Reptile & Amphibian Forums

What are Red Milks like in captivity? Are they easy and is it easy to start hatchlings? I have experience with Pueblans and Hondos.

Thanks,
Dan

red milksnakes are very easy snakes to care for as adults and subadults, the juviniles on the other hand are ussually a little tricky. they are tiny when they hatch and don't get as big as pueblans or hondos, so it takes alot of time, patience, dedication, experiance, and luck to get them to a more easily managed size. this also happens with central plains milks, pale milks, scarlet "kings", and many other species of lampropeltis. if you decide to get a red, I wish you the best of luck as I think they are very interesting and one of the most gorgeous of the milksnakes.

Syspila aren't difficult to keep at all as adults, once you figure out a few of their secrets. They often go off feed in the late summer or early fall and need to be cooled. Males sometimes continue to fast until after the breeding season. Most NA milks are notorious for these quirks, and it actually adds something to their appeal for some keepers. Neonates are a little tricky sometimes. Many (not ALL) new hatchlings will refuse domestic rodents as a first food. The often require a few weeks or months of trying various tricks or stuffing them with mouse tails to get them going. Again, this adds a little appeal for some keepers. The rewards of seeing a hatchling you've put some effort into finally take off is worth it.

Perry Lake, KS syspila

Generic bloodline syspila

-Cole