Reptile & Amphibian Forums

I have posted about this before but I just need to vent. My male black milk is working on his fourth year now and he still has not completed his color change. I have a female that is not two years old yet and she is almost solid black. Anyone with a Black Milk that has taken longer than normal to change or has one that never completely changed. I added some pics I took tonight, not very good but they get the point across.

Thanks,
Miller

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1.1 Florida King
1.1 Eastern Kings
1.1 Black Milksnake
1.2 Kankakee Bull Snakes
2.2 Still Water Hypos
1.1 Possibly stillwater x Red Bull
2.2 N. Pinesnake
0.1 Tangerine Honduran
0.0.1 Black Ratsnake
1.0 Chow Chow (2003 Papi)
0.1 Cats (Shug)

Oh, man... that's a bummer. Sorry to say it, but if he's going on four years old, that may be as black as he's going to get. At the risk of setting off a ****storm, who produced him?

Nate

yea a real bummer if he does not change anymore.... That is/was one of the joys of getting him was to witness the change. I purchased him at a reptile show in Houston from Cherryville Farm. They have a great reputation so I don't think it is anything with the line just bad luck with my particular snake. I can say though that I do think he is still changing just very slowly, I will keep hope alive for another year then I will accept my fate. I am not that upset he is one of my favorite snakes and disposes of most of my leftover rats that others don't eat! My female that I purchased when I moved to Chicago is almost solid black and she is not two years yet.

Miller

>>Oh, man... that's a bummer. Sorry to say it, but if he's going on four years old, that may be as black as he's going to get. At the risk of setting off a ****storm, who produced him?
>>
>>Nate
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1.1 Florida King
1.1 Eastern Kings
1.1 Black Milksnake
1.2 Kankakee Bull Snakes
2.2 Still Water Hypos
1.1 Possibly stillwater x Red Bull
2.2 N. Pinesnake
0.1 Tangerine Honduran
0.0.1 Black Ratsnake
1.0 Chow Chow (2003 Papi)
0.1 Cats (Shug)

Yeah, if John Cherry produced him it's definitely safe to say it's a pure gaigeae. I often get asked at shows if black milks will breed with Hondurans, etc, so unless you buy from a reputable seller, you never know. Maybe environmental factors, then? From your previous post, it sounds like your male spent his early years in Texas... what temperature were you keeping him at then? Most people keep them at room temperature, which I'd guess is a bit higher in Texas than Illinois. There is some anecdotal evidence that keeping them at warmer temperatures delays the color change, so that could be a factor.

Nate

Here's a link to the anecdotal evidence I mentioned... Critter Corner had a pretty large and genetically diverse breeding group back in the late '90s, interesting reading if you're into gaigeae. It looks like the oldest male listed at the top of the page never turned completely black, and I'm pretty sure another revision of this website mentioned that he was kept a bit warmer during the first year or two.

Critter Connection Black Milk Page

Critter Connection Black Milk Caresheet

Thanks for the additional information.... I am originally from Houston so he did spend his formative years in Texas. He was never given supplimental heat and as you know we southerners love our AC! lol He was never kept at high temps, I did my research before I got him. With that said the ambient temp in Texas still may be just a bit higher than Chicago. I am keeping my fingers crossed with him.

Miller

>>Here's a link to the anecdotal evidence I mentioned... Critter Corner had a pretty large and genetically diverse breeding group back in the late '90s, interesting reading if you're into gaigeae. It looks like the oldest male listed at the top of the page never turned completely black, and I'm pretty sure another revision of this website mentioned that he was kept a bit warmer during the first year or two.
>>
>>Critter Connection Black Milk Page
>>
>>
>>Critter Connection Black Milk Caresheet
-----
1.1 Florida King
1.1 Eastern Kings
1.1 Black Milksnake
1.2 Kankakee Bull Snakes
2.2 Still Water Hypos
1.1 Possibly stillwater x Red Bull
2.2 N. Pinesnake
0.1 Tangerine Honduran
0.0.1 Black Ratsnake
1.0 Chow Chow (2003 Papi)
0.1 Cats (Shug)