Reptile & Amphibian Forums

ive read some caresheets and it says to keep black milksnakes around 70 deg. ive also heard people say for hatchlings to yearlings to keep them at a higher temp because they are still tri color and dont reflect heat or something like that. is this true? and if so what temp should i keep them at? im looking to get one real soon but id like to get his setup correct now before i get it home. thanks in advance. -Dave
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* Snow Cornsnake (tweak)
* Ball Python (cosmo)
* Columbian Boa (kilo)
* Gray Ratsnake (sold)

Dave,
I'd provide a heat gradiant which allows the snake to move from warm to cool area of the tank as needed. Make sure to add a hide area on both sides of the tank. I use an UTH and warm side is mid-upper 80's and cool side (unheated) is ambient temps of my basement. This ranges from 65-80 degrees depending on season. Most of the time my Black Milks stay on the cool side unless they're digesting a meal. Then they're always on the warm side. The breeder I purchased them from said no heat source was needed as long as temps didn't fall below 70 but I feel better about providing a choice for them. In the wild, they use the sun to absorb heat. In my tank, they can use the UTH.
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Ken Roshak
BlackSwampSerpents@toast.net

I keep my black milks at room temperature (high of 75, low of 60) with no ill effects. I've notice that any ambient temperature at 80 or above, my black milks are soaking/spending alot time near the water bowl. If you feel more comfortable with using a UTH, then by all means, use one, but it's not really necessary.

why don't black milks need to thermoregulate? unless the difference in their hide spot and on top of the substrate is that different in temperature?

thanks for the info guys. looks like ill be getting a black milk on sunday!!!!! woohoo!!! im sure pics will be coming!!!
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* Snow Cornsnake (tweak)
* Ball Python (cosmo)
* Columbian Boa (kilo)
* Gray Ratsnake (sold)

Personally I think all snakes need to thermoregulate to digest meals. I agree that Black Milks, which come from cooler, higher elevation areas in their natural ecosystem need less "heat" than many other types of snakes but they can still use the sun's rays to heat up on their home turf. And many breeders of Black Milks say they do not add supplemental heat and these snakes seem to be fine. But in my opinion I add an UTH so at least they have the choice. And when digesting they always use them so I leave them in. Another option for Black Milk caging if you don't want to use UTH is to use an incandescant bulb over one end of the cage. That way it could "bask" if needed during the day.
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Ken Roshak
BlackSwampSerpents@toast.net

I agree with using UTH. My yearling spends probably 90% or more of his time on the cool side but does on occasion use the warm end after a meal.

I have two 2-year old Black Milk Snakes (a male and a female). They each have their own 20-gallon long aquarium, each filled to about 5" with aspen shavings, which they love to tunnel through and hide in. Both tanks are set up the same way. They've got a mesh top so that they get good air circulation, they have an UTH under the back, right corner and opposite is their water dish. A black plastic hide box (made by ESU) is directly over the UTH on top of the mulch.

My house stays between 69-71° F (20-22° C) pretty much all the time, and I can say that they spend about 40% of their time in the hide box (on top of the mulch, above the UTH), about 30% of the time buried in the mulch above the UTH, and 30% of the time on the cold side.

I think combining the layer of aspen, a hide box and an UTH gives them a "3-D" temperature gradient that they can utilize as they see fit (and they do).

Also, they really seem to appreciate a humid hide box that I made of an old tupperware dish that I bury to the top in the mulch, also. I only put it in when I see they've gone "blue" (greyish-blue is the color they get before shedding), but they are drawn to it like magnets. Without it, they have sometimes had problems completely ridding themselves of the skin on their heads, and/or over their eyes.

As mine have gotten older, I have noticed that they become more bold and I seem them more often. I think a lot of that has to do with the fact that the mulch (and their ability to dash into it pretty quickly) makes them feel secure. . . . And when they are hungry, they are not very shy at all!
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David Leary,
Durham, NC