Reptile & Amphibian Forums

Hi folks! Very excited to add this pair to my modest collection of snakes. I'm a ball python girl at heart, but the colubrids have been worming their way into my heart. Started with a striped albino cali king last year (who I absolutely adore), and the latest additions arrived at my friend Deborah Stewart's house today (so I wouldn't have to take off work today), courtesy of Kara Glasgow.

I decided a month or two back that I would like to have a jet black snake, and was trying to decide between a MBK or a Black Milk. I chose the Black Milks because of their eventual size, their ease of care, their reported temperment (although Kara warned me that they have the feeding response of a retic! LOL) and the fact that they are reported to be a richer black than the MBK's.

Before I post pictures, one thing I've found in my research is that caresheets on these guys are VERY generic, if you can find them at all. Do any of you know of any good Lampropeltis Triangulum Gaigeae specific caresheets that you can direct me to?

Here they are - and yes, I tend to name all my snakes!

This is the little girl, Onyx - and she has a bit of stuck shed.

This is the little boy, Jett - and Deb says he's a wannabe rattlesnake.

Don't know if I'll ever breed these guys, but got a pair "just in case" I decide to down the road. For now, they're just really sweet additions to my personal collection! Thanks Kara!
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Robins Nest Reptiles

" Do any of you know of any good Lampropeltis Triangulum Gaigeae specific caresheets that you can direct me to?"

Kara, their care is exactly as most other Latin American milks, Hondurans, stuarti, polyzona, etc..., and even many others too. The one key exception being, they do not like temps that get as warm. Those do best if kept in the mid to upper 70's since they are a montaine subspecies that thrives in the higher, cooler elevations.

Very cool snake!, I really like those too.

~Doug
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"a snake in the grass is a GOOD thing"

Thanks Doug! I'm Robin though - Kara is who I got them from!
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Robins Nest Reptiles

Robin your going to love those gaigeae, really mellow, good feeding response, easy to care for, and the color change over the next few years is intriguing.

Doug's right, they come from a cooler climate and can be kept off heat as a general rule. When I first got mine the female as a neonate regurgitated her pink a few times, so I started putting about two inches of her small tub on heat tape, which she used after every feeding, and the regurgitating ended. I kept her on heat tape for a few months, then after that took her off the heat, and have never had a problem w/ her again.

If you want more information about Blackmilks come on over to the Milksnake forum, there are a number of people that keep gaigeae, and would be happy to answer any questions you may have.

Enjoy those Blacks.

-Dell

Thanks Dell! My home is kept in the comfortable mid to upper 70's and I had planned to offer a small area for basking, per Kara's suggestion - to at least allow them a choice. I plan to keep them on aspen. I'll have to check out the milk forum - not sure why I had the brain fart and went to the kingsnake forum! Duh!
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Robins Nest Reptiles

Dell, do you keep any kings, I know your milk collection is to die for, post 'em up bro!
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Todd Hughes

You're gonna be lovin' those! Got my first/only one this season. Growing like a weed and almost pure black now, a super calm, rodent disposal unit. You'll probably notice how their movements are kind of quirky jerky when they cruise. My hondo is like that too. Tropical milks are the bomb!

Thank you! I can't wait to get them home - they're about an hour away right now, and I'm headed to Birmingham this weekend with a bunch of other herpers to hang out and just go the Dixie Reptile show. The show is something to do, the hanging out with good friends is the draw of the weekend.

I'll be picking them up next Saturday, and I can't wait! They've already converted my friend who is now wanting to add a pair of her own!
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Robins Nest Reptiles