Milk snake Qs

[Mophite]

Hello,
I'm new to the forums. I have one pet snake already, a Kenyan sand boa, but today I saw a very attractive milk snake that I'm considering to purchase. But my main concern is it is an adult from 02 and I don't think it has been handled very often. But the breeder's reptiles are typically very well tempered. Would it be hard to get an adult milk snake accustomed to being handled? I know there is a pretty good chance of being bit... a couple times... but it would eventually calm down right? :p

[DaemoNox]

Are you able to go over there and handle the snake first? Even ask the breeder how it is, he should give you a better idea. All of the adult milks I've had have been jumpy and shy, which is normal for milks, but never nippy. Actually the only time I've ever been bit by a milk is when I had to restrain one to get tape off of it.

[Aaron_S]

I agree with DaemoNox that most milks are very jumpy and flighty. I don't think I've had a milk ever try to bite me. Watch out for the poop shot though! Kings and milks like to crap all over you.

[fedupdon]

ive kept mexican and red milks they will bite but not like the larger kings they nose around untill they find a soft spot like the webing between your fingers then they latch on they also poop alot as far as breeders most milkas do better with less handling my larger kings dont seem to care one way or the other

[gonesnakee]

When a snake, any snake noses around & then bites you its not because its looking for a soft spot LOL its because a food response has been triggered. Baby kingsnakes being the worst offenders LOL Snakes like people are all individuals & a specimen should calm down over time with gentle handling, but there are no guarrantees on anything. The snake could be a real Ahole no matter what or could be a real angel. Only time will tell. Milksnakes are generally nervous by nature yep & are not always the best handlers, Mark

[stevesemerko]

I agree with the previous statements...milksnakes are very jumpy and flighty but I have kept many and find with a little handling and a little poop you can calm them down. One of my baby pueblans was very twitchy but after a couple seconds of letting her slither through my hands she would calm right down and just hang out in my hands, at that point it was even possible to hand feed her pinkies. In my opinion you can calm down just about any species with a bit of patience and some TLC.

[Pueblo]

Hello,
I'm new to the forums. I have one pet snake already, a Kenyan sand boa, but today I saw a very attractive milk snake that I'm considering to purchase. But my main concern is it is an adult from 02 and I don't think it has been handled very often. But the breeder's reptiles are typically very well tempered. Would it be hard to get an adult milk snake accustomed to being handled? I know there is a pretty good chance of being bit... a couple times... but it would eventually calm down right? :p


Hello friend
names pueblo I have had three Pueblan milks and they are I find one of the easiest going. Never been bitten and mine are all very calm. two I have had since babies and one was three years old never handled but she acted like she had been handled all her life. I say go for it. I hope that helps.

[tarsier]

My Pueblan neonate just tagged me thrice (picked her up to do a little maintenance on her tank). I got her 2 weeks ago and picked her up twice since then. Musked me but didn't bite me then.

How often do I have to handle her before she calms down?

[Aaron_S]

Daily is recommended. 10 - 15 minutes at a time.

[gonesnakee]

Daily is recommended. 10 - 15 minutes at a time.

With the exceptions of shed cycles & a day or 2 after meals. Try to approach it from the side, not the top (thinks of you as a predator). Try not to actually have to grab it, but let it climb onto you if possible. Try not to restrain it, but moreso let it climb around itself in your hands, be the tree, Mark

[steelheadchris]

I have a honduran that is a lil over 4' bought her around 3' and i never seen such a freak,she calms down a lil after about 15 min of hell ...lol and i have an abberant king thats over 3' and he acts like a lil puppy, he loves to be held ,he doesnt even try to go anywhere,but my wife got him when he was like 8'' long . i think it depends on the snake ,and how much it was handled.grab it and find out,whats a lil blood,,,,,,,,,,,,,,lol

[tarsier]

Got it thanks :)

[Pueblo]

Hello my friends
hope everyone is well
me and my milks are great. But in the last three weeks our family has grown. for my B-day my friend gave me 2 baby sand boas a i bought a snow corn i could not resist. i think im going to stop getting more have my hands full now.
but all my snakes are well behaved.
never been bitten.
but they dont trust my friends or my mom and poop on them every time.
there smart and if you are slow and gentle they will trust you.
im not sure who said it but be the tree.
peace

[Aaron_S]

Listen to Mark in regards to the exceptions of when to handle a snake. I should have put that in my post.

