Reptile & Amphibian Forums

I was just thinking, if milk snakes are stressed when they are babies. Could one reason be that a lot of us keep them in shoe boxes. Wouldn't this add to the stress. You pull out the shoe box to look at them as you pull won't this be like and earthquake to them. They do key on vibration. Just a thought. Have any input?

Tom S

A small cage gives them a sense of security. Keeping a baby Honduran in a 10 gallon tank or something larger will not tame them down. There a plenty of baby snakes (Corn Snakes, Nelson's Milks, etc.) that are raised in shoeboxes and they are perfectly tame. I think it is simply the nature of young Hondurans to be skittish.

Tim

Third Eye

Thanks I get my hondos in a few days and I was just wondering if there was anything I could do to make them a little less stress. I do have hides in their enclosures(one on the hot side one on the cool side.) I was just wondering.
Thanks again
Tom S

I'm new to milksnakes as well, I love them. You might have 50 years of experience keeping snakes but you might be a Boa or a Corn Snake guy.

So I just want to be sure that you are not caught by surprise and that you don't feel any frustration as a new Milksnake owner. You fully understand how fight or flight they are when they are young...right?

I have 2.3 in my new start up collection,I also keep them in shoebox rack. They all freak out, they all musk me and two of them like to bite me. So do not feel discouraged about that behavior and just watch your feedings and temps and according to the people with alot more experience with Milks than I do the majority calm down after they get some age and size and make excellent captives colubrids

Good Luck

Yes, that is indeed the deal!. People have to understand their basic instincts, and that they are what they are. And that they will gradually grow out of that behavior to a great degree over time. Thinking they will be like a Ball python and just sit there in your hand is simply very unrealistic regarding milksnakes.

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

my website -serpentinespecialties.webs.com

Thanks Ferrltime, DMong. I was just wondering if that would help any in the stress. I am prepared for the spraying and biting, and the thrashing about.Like you say it's just worth the effort to have them. Also so I have hydrogen peroxide for the bites. and antibacterial soap for the spraying. and a waterless sanitize for after each snake. Also they will be arriving tomorrow morning. I have their cage all set up the heat has been on for three days (testing it). I will aad the water to their bowls to night just to help set the humidity up. I have two hides one on the hot side and one on the cool end. Hot side is from is around 86. All i can do is wait now. Once again I thank-you. And yes I will have more Questions as time goes on.
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Tom S
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