Compared to the large kingsnakes (Brooks or E. Chain Kings)...Are the AVERAGE black milks longer or more girthy on AVERAGE? Thanks. Im trying to narrow down my interests before the show this weekend. As you can probably deduce i like my colubrids on the bigger side...
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Black Milk compared to...
ZPD
Oct 14, 2004 02:27 PM
Replies (3)
nategodin
Oct 15, 2004 08:08 AM
I read the replies to your questions about Easterns and Brooksi on the Kingsnake forum, pretty interesting stuff. The record length for a black milksnake is over 7', slightly longer than the record kingsnakes. Based on what I've seen in these forums, I'd say that 6' black milks seem to be more common than kingsnakes of that size. Black milks get quite girthy, but maybe not as much as a brooksi. Usually folks seem more apt to brag about length than girth (obscene joke omitted) so you'd probably have to ask someone who's kept both. Right now milks are the only snakes I keep, though I read the Kingsnake and Ratsnake forums regularly too. If you're interested in large colubrids, you might want to consider Russian ratsnakes. Adults have a pattern similar to an Eastern king, and they also have many of the interesting traits of the black milk (ontogenetic color change, thrives at low temps, very docile).
Nate
ZPD
Oct 15, 2004 04:14 PM
Thanks for your reply.....I love how there is always more to learn about snakes. Funny, I used to think colubrids were uninteresting, now, I don't even own any boids. I will be at the show tomorrow probably more confused than ever on what to buy myself. I really like the Beauty snakes also....After purchasing a pair of Indigos that i now own i need something with some bright colors and interesting patterns.
chrish
Oct 16, 2004 04:03 PM
I have both Eastern Kings and Black Milks. My eastern Kings are about the same length as my black milks (around 5 feet), but are slightly heavier bodied.
Realize that 7 foot black milks are not common. Most seem to get to around 5.5 feet for females and 6 feet for males.
If you want big colubrids, the obvious choice would be an Indigo or Cribo. A 6 foot cribo is a MUCH larger snake than a 6 foot kingsnake.
For that matter, most bullsnakes/pinesnakes are larger than kingsnakes as well, although they aren't as gigantic as Indigos.
There are also some larger old world species.
Some of the species of Ptyas get over 12 feet.
Some of the Beauty Snakes readily get to 8 feet, and they grow like weeds!
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Chris Harrison
