Reptile & Amphibian Forums

I wrote last week about "rescuing" a neonate eastern milk snake. My primary concern was with trying to get it some kind of food. At the time, I was worried because this tiny little guy, who when coiled up probably wouldn't cover a nickel, surely couldn't tackle even the tiniest of pinky mice. I was also fairly sure that this baby had not taken a meal yet.

Anyway, to make a long story long...yesterday morning (overnight some time really) a brand new batch of pinkies were born here. I put one "hours old" pinky in the enclosure with the eastern. The snake immediately grabbed it by the arm and started dragging it around the enclosure (It didn't constrict at all while I watched). I left him alone and went to work. I don't know how long it took and quite how he did it, but when I came home I had one fat little milk snake. I was worried about having to assist feed mouse tails and mouse parts to this baby to get it started, and he proved all that unnecessary.

By the way, I know very well what snakes are capable of. I've been keeping and breeding various species for 15 years. Still, this little guy amazed me. Are most milks this easy to start feeding?

I was extremely lucky (from what I read and what I'm told) getting an eastern (amel) to feed as well. I hear that they are usually pretty difficult. But unfortunately after 3 months of feeding mine has stopped. I had hoped to feed him throuh the winter, but it looks like I'll have to wait till spring to feed again. Good luck with yours.

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Joe

Alot of my North American milks have stopped feeding too. Some stoped feeding the first week of September.
I even have a few that stopped eating in mid August.
Just put them down for the winter and they will be ready to eat in the spring. It sounds like you knew this already.

-Dell

Bighorn co. male breeder.

Thanks Dell. I did know, but always reassuring to hear others similar experiences with the NA milks.
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Joe

Mine as hard is it may sound has been up with his schedule, but today he didn't take anything. What do you guys think or actually what methods have you guys used to keep em cool during the winter. I think mine is also gunna shed soon and that will make it 3 damn times since I found him in my apartment back in July!

He has gotten cloudy eyes yet but his skin is looking a bit parched.

I don't keep Eastern milks. But I do keep a number of North American milks. Syspila, multistrata, celaenops...

Most seem to start slow w/ some starting the first time there intorduced to a newborn pink. Usually NA milksnake neonates will take a few weeks to take a pink, and some will take a little longer, and require other methods to get them to eat.

I like the challenge of getting a tough feeder to eat. It's great when working w/ the little snot over a few weeks when it finally eats.
But I gotta say, I love the neonates that eat right out of the gate the best. God bless em.

-Dell

South Dakota Pale Milksnake