Milk snake Qs - Page 2

PYKEY · 06-23-08, 07:55 AM

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.

**Aaron_S** · 06-23-08, 09:27 AM

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 · 06-23-08, 10:31 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 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.

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

Will0W783 · 12-16-08, 10:20 AM

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** · 12-17-08, 02:03 PM

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 · 12-17-08, 09:52 PM

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 · 03-12-09, 10:24 AM

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 · 03-13-09, 09:22 AM

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.