Reptile & Amphibian Forums

I've never kept amy milk snakes before and was wondering what you folks with experience would recommend. I'd like something fairly easy to keep and breed. Also something with babies born large enough to be pinky feeders. I've got around 15 years snake keeping experience, just never had any milks before. Any suggestions would be appreciated.

Todd

Seeing you have kept snakes for many years I would first say Hondurans. All in all they're great snakes to keep and seem easy enough to breed. My wormy little hatchlings ate pinkies right off the bat, and grew rapidly. Even easier are Black Milks. They thrive at room temperature, are not very squirmy, and turn from sharp tri colors to impressive large black snakes. Some of the smaller Milks are very nice looking but the babies are so tiny that it can be a hassle to get them feeding. Hondurans are often bred at about 2 years of age, Black Milks are recommended at 3 years or more. Hope this helps Tom

Milksnakes are great for starter snakes, but as far as breeding is concerned, I'm not too sure. Good luck with it

I'd recommend an eastern milk. Maybe a certain "biologist" could supply you with one? Best of luck whatever choose.

kk

I cut my "milk" teeth on Mexican milks and from your listed wants I think they would serve you well too. They are easy to keep and breed and the babies aren't too small.

I don't like them.They piss and musk on you to much!! They are beautiful though and I hear they grow out of the piss/musk thing. Sean

I would have to lay my vote on the Pueblans. They breed very easily and i have found that the hatchlings are very easy to get started on frozen thawed pinkies.

Brian
HighWaterHerps

The easiest to keep and breed in my opinion would be the pueblan milk. Some get them going as early as 18 months (early in my opinion) with most adults we worked with producing not only double but some triple clutching in a season. Another that is very popular as well as being some of the calmest snakes I have ever worked with would be the nelson's milksnake. Although for me at least the nelson's are not as easy to get breeding as the pueblan's.

Rich Hebron

You found the Nelsons to be calm? I ask because I am deciding what milk or king to keep. Have elimanated Hondurans because heard overall high strung though I love their colors.
I do love the Albino Nelsons but havent read much about them.
thanks.
Lia