Reptile & Amphibian Forums

I was wondering if flightiness was something that milks grow out of (with age and size) regardless of handling. I've got a pair of young black milks right now, and of late, the female has become very jumpy. She's twitchy, and flees when I try to pick her up, and today she even musked on me. Before I would hold her and she'd be a little jumpy, but still handleable. The male is fine once in hand. It concerns me, but I don't want to be bugging her if it stresses her for me to pick her up. Should I just wait until she's bigger, or will it be too late then? I want both of them to be used to being handled. Thanks a lot,

-Mack

Well,..to be honest, this just comes with the territory and is very typical of most Milks. Some are a little less nervous than others, but it's just part of their nature....The hatchlings seem to be pretty notorious for being "jumpy", and do tend to calm down after a while. Ones that are prone to "flipping-out" while biting, and musking, usually tend to stop the biting, and musking after a very short period of very gentle handling. Personally,..I find that little handling "tricks" can make all the difference in the world!!...One VERY good handling tip is to never let them see your "free-hand" move. When you go to reach for another grasp, always wait till the hand is just out of view, while moving very slowly, without ANY sudden moves!. If they see a huge human hand coming directly towards their face, they will naturally assume it is a predator that is going to eat them and "bolt"..... Another very good tip is when the milksnake stops moving, you stop moving,..for example, if it temporarily stops moving, and is just laying on your forearm motionless for a few seconds, the last thing you want to do is reach for the snake!! this is GUARANTEED to send him "exploding" off your arm!.........I have developed an absolute "knack" for holding milks over the years, and can almost "read" how they will react to just about any situation......these subtle little "tricks" will no doubt help you handle your milksnake MUCH better in the future. You will find that with gentle slow handling(away from other movement like people and dogs)they will start to become more and more trusting........ they see movement (especially when still) like a "radar"...and will instantly react to it. When they are moving, they will NOT see you move at all, as long as you are very slow, and methodical....you will see that these handling tips work almost like magic!!........have fun!! Doug

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Better to be silent and thought a fool, than to open mouth and remove any doubt!

The more you can hold them the quicker they'll calm down. Especially black milks. They do go through their flighty moments just like any other snakes, but mine rarely get spooked now at a year and 2 years old, respectively.

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Matt from Minnesota