Reptile & Amphibian Forums

Hi...complete noob here. I apologize if I’m asking readily available information, but this is my first time keeping this species and I want to get it right. I’ve already searched the forums and have found some conflicting information. At first I thought general colubrid warm side temps of 85-90F were ok until I found quite a few posts mentioning that in general milks (excluding the obviously mountain species who absolutely like it cooler, like black milks) like it a little cooler like anywhere from 75-80F. I have two 40g tanks stacked on a rack with a single heat cable running to both tanks and run on a thermostat. The top tank is logging warm side temps from about 84-89F and the bottom tank is 78-83F barely up to 84-85F range for brief periods. There was a miscommunication with the seller and the pair of milks shipped a few days earlier than expected and are here now before I could get this issue sorted out. The female in the warmer top tank has been observed only on the cool side and the male in the lower tank has been mostly on the warm side until yesterday.
I have a way to set each tank on its own heat source now and am wondering if the current temps are adequate or should I separate the heat sources to dial in a more specific temp for each cage. It seems to me the top is running too warm and the bottom too cool...what temperatures, ideally, should I shoot for on the warm side for this species L. annulata (Mexican Milk)?
I have two Mexican black kings (nigrita) who are thriving with a hot side of around 85-87F, but don’t want to generalize as it seems possible the annulata want it cooler. Again I apologize for the beginner question and thank you in advance for your help!

So after reading my original post I can see how it was a little silly...I guess basically I was asking what are the lowest temps which can still support these snakes eating and maintaining a healthy metabolism. I wasn’t sure the high 70’s were appropriate to avoid rotting food in the gut. I’ve since found a thread mentioning that kings will still eat down into the low 70’s and supporting evidence from some breeders who will still feed year round with some reduced temperatures in the winter. I friend of mine has also told me her milk still readily eats in the winter when her home temps are high 60’s-low 70’s. So problem solved!
I still ended up putting each on their own individual heat source just because I didn’t like the lack of control being all on the same cable. They’re running around 85 hot side now. I’m feeling a lot better about it and the milks seem happy.

I know it is many months since your post, but..

It is best to offer a warm spot 78-84 deg F if the snake has a meal in it. For a colubrid like a Mexican milksnake that is. Yes, many colubrids will digest at lower temps, but it is best to be safe.

I had some hatchling montane kings and some baby rosyboas many years ago. I had fed them one day, and a few hours later power went out in the neighborhood, and the room slowly cooled to about 68 deg and stayed there for the next 8 hours. No problem for the montane snakes, they did fine. But the rosies all regurgitated by morning. So it does depend on the species kept.

BTW the little rosies recovered from that incident and went on to be healthy and happy.