Reptile & Amphibian Forums

Alrighty, some lady brought this baby eastern milksnake into me that she found in her basement. Now I have raised baby snakes, but this thing is everything in the definition TINY. Serious he is'nt even as thick as a pencil. Plus its WC (in a house lol) so I'm wandering what exactly I should do with it. I'll try a pinkie foot, or a full grown mouse foot with shed skin wrapped on it but I have to wait for my other snakes to shed. Just looking for some advice on what to do with this little guy/girl. It has really nice coloring/patterns so if I can get it going I might want to get another for a possible breeding venture. I don't know how you eastern/red milk people do it he's SO little. Thanks anyways.

I would try the smallest pinkie that you can get on the baby Eastern Milk. You may be surprised to find that the baby may take the pink. The majority of the baby Eastern Milks I've tried have taken frozen, thawed pinks. Give it a try. Good luck.
Can you post a photo of the baby? Would love to see a picture.
Where (state and county) was the baby milk caught?

Trumbull County Ohio. I'll try and get a picture but not sure if I can.

Although it is very small, if it's an Eastern Milk, it should be able to handle a very small pinkie with not much problem like the others said. Even a small "Red Milk" can sometimes manage what are known as "tic-tacs", they are newborn pinkies that are smaller than average. I would also like to see a pic of the snake if you could post one!.....best regards,...............Doug
-----
Better to be silent and thought a fool, than to open mouth and remove any doubt!

Where do you live? I would guess that eastern milks are brumating right now in most if not all of their range.

I would brumate the baby and see if it eats in the spring. If she found it in her basement, I bet that's what it was doing anyway.

Good luck,

Dave

DNS Reptiles

I'd try the smallest pinky possible. If it doesn't eat, then I'd brumate it. Keep in mind that Ohio has regulations for keeping native herps. Here's one that my friend in Cleveland found in his house this past Summer:

Third Eye

Yeah, I know they have those regulations, I'm not sure on the specifics am I technically breaking the law now? I offered a mouse leg, and he struck a couple times but did'nt take. I'll pick up a tiny pink for it next time I go to the pet store. Did I mention this thing is TINY yet?
-----
-J.Hill

.
-----
-J.Hill

"A propagating license application must be requested from the Division of Wildlife within 10 days after taking possession of any native reptile, amphibian or wood turtle."

You can find out more by doing a Google serach for "ODNR reptile regulations."

Tim

My personal way of dealing with these tiny babys is to try a tiny live pink.....90% of the time this doesn't work. But I do try to do it first.
I think they must key on something like small salamanders or something when they are tiny....but that is my guess.
Anyway, I cut off a 1/2-3/4 inch piece of the base of a frozen mouse tail, thaw it and force feed it. After about 4-6 meals 5 days apart they will usually kick into taking live tiny pinks.

If it seems well hydrated and not too thin you may have luck finishing it's wintering. But if you have already warmed it up I would try starting feeding.
-----
Sonya

I'm not mean. You're just a sissy.
Happy Bunny