[Tim_Cranwill]

Hmmm.. maybe stop handling him and try a few different hides out. Does he spend a lot of his time in one area of the enclosure?

[Vanan]

Baby eastern milks feed on lizards. I'm pretty sure he'd go for one, or a scented mouse.

[jwsporty]

A couple weeks ago, Kelvin swung by my place with a WC Eastern that he found out at his folks farm. We gave it a F/T rat pinky (approx 4 day old ) and it willing took it. It, too, was about 2-1/2 feet. He did this again about 5 days later with no prob..something to try..he offered me the snake but I didn't feel like going through the whole health regime with it and I certainly did not want to bring it in the house, so it was released at the same spot it was found.

[Andy_G]

Eastern milks are notorious for refusing food, no matter what it is. They aren't all like this but I have only heard of a few that would eat on a regular basis. I think that it will eat lizards, but if it doesn't I think you should release it.

[Ritus_Reptile]

Thanks for replys

-cranwill he usually is in his hid but he does soak from time to time and he does bask on his rock early in the morn. Besides the day that i got him and when i clean his tank he isnt handled otherwise.

I will try a lizard and mabey a live mouse if he wont accept anything else. Also would the time of day make a difference, i have been offering food in the early afternoon after he has time to warm up (over night cage temp is around 60-65).

[Zoe]

Ritus - why don't you just let him go? You can find milk snakes anywhere in captivity, this one belongs in the wild and will be much happier there. Why keep it in a tiny cage, stress it out and trying feeding him?

[crimsonking]

They also feed on other snakes. I have 2.1 and all are from NY state. Luckily they all feed on mice with no problems. If you decide to keep the snake, be patient, make sure he is comfortable and has fresh water. He may even take a tree frog or other type of ranid. There aren't many king/milksnakes that will refuse a skink.Keep us posted.
:Mark

[SerpentLust]

I'm with Zoe on this one. Why bring more Wild ones into Captivity? We have enough of them already with alot of breeders. And there are alot of GOOD breeders out there. I see no reason to keep a wild snake for pleasure in a small cage that it is most likely VERY stressed in.

Jenn

[Ritus_Reptile]

i have the snake because the people at my job were going to kill it and im not letting it go there so someone else can find it when im not there and chop it in half. I only posted to get some tips on feeding and different food items. If anyone else has an opionion on WC or CB please keep it to yourself when posting on my thread.

[Vanan]

Why bring more Wild ones into Captivity? We have enough of them already with alot of breeders. And there are alot of GOOD breeders out there.

Erm, dun mean to be rude, but the last time I checked, there wasn't many doing this species cos the babies are tough! Heck if you know people doing them, please feel free to let me know! :)

Not that I'm recommending a newbie to go out catch an eastern milk and try keeping it alive. But just thought I'd let most know that I have never heard of anyone captive breeding them up here in Canada consistently.

[Ritus_Reptile]

vanan- I gave him an anole 2 nights ago and he took it without a problem and i gave him one today with the same results. I guess he's a reptilian fan too. Thanks for the tip. I am going to try and give him a scented mouse in a couple of days I will keeep you posted.

[Katt]

Good job. I've heard of adults taking well to captivity. I am sure the male I had was WC and he took mice like a pig!