Reptile & Amphibian Forums

I recently picked up a pair of eastern milk snakes. One has eaten three pinks right off the bat. The other shows no interest. I've worked with thayeri and graybands before but not milks. Can someone provide some scenting tips? Thanks.

I havent had to scent for eastern milks before, but have for a few other species.

i've rubbed live, F/T, and F/T and washed pinks on both anoles and geckos with great success.

I had a wild caught GB that refused to eat anything that wasnt dipped in "lizard juice"... the lizard juice is something i made using a dead anole i noticed in a pet smart and a pinkie pump. basically pushed the dead lizard through the pinkie pump and made a gooey mess, then added some water and froze in the corner of a small plastic bag. I'd thaw and dip the mouse nose in the goo and the snake ate every single time. only had that animal for 8 months though as it was a pita to do that all the time and eventually gave it away.

I've heard, though never tried myself, that placing some shed lizard or snake skin on a pink works for some people too.

Thanks I'll try scenting with some house geckos. I'v had good luck using those for graybands.

I have lots of experience with stubborn little LTT. I had good success with gecko scent. (pieces of skin from f/t), and mainly scenting with worm snake. In MD their main diet as hatchlings was baby snakes as far as I could tell. Most of my spots had tons of baby garters , worm snakes, and ringnecks with no lizards to be seen. However, lizard scent still worked, but not as well as worm snake scent! Good luck with them---they will come around. Sometimes they won't eat until after their second shed.

Joe

Thanks for the advice Joe. The stubborn one did shed today, so I'm going to give it another try tomorrow.

Redbelly snakes (Storeria occipitomaculata occipitomaculata)work best for me. I've found Ltt prefer the scent of Storeria to that of Thamnophis or prairie skinks (Plestiodon septentrionalis). I only have experience with Ltt native to Minnesota though...

He ate a small house gecko today. I'm pretty confident I'll be able to switch him over to pinkies now. Thanks for the advice.