Posted by:
markg
at Fri Feb 29 13:45:04 2008 [ Email Message ] [ Show All Posts by markg ]
1. Nervousness - Pueblans are very squirmy and jumpy, especially when young. This is normal. My advice is to not expect a super docile creature. In other words, don't fool yourself into thinking yours is unreasonable and something must be wrong.
2. Substrate - Coir fiber (Eco-Earth, CocoSoft, etc) is an excellent subtsrate. Mixed with some Calci-Sand and you have a nice substrate that holds humidity well but drains well too. The milksnake will disappear into it and not come out much. That is when you know he is content. Most folks use aspen. Sani-chip is another good one. Desert Snow is good.
You may want to use paper towels for the 1st few weeks so that if the snake has mites, you can see them and troubleshoot immediately.
3. Hides - The substrate is a good hide. So is anything low and safe. I use bathroom tile (ceramic) under a heat lamp. Snake crawls into substrate under the tile to warm up. I can feed him on the tile.
4. Branches, vines - This is a terrestrial snake that spends much of its life underground. Branches are not a bad thing. I do not see a real benefit other than it gives the snake something to climb on when he is looking for an escape route.
5. Heaters - Most people use undertank. That is fine. Overhead works too as mentioned above. Use a temperature controller available at various suppliers like www.beanfarm.com .
6. Water bowls - I think ceramic bowls like those sold for hamsters are the easiest to clean, as are the small metal dog bowls. If you want to use those molded resin reptile bowls, fine. I just think you will prefer function (ease of cleaning, cheap to replace or have a spare) over looks in the long run.
7. Escapes - Pueblans (as all milksnakes) are experts at finding and crawling through any hole big enough to get their heads through. Make sure your cage does not provide that opportunity. I had a baby Sinaloan milk get out of a 1/4" dia hole. The snake's body was larger in dia than the hole, yet there he was working his way right out. Luckily I saw it before he was gone.
Good luck.
>>I'm getting my first pueblan tomorrow, beautiful coloration, It is little nervous when first handled but settles down nicely after a minute or two. about 10 inches long. i'm going to house him in a 10 gallon for the time being (tanks is about 2x his length, and 14" high) then move him to a 20 or 40 long (whichever is best for an adult) so I've read all the care-sheets but would like to hear from actual owners, hides, waterbowls, substrates, branches, vines, escape-proofing, decorations, lights, heaters and anything else you can think of would be greatly appreciated. I prefer natural looking setups if possible.
>>thanks
>>Mike
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Mark
[ Hide Replies ]
- first pueblan any advice? - mldolan, Fri Feb 29 03:49:05 2008
 RE: first pueblan any advice? - markg, Fri Feb 29 13:45:04 2008
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