How crazy are honduran milk snakes in the wild?

Arachnaeoccult · 03-20-16, 02:23 PM

Heres a question of consideration. Out of owning 3 snakes and 3 tarantulas, and a scorpion, my pets have never been able to nip me. My youngest G pulchripes which also has the longest time in my custody can be fed crickets by hand without being bitten, she's an extremely socialized pulchripes raised from hatchling with much handling. My asian forest scorpion male required sheer recklessness on part of my redneck friend to pick him up by the tail in order to get a stinger into his finger (luckily he didn't recieve a dose of venom because that hurt a lot and he withdrew immediately) to actually tag a human. However, during feeding of my honduran milksnake, a full grown adult male that measures 5'8 easily, accidentally nipped me during rat feeding. Something not even my arachnids have done and my snakes haven't come close to (except those tiny baby corn snake nips, those are funny so I don't count them). Sylvester drew a chicken scratch-pinprick of blood and there was essentially no injury. But still, because of the behaviour and ferocity of this animal I want to know how they really are in nature.

A burmese python as a pet is a wonderful gentle giant. A burmese python captured straight from the wilderness by my backwoods buddy proved to be a companion over time but still held a speed and strength that made it a beastly when riled. I'm eager to know just how mean milksnakes get in the wild, just as I imagine ball pythons in their natural african habitats being mean and territorial.

Jim Smith · 03-20-16, 02:55 PM

I think that you answered your own question when you stated that he ACCIDENTLY bit you when you were attempting to feed him. My Hondurans are typically very mild mannered, but I got nailed last week when I attempted to dangle a mouse in front of her hide. I didn;t even get the mouse in place to temp the snake, when she was out of her hide and latched on to my finger. She simply missed her target and got me by accident. I don't think Hondurans are crazy at all in the wild, certainly not more than a wild caught king or a watersnake. Those would be defensive bites as to an accidental bite like the one both you and I received. Hondurans are great snakes that make excellent pets.

**Andy_G** · 03-20-16, 04:31 PM

Yep. They have a feeding response like all snakes... and are a bit nervous as a species but are otherwise calm. Use hemostats and it probably won't happen again...at least not for the same reason.

sirtalis · 03-20-16, 05:56 PM

Proper temps will change how a reptile acts... which explains the wild burmese python

toddnbecka · 03-21-16, 01:22 AM

If wild Hondurans are anything like wild Eastern milks I'd happily pick up a baby or adult with absolutely no worries about being bitten. The Eastern milks I've found were as easy to handle as any CBB snake, not nearly as flighty as a garter snake when handled. My baby Hondo hasn't displayed any defensive behavior, much less tried to bite, and they tend to have somewhat of a rep for being nippy babies.

**Andy_G** · 03-21-16, 07:18 AM

Because of where they occur naturally, which is cooler than Burma for example, I would imagine that adults would be nervous and wiggly and most likely musk before trying to bite. If I were to guess, I would think that a wild honduran would be more high strung than an eastern.

toddnbecka...that's great! Baby hondos *normally* will thrash around with their mouth open for the first month or so, and once the mouth touches something they will chew away...makes popping hatchlings fun!! After that first month or so, it's usually musking for the first 6 months to a year and then they calm right down.

D Grade · 03-25-16, 02:54 PM

Not sure about wild, but my CBB Tangerine Hondo is probably my favorite snake in terms of manners and "cuteness". Never attempted a bite, even when he was small and I had to chase him around his tank for five minutes to pull him out for cleaning. He is also incredibly stealthy/ambush-like when going after food and is very skilled in regards of taking care of business after that, which impresses me more regarding his mannerisms and unwillingness to bite. Musk was an issue during the first month home, hasn't been a problem since.

Arachnaeoccult · 03-30-16, 09:55 PM

Oh but sylvester has started to become as calm and docile as my ball python. After a month in his new tub and handling by a few people he's adjusted to where he stays where I got him. Tapping the walls of his enclosure he'll investigate curiously instead of withdraw and panic like he used to. I think they're just like people when they're cramped in spaces far too small for their comfort. (I would know, what he had was like if I had the space of about 3 floor tiles to sit and stand on. he's my exact height within an inch or two. I lined his shed up like measuring tape and I'm 5'8). He has continued his wheezing noise (I think its a result of being cramped, a girlfriend said he's got asthma) but no further signs of a developing RI. I think his poor life might've messed him up a little. Look no further buddy now you're home.

**Andy_G** · 03-31-16, 07:24 AM

Snakes don't get asthma.

Sounds like he is settling in nicely!

**Tsubaki** · 04-01-16, 04:11 AM

Im glad he's setteling in for you, i would not discard that wheezing noise too quickly though.

macandchz · 04-01-16, 07:55 AM

do honduran milk snakes really come from honduras? my daughter is going there next week on a cruise and i want her to try to get pictures of any snakes she sees on her rain forest tour.

**Andy_G** · 04-01-16, 08:15 AM

They certainly do! Being a secretive species, she probably won't see one unless she is actively looking.

Bandit · 04-01-16, 08:16 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by macandchz

do honduran milk snakes really come from honduras? my daughter is going there next week on a cruise and i want her to try to get pictures of any snakes she sees on her rain forest tour.

Yes. And from what I've been told they're common as dirt out there.