Reptile & Amphibian Forums

Hello all, new to mssg boards and reptiles, so bare with me if I'm slow to catch on.

I have a juvenile Eastern Milksnake, and I'm not sure I am providing proper care. I've had it since Nov., and have force-fed it egg-yolk/pedialyte until last Thursday, when it finally voluntarily ate a frozen (thawed) pink. It ate a live pink tonight, so I think feeding is getting to be on the right track. My concern is for it's enclosure, and I have been able to find little to describe what I need, just going off of prior lizard experiance.I currently have the snake in a 10 g aquarium with a screen top, under-tank heater on one end, with a 60 watt daylighter at the same end, which I turn off at night. Two bark "houses", one on the warmer end and one on the cooler end (though it seems to prefer hiding under it's water dish). It's got regular repti-bark for substrate, and it is VERY dry. I think I heard somewhere today that they prefer the substrate damp? Snake has shed twice since I have had it, difficult shed both times, and has retained the skin on the last inch or so of it's tail, which is now very discolored. Perhaps from being too dry? Any help is greatly appreciated, I want to provide appropriate care!

First, and this is important, put the snake in a plastic container (that has air holes) that is filled with damp paper towels. Leave it in there for awhile. I would then set up another container that has a hole cut in the middle of the top, and filled with either moist sphagnum moss or paper towels. Set this in the cage. You will have to change it about once a week, though you could just put it in the cage when you notice that the snake is going to shed soon. Every thing else sounds good. What kind of under tank heater do you have? I can't remember if you told temp. info, so you would want the cage at about 78*-83* during the day and between 74*-79* during the night, IMO, and that's if it is eating well and is currently digesting food. You might hear different, but that is what I do, a few (2) degrees difference is incidental during normal care, IMO. Then the next most important thing to do is take a picture of your snake after it has the un-shed skin taken off, and show it to us.LOL Hope this helps, and good luck-Brett

Brett -
hey thanks a ton, I will do that. Should I put in a dirt or peat substrate, or mist it? I did forget to mention, but temp gradient is right at 80 by day and 76 at night. I usually increase it a couple degrees right after I feed it. I'll get a pic up as soon as I get a new camera, my old one crapped out. It's just a little bitty guy, not sure how old, it was "found" (was left in a box on the front steps of Ace Hardware, how weird) but is only about 8 or 9 inches long, 'bout as big around as a pencil. Can't hardly believe it can eat pinks, even the tiny ones, but it does!
thanks again - Natalie

Hey Natalie- Wow, that's awesome that someone just left it on the doorstep for you to find! I sure wish I had that kind of luck. Your setup sounds really great. You wouldn't believe some of the stupid things that people do. As far as the shed problem goes, lightly misting the entire cage at shed time will do wonders. Just make sure not to keep the cage damp the entire time. Like someone else mentioned, it can cause serious problems. Regarding temp., what you have sounds perfect for an eastern milk. I believe that they prefer slightly cooler temps. than a lot of the other milks. I really am impressed on the care that you are giving your snake, especially the raising of the temp. after it feeds. The little guy is lucky that it got a good home and not just idiotically slaughtered by some ignorant fool. Glad to see another milk keeper, but watch out, you will most likely end up getting more!-Brett

Tank set up sounds good. I have a tangerine dream honduran I house him in a 20 gallon long.He was hatched 7-03. When he goes into shed I mist down his cage a bit and sometimes the snake its self. I find mine hides under the water bowl ALL THE TIME so a humid hide of some kind would be a waste of time for me. You don't want the substrate real damp as that can cause problems with the snake. They get sores and blisters. I havent' had this problem but that's what I've read. When my carpet python was sheding she had problems too. I just took her and held her under the faucet to get her wet then her skin came off easy.

1.0 honduran milk 'Zorro'
1.0 ghost corn 'Janome'
0.1 amel corn 'Diamond'
0.1 jungle carpet python 'Safari'