Reptile & Amphibian Forums

I guess I'm more excited about these kiddos than I realized! I took a wrong turn and posted this in the Kingsnake forum - thanks Dell for pointing that out! LOL

Here's what I posted over there:

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!

Onyx, the wee little girl with a bit of stuck shed on her head:

And the handsome Jett, who aspires to be a rattler, so I'm told!

I get to pick them up from my friend over Thanksgiving weekend, but I know they're in good hands right now - and working their magic on her, because now she's talking about getting a pair of her own!

Thank you to Kara for putting these wee ones into my collection!
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Robins Nest Reptiles

Well GEE!, fancy seeing YOU over here? Kara,..uh, I mean Robin!..LOL!

Yeah, lots of milk-heads over here to show those off to..LOL!

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

Robin, you found us.
I'm sure there is a care sheet out there but here is a quick summary of what I do.
A small tub will work best at first, milks tend to feed better if their space is small at first, aspen or carefresh bedding is fine but I started the neonates out in a small tub w/ just a paper towel to hid under. As they grew I moved them up to a larger tub w/ aspen bedding,and an adequate hid space. I don't think the aspen alone is an adequate hid space in my opinion. Add a water bowl and your on your way.
You keep Ball pythons so I'm sure you know what to do if the gaigeae is in a bad shed. A little humidity in your tub will do wonders for a sticky shed.

Good luck, and again enjoy the Blacks.

-Dell

Thank you again for the welcome Doug and Dell! And thank you for the tips, Dell! Look forward to picking as many brains as possible - I'm sweet on these kiddos already!
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Robins Nest Reptiles

Very nice! Check your e-mail, I just sent you a message asking if you'd like a copy of the caresheet I give out with my hatchlings. Black milks are probably one of the easiest of the milksnake subspecies to keep, as well as being one of the largest and most docile. They're very easy to breed, should you decide to go that route. They're not quite as genetically diverse as ball pythons, although there are a few lucky folks on the forum who have access to some fresh imports. There also aren't really any black milksnake morphs, since they all turn black eventually, but some do have aberrant patterns as hatchlings. Here's one I produced this year.

Nate

Hi Nate - I will check my e-mails, and yes, I would love to receive a copy of your caresheet. I've actually been lurking here reading and had seen that beautiful baby earlier!

I think the attraction of these lovely snakes IS that they mature into a jet black animal with some significant size coupled with their awesome disposition!
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Robins Nest Reptiles

I too am a BlackMilkAholic

I cannot get enough of them and definitely understand your excitement!!! I have 3 now but come this Tuesday it will be 4 when my new female gets delivered!!

Here is a pic of my male who I also named Jett Not the greatest pic, but gives a basic idea

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~Markus Arelius

Ok fine just Markus.

The very existence of flamethrowers means that sometime, somewhere, someone said to themselves..."You know, I really want to set those people over there on fire...but I'm just not close enough to get the job done!

Hi Markus! I've seen your three as well as I've lurked here! Your Jett is handsome!
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Robins Nest Reptiles