Reptile & Amphibian Forums

I have noticed a horiffic odor coming out of my neonate black rat's tank and someone suggested musking. he is a very active/sketchy/defensive/scared snake. so i thought logically yes that may be true. I have two baby bairds now, both of their kritter keepers have the same smell so i presume that it's musking. My question is this...what IS musking? I did some searches on google, and on kingsnake but I couldn't find any answer as to what causes it, where it comes from, how to get the smell away, etc. Any advice would be appreciated! Thanks
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The reason mainstream thought is thought of as a stream is because it's so shallow. -Unknown

Battling ignorance one stupid person at a time.

Current snakes:
1) Female Licorice Stick Black Ratsnake - Lola
2) Neonate Black Ratsnake (Het for Lic Stk's) - Frankie
3 & 4) 2 Bairds Ratsnakes - Rosie and Jose

The musk is a liquid substance produced by a gland in the snakes anal vent.They have an anal gland that produces the foul smelling musk to prevent some predators from eatting it. They will usually release it and spread it around on you,the predator,when picked up or handled. They will also just open the vent to release the smell. There are a few snakes that smell pretty horrible when musking. I have gotten musked by some baby eastern garter snakes that will make your eyes water! Ringnecks also have a very foul smell for such a small snake 2! All ratsnakes will musk and all will smell pretty horrible. They usually don't musk their enclosures from what I have seen anyway. They only musk when threatened by a predator.
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Reptiles
0.1 - Early 2002 Anery Motley Corn 33 1/2"
1.0 - Late 2003 Yellow Rat Snake 15 2/3"
1.0 - 2003 Banded California King Snake 29 2/3"
1.0 Green Anole
0.0.0 House Gecko
0.1 Painted Turtle

Mammals
4 female ferrets,1 male cat,1 female rottie and 1 male doberman...and a few kids!

oooo fun! Thanks though, lol
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The reason mainstream thought is thought of as a stream is because it's so shallow. -Unknown

Battling ignorance one stupid person at a time.

Current snakes:
1) Female Licorice Stick Black Rat snake - Lola
2) Neonate Black Rat snake (Het for Lic Stk's) - Frankie
3 & 4) 2 Bairds Rat snakes - Rosa and Jose

What did the musk smell like? My 'glades' musk reminds me of burnt dust like when you turn the furnace on for the first time in the winter.

I think all snakes smell different. My yellow rat snake didn't smell to bad when he musked. Now it's not something I wanted to smell but it wasn't as strong as some other snakes. I have had some snakes that smelled like burnt rubber,others smell like an old moldy piece of leather but I am telling you the worst was an baby eastern garter snake...He almost made me gag..lol.. I caught him,picked him up and when he opened the vent he must have dropped a ton of musk which fortunate for me just plopped on the ground. It was so foul to me that I almost wanted to drop him..haha..I did let him go right after that though!
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Reptiles
0.1 - Early 2002 Anery Motley Corn 33 1/2"
1.0 - Late 2003 Yellow Rat Snake 15 2/3"
1.0 - 2003 Banded California King Snake 29 2/3"
1.0 Green Anole
0.0.0 House Gecko
0.1 Painted Turtle

Mammals
4 female ferrets,1 male cat,1 female rottie and 1 male doberman...and a few kids!