Reptile & Amphibian Forums

still no sign of my loki (1.0 '08 normal l.t.c. missing since 3/27/11). really really miss him.

not too fond of my 0.1 '09 hypo brooksi. she was given to me because she was 'aggressive'. just underfed. she's nice enough now; just not my cup of tea.

anyway. i'm thinking about getting another milk, but can't decide. i like them on the smaller side, but that's not a "big" (lol) issue. was thinking about another pueblan, or a sinaloae or a annulata? i'm only familiar with the pueblan.

pro and cons of each?

would even consider a different milk than any of these three.
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1.0 Pueblan Milksnake (Urulokë)
0.1 Hypo Brooks Kingsnake (Mumuna)
1.1 Leopard Geckos (Leppy and Leo)
1.0 Miniature Schnauzer (Dooly)
2.1 Random House Cats (Jack, Tonka, Duchess)
0.2 Sticky Children
1.0 Patient Husband

You ask a questions that are tough to answer simply because everybody has their favorite milk. If 10 members with experience in keeping a wide variety of milks answered your question you'd probably get 10 different recommendations.

If you're interested in breeding than obviously a female pueblan would be the answer... if you just want a different look than your pueblan and I had to choose just one of the three you mention I'd go with Cosala Sinaloans simply because imo they are killer looking, eye popping milks... you want ease of care than I don't think many would argue you can't get much easier that black milks, though they do tend to get large (5 to 6ft)but docile as can be and eating machines.

Long and short of it is only you can answer your question because it comes down to a matter of taste... not much of an answer I know but... whatever you decide I'm sure lots of people will gladly help answer your questions of proper care for it.

Gerry

i'm actually looking for just that! people's opinions on their favorite milks.

so..
pueblans= great breeding.
blacks= easy. docile. large.
cosala sinaloans= gorgeous coloring! love the red.
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1.0 Pueblan Milksnake (Urulokë): MIA since 3/27/11
0.1 Hypo Brooks Kingsnake (Mumuna)
1.1 Leopard Geckos (Leppy and Leo)
1.0 Miniature Schnauzer (Dooly)
2.1 Random House Cats (Jack, Tonka, Duchess)
1.6 Chickens (Larry, Bob, Henrietta, Patty, Blackie, Peep and Chirp)
0.2 Sticky Children
1.0 Patient Husband

Ok, well... A lot of it depends on what you're interested in. I'm a natural history buff, so the majority of my "top picks" will be due to their natural history. Also, I'm literally obsessed with triangulum, so I like them all, but for different reasons. In no particular order, here are the things I like about a few of the various forms I work with:

multistata - Small, colorful (can be stunning), native to my area, fascinating natural history (any critter that can survive our winters is AWESOME), beautiful habitat, fun to see in the wild, a welcome and rewarding challenge to breed and work with

gentilis - most of the same reasons as multistrata (which some consider to be part of gentilis), plus I like black crossovers which are common in this form

syspila - underappreciated, beautiful, beautiful natural habitat, a rewarding challenge to work with

hondurensis - Large, colorful, interesting genetics, easy hatchlings, readily available, affordable

gaigeae - all of the reasons Gerry listed, plus they're uniquely colored and fascinating ecology/habitat

polyzona - large-ish, cool bi-colored look in adults, good and nippy (I like snakes with attitude), great natural habitat

nominate triangulum - subtle beauty in pleasing earth tones, amazingly hardy, yet the hatchlings are a rewarding challenge

campbelli - good examples are STUNNING (but uncommon - many available animals are mislabeled crosses), fascinating natural history and habitat (lots of endemic xerophyte flaura and fauna in the Zapotitlan Basin), not too large or too small, prolific breeders, feed well

sinaloae/nelsoni/conanti/arficera - grouped together for reason's I'm not going to get into, but they're great, all around - colorful, diverse clinal variation (corresponds to habitat), feed well, great size, affordable. I love Pacific Mexico, it's people, food, beer, and ecology

oligozona - the animals I work with are conantiXcampbelliXoligozona intergrades from Salina Cruz, Oaxaca. They fit between the "Pacific" group above, campbelli, and polyzona. Awesome animals. Stay resonably sized, are beautiful, feed easily

I work with othes too, but that's all I've got time for.

L. t. campbelli

L. t. hondurensis ("hobby" hondo, anyway)

L. t. multistrata

L. t. gentilis

L. t. syspila

L. t. polyzona

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-Cole

thank you!

right now i'm leaning toward 1.sinaloae because i /love/ their reds, 2. multistriate. so many stripes!, 3. celaenops, so clean. 4. campbelli, miss my loki.

i really can't decide between the sinaloan and the pale. one minute sinaloan is in first, the next it's the pale. *sigh* one of each? lol.
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1.0 Pueblan Milksnake (Urulokë): MIA since 3/27/11
0.1 Hypo Brooks Kingsnake (Mumuna)
1.1 Leopard Geckos (Leppy and Leo)
1.0 Miniature Schnauzer (Dooly)
2.1 Random House Cats (Jack, Tonka, Duchess)
1.6 Chickens (Larry, Bob, Henrietta, Patty, Blackie, Peep and Chirp)
0.2 Sticky Children
1.0 Patient Husband

They're all great! My celaenops are gorgeous, but are whippy little sh!t flingers! They don't appreciate human interaction. I love 'em, just the same. Truly beautiful - I've been working with them for over a decade.

Pales are my favorite milk for many reasons.

Sinaloans have a spectacular look that is hard to beat, no doubt about it.

-Cole
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-Cole

no more than 3 pair... I only have two pair at the moment, Black Milks and Polyz but... I already know what pairs 3,4 and 5 will be... I absolutely refuse to say there will be pairs 6 & 7 but I have a pretty good idea of what they'll be... god I hate triangulum

Let us know what you finally decide on and of course include pics!

Gerry

or Dell would speak up for the U.S. varieties of milks... there was no slight meant to them ... who could argue with something like that gentilis or the two multistratas directly above it, great looking animals.

My polyz are sulking... telling me they'd never nip anyone... except maybe him if that's what he really likes. I didn't realize you had some young polyz as well but I should have known!

Gerry

I got your e-mail. Thanks for the info. I haven't heard from him, either. Odd...

My polyzona are MEAN! Awesome animals, but mean. I kinda like it.

-Cole
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-Cole

What a great post of variety...well done!

That first Hondo looks familiar!

We need to catch up soon!

Why don't you and Dell bring the family down to Daytona in a few weeks!

-Rusty

thank you all! still not positive what i'm going to get, but leaning more toward sinaloan or multistriata.
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1.0 Pueblan Milksnake (Urulokë): MIA since 3/27/11
0.1 Hypo Brooks Kingsnake (Mumuna)
1.1 Leopard Geckos (Leppy and Leo)
1.0 Miniature Schnauzer (Dooly)
2.1 Random House Cats (Jack, Tonka, Duchess)
1.6 Chickens (Larry, Bob, Henrietta, Patty, Blackie, Peep and Chirp)
0.2 Sticky Children
1.0 Patient Husband