[danbo]

I suggest you use a Hook to get it out of the tank.
I made one from a wire coathanger. The snake fears any approach from above. You should stroke it with the hook a few times to let it know you're there.
Then hook it under the belly & forward of its midway length.
Hoist it out & put it on the floor until it settles down. Then slowly reach under it near the tail to hold it.
Lift with both hands & don't squeeze it.

[PYKEY]

I bought A Tangerine Honduran Milk just for its beauty and wanted to raise it for the breeding purposes, but then i wanted to hold it, she never lets me . She defecates every time and then she wants to bite.. Im learning a couple of tricks myself HERE....LOL I think Im going to sell her.
http://i303.photobucket.com/albums/nn156/paleoscuba/MsFiesty.jpg

[Aaron_S]

Yup...they like to poop on you the second you grab hold. I honestly rather be bit than get poop on me. Either way, if you got her while she was young why didn't you handle her more often? Just wear gloves.

[PYKEY]

Yup...they like to poop on you the second you grab hold. I honestly rather be bit than get poop on me. Either way, if you got her while she was young why didn't you handle her more often? Just wear gloves.

Im too busy and when i have time to im always playing with my Chondro.. I know:No excuse... LOL

[Will0W783]

I have a pueblan milk snake I have had since the summer. She was full-grown when I bought her- about 4' long, and she is psychotic. When I bring her out she musks like crazy and shoots crap all over me. Once she has excreted all over me, she doesn't usually do it again, but the musk smell really gets to me. She didn't do that when I first bought her; maybe she has started because I haven't held her in a while. Since she is an adult, any chance I can calm her down? I don't think she was handled much growing up. She also won't sit still, but whips her head back and forth like I am torturing her just by holding her. She is beautiful and I feel bad letting her just sit in the tank. If I start holding her every day again, think she will calm down?

[Aaron_S]

She might calm down. Why do you feel bad just letting her sit in her tank all the time? She is telling you she prefers it by her actions.

[steelheadchris]

Mine calms down after about 15 min or so throwing her head all over the place, and if i hold her more often she gets alot better about it, bought her as an adult and she is well over 4' long now with some serious girth,if i had the time i think i could get her to be way more mellow but i have way to much going on, but no 2 snakes are gonna act the same.just keep trying . and you have a very pretty snake there by the way

[Will0W783]

Thanks Steelheadchris. I mostly leave her be, but I have started to try to handle her at least two to three times a week. I had her out last night, and after about 5 minutes of squirming and jerking she calmed right down- didn't musk or crap on me. I went at her from the side and held her loosely so she could crawl through my hands and around my arm. As she is over 3' it is hard to be a good "tree" but she seems to be getting much better!

[Chu'Wuti]

What a lot of great info! One other thing to mention, which you may already know, Mophite, but it can't hurt to reiterate: always wash your hands to remove any furry creature smell before handling the snake.

I've only been bitten twice by any snake, and both times it was my fault--once I moved too fast, and once I smelled like mice. I think that anytime someone gets bitten by a snake, they have done something to trigger either defensive or feeding instincts. As long as you consciously avoid triggering either instinct, you're less likely to get bitten (though some snakes are just plain biters! Their defensive instincts are triggered no matter what you do, it seems.).

As stated, make sure the snake sees you coming. You're a dangerous predator to the snake, so move slowly, and pick it up gently from the side so you aren't so scary.

Personally, I've never found a hook necessary with a milk or other colubrid. However, if you want a hook, I personally think it should be made of something wider than coat hanger wire to avoid injuring the snake. The wire is awfully thin for supporting the snake's weight; remember, the snake will be hanging from the wire with nothing else to support it until you add your hand to support it.

If you decide you want a hook, there are several places that sell excellent hooks, and there are plenty of suggestions for creating them out of things you have at home, such as broomsticks, etc., that will provide a broader support base for the snake.