Reptile & Amphibian Forums

Last night for the first time my new found eastern took a nip at my hand.

To me this is a good thing, he's starting to act like a milk snake does. I theorize that the snake may have been under the weather, or stressed out. Now he's had 3 mice and a soak and constant warmth maybe his health is improving?

A second side effect that I like is my daughter saw this and suddenly stopped asking if she could hold it

One thing I have noticed, he's not the sharpest tool in the shed, yesterday he tried killing a mouse by it's tail! I HAD to bonk it and take it away from him, then I offered the now stunned mouse head first, he took it and swallowed it.

I figured that with it being a fresh caught wild specimen, that pre-kill would be hard, but he eagerly took the mouse, even out cold!

Regards,
Wayne
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1.0.0 Ball Python - Python regius "Cane" Rescue
0.0.1 Eastern MilkSnake WC "Carmello" adult super sweet temperment
1.2.3 Storeria dekayi Casper, Xena, Athena, & Kids (30 plus released!)
0.0.2 Thamnophis marcianus - Checkered Garters "spot" & "Zig"
2.2.0 Thamnophis radix Snow, Iowa snow & christmas snow het.
2.1.0 Thamnophis sirtalis - eastern Garters
0.0.1 Thamnophis sirtalis - "Flame" red and white stripes
1.1.0 Thamnophis sirtalis CB "Flame" & Melanistic
1.0.0 Thamnophis pickeringi - Puget Sound Garter "Sky" (adult, Sky blue)
0.0.1 Nerodia sipedon - Water Snake - "Aqua" adult WC
0.1.0 Storeria occipitomaculata - Red Belly snake (Her children were raised & released)
0.0.1 Amelanistic Corn Snake "CY" Juvinile CB
1.0.0. Pueblan Milk snake "Oreo" adult CB
1.0.0. ASIAN GREEN SNAKE 3' WC Cyclophiops major"Limon"
0.0.1. Savannah Monitor "CHOMPER" Growing fast!
0.1.0. Green Anole "Crystal" WC
1.0.0. K9 "ACE" Black Cockapoo
0.2.0. Feline"Felix"(R.I.P. 4/27/08) "Kaja" & "Silver"
2.1.0. calico RATS
2.4.?? Mice - Feeder farm - Crickets / fish
More herps than I could ever list out back on the land.

Great work w/ a bit of luck! I'm really glad the male has solidly begun w/ mice -- may wanna just start tossing him f/t! Sounds to me like the guy had seen better days outside but seems to be getting more than a casual dose in the arm from you! I'd imagine that he'll drop into the blue soon enough and you might have a better time with the excess shed on the tail. I'd really focus on keeping him moist until he cycles through.... Again good job!

Chris

Thanks for the kudos

It was compelling to handle the snake so much at first, growing up here on a farm, I never picked one up that didn't chonk into me right away. (not overly painful, funny when spectators are available)

His battle scars give him character, I'm sure there is a story for each one. (Grabbing mice by the tail is one way to get scarred)

I got a huge water bowl / hide combo (dog dish) so he can curl up in the water if he wants to, and I keep his bark lightly damp for humidity.

The weather here has not become entirely stable yet, the frost killed off my lilac flowers before they came full bloom! Point is I am not sure what sort of impact 80 degree days and 30 degree nights would have on a milk snakes overall health.

Regards,
Wayne
-----

1.0.0 Ball Python - Python regius "Cane" Rescue
0.0.1 Eastern MilkSnake WC "Carmello" adult super sweet temperment
1.2.3 Storeria dekayi Casper, Xena, Athena, & Kids (30 plus released!)
0.0.2 Thamnophis marcianus - Checkered Garters "spot" & "Zig"
2.2.0 Thamnophis radix Snow, Iowa snow & christmas snow het.
2.1.0 Thamnophis sirtalis - eastern Garters
0.0.1 Thamnophis sirtalis - "Flame" red and white stripes
1.1.0 Thamnophis sirtalis CB "Flame" & Melanistic
1.0.0 Thamnophis pickeringi - Puget Sound Garter "Sky" (adult, Sky blue)
0.0.1 Nerodia sipedon - Water Snake - "Aqua" adult WC
0.1.0 Storeria occipitomaculata - Red Belly snake (Her children were raised & released)
0.0.1 Amelanistic Corn Snake "CY" Juvinile CB
1.0.0. Pueblan Milk snake "Oreo" adult CB
1.0.0. ASIAN GREEN SNAKE 3' WC Cyclophiops major"Limon"
0.0.1. Savannah Monitor "CHOMPER" Growing fast!
0.1.0. Green Anole "Crystal" WC
1.0.0. K9 "ACE" Black Cockapoo
0.2.0. Feline"Felix"(R.I.P. 4/27/08) "Kaja" & "Silver"
2.1.0. calico RATS
2.4.?? Mice - Feeder farm - Crickets / fish
More herps than I could ever list out back on the land.

No, no I seldom pay attention to such things here in FL... but yeah you're right to do just as you're doing. Good luck w/ him.

Chris