To keep or not to keep, a milk snake I found in my backyard.

[Jlassiter]

Originally Posted by infernalis

Exactly... I have a w/c milk snake that has been living with me for over 5 years, she's a doll.

4 of my garter snakes came from out back too.

It's not like we are talking endangered species or anything like that, these snakes are very plentiful, and it's not harming the overall populations.

so what the heck is this big hangup???

every single time someone finds a snake in their yard, people go off on the person who found it about releasing the darn snake.

My goodness, if the person is willing to take good care of the snake, the snake hit the jackpot... free food, clean water, no predators, a nice home free of floods, droughts and parasites.

No one thinks twice about ordering w/c snakes ripped from jungles, rain forests and islands in the far pacific.

These North American colubrid snakes are a LOT more plentiful than some of the exotic snakes imported every year.

Someone goes to Africa and finds a new colour pattern on a BP, we applaud the person like a hero... what's the difference?? marketability... thats the difference.

I bet if that was an albino Lampropeltis, everyone would be begging for it to start a breeding project.

Amen Wayne!
But there are a few triangulum keepers that would kill for a locale milk like this one....lol

[infernalis]

Originally Posted by Jlassiter

Amen Wayne!
But there are a few triangulum keepers that would kill for a locale milk like this one....lol

I wound up with a clutch of 9, kept one for me, and the remaining 8 were sold almost instantly.

[TremTricolors]

Originally Posted by Jlassiter

Amen Wayne!
But there are a few triangulum keepers that would kill for a locale milk like this one....lol

Yep, you're right John. I am one of those L.triangulum keepers that will kill to be able to catch and produce locale North American milks. Most people say they are hard to get to eat, too small, they bite, to fast and the best is they are the best escape artists I have ever kept. With all that said at least you know they are alive and actually have a personality unlike those painted rocks that eat once a month. That eastern milk will do just fine in a 5 or 10 gallon tank with multiple hides and at room temperature. With a hot spot of 86 or so. The question is will it feed? Sure it will, but you will have to find out what it likes first. Typically, deer mice, moles and depending on where it was caught sometimes lizards.

I say keep it! Try and learn about it and what it likes and dislikes where it hides or spends most of it's time. What temps is it using when it has just eaten, what temps it uses when it's been 4 or 5 days after. As far as quarantining the animal. Considering it is a hatchling most likely the internal parasites are minimal, it doesn't hurt to have a fecal done. I say if you have other snakes just make sure your hygiene between the L.t.t and your other snakes are good. Good Luck with whatever choice you make!