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So I have this randy snake...

jazmaniandevil Feb 27, 2011 06:25 PM

It's obviously a problem of hormones, every spring, my male milk comes out of his usual winter fast with no problems pounding the mice. Within a week or two, he refuses meals and starts getting much more active. Obviously he looking for chicks, which I assume is normal springtime behavior for most guys. The problem is that he is not just satisfied with cruising his tank, but he DIGS INCESSANTLY! By a shed or two into the spring he's developed a lovely snubnose and a bit of a sneezing habit, which goes away a shed or so after he quits digging. My questions is, should I be worried about him digging? The snubnose and the potential for a respiratory infection freaked me out the first year he did this, but once he recovered in summer I put my concerns under the file 'typical behavior'. Just thought I'd ask around for thoughts on the issue.
Thanks for the input,
~Jasmine

P.S. Because he pushes so dang hard when trying to dig for the land of forbidden fruits, it does not matter what substrate he digs in, he always sneezes (I presume to clear the particulate from is nares). I currently have all my snakes on coco fiber for aesthetic, humidity, and scent reasons, because aspen is just bad at all three.

Replies (4)

markg Mar 02, 2011 02:17 PM

Being worried is not the question. Whatever you put that snake in, it is going to cruise and dig and look for hot milksnake girls.

Larger cages help somewhat - the snake will often spend more time cruising and therefore sometimes less time digging, but it still will push into the corners. Also, having a large cool area might help a little. Easier in a large cage.
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Mark

jazmaniandevil Mar 03, 2011 05:34 PM

He's in a 40 gal breeder by himself, which should be adequate space. Ah, well, I guess I just need to wait him out every year then. Thanks for the response!

markg Mar 04, 2011 02:03 PM

40 gal? Good for you and him.

IMO the larger ssp milksnake males can be one of the most active snakes during Spring. Back when I kept groups of Sinaloan milks and Cal kings and rosies, the male milks always cruised the most and dug the hardest during breeding season. I would feel bad for them.

Always cracks me up when I see a post like "How do I get them to breed?" Geeze, with milks/kings it is how do you get them to not breed aside from physical separation.

The answers are funny too - put the male in the female's cage for 3.5 minutes, then... Please. They will breed anywhere - cage, floor, on a table - as long as the female is cycling.
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Mark

jazmaniandevil Mar 06, 2011 11:46 AM

Haha! I'm just a small scale hobby keeper, and I don't need any babies (though I would love to breed some milks in the future). The one female I have just had her first post-brumation shed, and my males have literally stopped taking breaks between excavations, poor guys!

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