Reptile & Amphibian Forums

Hey all, I have a pair of black milks that I'm planning on breeding within the next couple years, and I have a few questions.

First of all, is anything known about the natural habits of black milk snakes? I have found absolutely no information about this.

Next, has anyone had their black milk eat another snake? My male shows interest in the female, (outside of the cage of course) which I don't believe is hormonal b/c they are still less that 3 feet. Just curious. I once talked to some guy who fed mice, rats, chicks, and fish to his black milks. I like to provide as varied (and safe) a diet as possible for my snakes, so I was wondering what prey species would be worth presenting to my black milks. Would they see lizards and snakes as food (fish?)?

Thanks for your time, and any input is well appreciated.

-Mack

Mack,

I have never had a black milk eat another but it doesn't meen it would never happen.
I wouldn't introduce them till the time is right then they are in breed mode and less apt to inhale one another?

Once they are of size and age (3 years old and over four foot)and have had a cool down you will want to feed the female pretty heavy.Put them together and they shouldn't do anything but mate for you.

I would never feed anything but mice or rats ti mine.I am sure they will eat a wide aray of items but its not worth the chance of some parisite or something?

There is no reason to go outside the rodent world for prey items.

Anyways,Hope this helps and good luck.Black milks are just awesome animals.

Later shannon

They inhabit primarialy moutainous regions (think Swiss alps)in Costa Rica where summers have cool nights and winters are just chilly. They persue anything moving and will prowl barns and enter houses seeking rodents or other visiting snakes.
They do not typically inhabit the farms or forests of the low lands but have been sighted warmer altitudes.
I wouldn't court disaster by letting them hang together too much.
Jeff

So black milks do regularly include other snakes in their diet? I thought, considering the fact that they are a very large lampropeltis, that black milks would be highly ophiophagus (that how you spell it?). The impression that I'm getting from everyone else is that they don't view other snakes as food. ( house them separately, and they are never out together). I guess I was just curious if they filled the same niche where they are as the eastern/florida kings do around here. Considering easterns are voracious snake eaters (even rattlers) I thought that maybe the black milks would be the same. Thanks,

-Mack