Reptile & Amphibian Forums

I'm new, pretty much to everything, the forums, snakes as pets, etc. However, my husband and I bought a baby Anerythristic Honduran Milksnake, and King is beautiful.
We've had both of them (King, and a black and white banded Cali King Snake named Queenie)for about a week now. King pretty much stays hidden under his water container. I make sure I take them both out a few times a day, a few minutes at a time.
King defecated on me the first time I handled him, but thankfully has quit that. He's still nippy though, and very tense when I hold him. I've noticed also his breathing is increased as well, when I'm holding him. With all these signs, I'm guessing he's pretty scared still.
Any idea how long it will take till he's used to being handled?

Queenie's taken to being handled almost immediately.

Yes, that is all VERY typical behavior for very young milksnakes. They will become more accustomed to your handling as they get bigger too. Right now the tiny snake sees you as a big giant predator that intends to do great bodily harm to him/her..LOL! But as several more months of gentle handling go by, you should notice a significant change in it's behaviour, and by about the yearling stage, most are very easy-going when gently handled. This just goes with the territory of owning milks, and just a little patience is needed, you just need to "roll" with it for a while, and let them be a milksnake, this is just how most of them are are, and especially at this age

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

my website -serpentinespecialties.webs.com

Well, today was feeding day for the monarchs . Queenie (the Cali king) took a few minutes before eating. King on the other hand hasn't eaten yet and its been about 2 hours so far. I'm not really that concerned yet, but are they nocturnal feeders? Or is it just a matter of him geting used to his environment before chowing down?
I did notice over the past week since we've had them that Queenie has been out and about her enclosure alot, whereas King settles beneath his waterdish and we haven't really seen him move, except when putting him back.
Also, another last question...should we have a seperate enlosure to feed them in, or is feeding better in the environment they're used to?

I would do as "amazondoc" mentioned, and just let him be for a while. It is MUCH more important as a new acqusition that you get it to feed and feel secure, than it is to try to "tame" him at this early stage. This is just how they are, and they can be extremely nervous as hatchlings. place something at it's hide opening at night, or underneath it with him/her with as little disruption as possible so the snake doesn't know you are doing this. This is the key many times to get them to feed. You can't be taking it out, or clancking around with the lid like a bull in a China shop and expect a nervous little milksnake to be comfortable enough to feed..LOL!, it's really as simple as that.

If that doesn't work in a couple more days, put it in a deli cup(with air holes of course) along with the pinkie so it will be right there in close proximity with it for a few hours UNDISTURBED in the dark somewhere on a closet shelf, etc..., or overnight. But whatever you do, do not let it see you walking around checking in on him, or the likelihood of it refusing is dramatically increased, simple as that.

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

my website -serpentinespecialties.webs.com

Alright Doug, just trying to clarify, since h hasn't touched the pinky yet, should I put it in his hiding place with him?

Yes,....then if that doesn't work, try slicing the head open on a dead pinkie and smearing some of the brain material all over the head. This very often stimulates a strong feeding response from young snakes. I've had TONS of hatchling snakes refuse other offerings, then the "brained" pinkie gets consumed just like that!, something about the strong internal scent that triggers their feeding instincts.

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

my website -serpentinespecialties.webs.com

Good news, the braining worked like a charm. In fact, I even saw a few inches of his tail out from under his hiding spot. That's a completely new thing.
I do have to say, the whole concept of braining really kinda freaked me out, but I was able to do it successfully and it worked. *shudders*
If I have to do it again, I may not like it, but I know it works.

LOL!!,..very cool!. Glad it did the trick. So try another UN-scented pinkie in about 5 days or so, and see if it eats one un-scented. Then if not, brain one again. Do this less and less each time, and before you know it, they are on un-scented regular pinkies

good luck!, ~Doug
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"a snake in the grass is a GOOD thing"

my website -serpentinespecialties.webs.com

not un-scented!...D'oh!

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

my website -serpentinespecialties.webs.com

Lol, I'll see how he does next week. Should I wait a week to handle him next, or try every other day?

I would hold off on the holding it for now and just let it be. I know the temptation to hold your new acquisition is real strong, because I have been there too, but for now, it is FAR more important that the snake is able to digest it's meal in peace, and get a good feeding regimen going, rather than being forced to the stress of being held. Another thing that I CANNOT stress enough, is to NOT hold the snake for two days after a meal. If you handle very nervous milks soon after they have eaten, they can regurgitate their meal, and this can start a HORRIBLE health issue rolling. Much better to prevent this from happening, than it is to deal with it after it has happened. This can be a very serious thing.

Get the milk feeding on a consant basis, and be allowed to feel secure for a while in his new environment, then you could gently hold him a couple times a week if you have to, until then, hold the other less nervous Cal. king...LOL!

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

my website -serpentinespecialties.webs.com

What about with Queenie? We fed her yesterday, is it alright to hold her now? Or should I keep the 2 day rule for both of them?

I would go with the two day rule!

Scott

yep, look for the meal to have passed, or it might pass it on you! I do a three day rule, myself.
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Todd Hughes

You mention that you are handling the snakes "several" times a day. Personally, I wouldn't be getting them out that often. Let them feel secure and mostly undisturbed in their tanks/boxes. IMHO you should be getting them out at most once a day, or maybe once every two days.

Just a thought!
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0.1 Peruvian rainbow boa (Amaru)
0.3 Honduran milksnakes (Chicchan, Chanir, Hari)
2.6 corns (Cetto, Tolosa, TBA)
1,000,000.1,000,000 other critters

Thanks for the info, Amazondoc. Would that help calm him down and be more used to being handled?

>>Thanks for the info, Amazondoc. Would that help calm him down and be more used to being handled?

IMHO, yes. You need to think about two components of his stress levels: first, how secure he feels in his box; and second, how stressed he is by handling. You do want to handle him in order to get him used to it, but you ALSO want him to feel secure in his box so that he can relax. If he's always having to worry about whether you're gonna pull him out at any second, then he won't be able to relax. So, IMHO, you need some moderation in how much/often you handle him, especially while he is just getting used to all this new stuff.

This is all just my personal opinion. Others may have different ideas!
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0.1 Peruvian rainbow boa (Amaru)
0.3 Honduran milksnakes (Chicchan, Chanir, Hari)
2.6 corns (Cetto, Tolosa, TBA)
1,000,000.1,000,000 other critters