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#1692514
Viperx204
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Pueblan Milk, First Snake, Some Noob Questions 
I just got a Pueblan Milk snake and he is about 1 1/2 years old and my very first snake. He is pretty docile, doesnt try to bite much but is very fleety when handled always trying to get away. I am not looking forward to the first time he escapes, luckily i live in a studio apt so i have a good idea of where he would go. So as i am still a little bit nervous around this snake I am looking for some help with some very "noob" type questions. How often should i be handling him? When he just randomly stops moving wraps his "tail" around my hand and stares at ppl, legs whatnot is he stalking or just chilling? Is my apparent nervousness going to have a negative impact on his getting use to me? Are two clips on a 30gal long with a metal framed fitted screen top going to keep him from getting out? What do I need to do as far as a vet goes? Any advice for a beginner would also be apperciated. Thanks
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04/07/08 12:01am
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#1692681
SteveOllllO
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Message To: Viperx204 In reference to Message Id: 1692514
Pueblan Milk, First Snake, Some Noob Questions
Fairly good choice as a first snake. As far as handling him goes, I would probably handle him daily. except for a few days after feeding him. handling him on a full belly could cause regurgitation. The staring thing is most likely him just settling down and hanging out. Avoid jerky spastic movements & he should settle down nicely. One thing that I and alot of other snake keepers do to help avoid the chance of being bitten is: buy a dark plastic storage tub. if you only feed him in that tub chances are he’ll get used to only being fed in the tub & he wont mistake your hand for a prey item when you reach in to get him out of his cage.
Now as long as you keep his home where it needs to be you shouldn’t have to worry about a vet. Keep his cage clean,Heated,Mite free, & keep clean water for him. Dont us dusty bedding, it causes respiratory problems. 2 clips should contain him. if not, buy 2 more. & if he does get out, check the bathroom. thats where i find all of my snakes.
That should cover about everything.
Good luck.Steve.
p.s. I would also avoid using a heat light. Under tank heaters are the way to go.
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04/07/08 04:29am
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#1693909
Viperx204
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Message To: SteveOllllO In reference to Message Id: 1692681
Pueblan Milk, First Snake, Some Noob Questions
Would i need two different under tank heaters, one side has a medium one and the other currently has a heat lamp. how would i keep a temp gradient with multiple heaters?
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04/07/08 10:24pm
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#1694157
Peter54
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Message To: Viperx204 In reference to Message Id: 1693909
Pueblan Milk, First Snake, Some Noob Questions
I do not agree with SteveOllllO about handling. I don’t handle my snakes much, maybe once a week when they are juveniles and once a month as they get older, but they get calm anyway. I would argue that handling a snake every day does more harm than good. In fact, I belive that the snake will get even more stressed out if it is disturbed on a daily basis.
I have a UTH placed in one corner of the tank, covering about 1/4 of the bottom area. Temps for my Pueblans are 73.4F on the cooler side and 86F on the warm side.
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04/08/08 02:52am
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#1694197
SteveOllllO
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Message To: Peter54 In reference to Message Id: 1694157
Pueblan Milk, First Snake, Some Noob Questions
in my experience i have noticed the more often you handle your snakes, the more calmer they become. i had a snow corn that was, excuse my language, but a complete bozo. you couldnt even walk buy her cage. after handling her 3-4 times a week for six months, she would readilly crawl from her hide log to my arm when i put my hand in the cage.big turn around.but peter may be right, who really knows. i like to handle my snakes frequently. It keeps me close to them. whether or not they enjoy it, hard to tell. most likely depends on the individual. well, thats my imput.. the end.
lol.. Steve..
By the way Peter. I got me a gorgeous Female cali the other day. Awesome deal on her too. $30 snake + 20 gal tank and accesories. from local classified. absolutely love her. i’ll get some pics up soon.
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04/08/08 05:12am
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#1694522
Peter54
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Message To: SteveOllllO In reference to Message Id: 1694197
Pueblan Milk, First Snake, Some Noob Questions
Well I’m not trying to state any absolute fact in this matter. My experience obviously differs from yours. What I can say about this is that every time I have been offered a milksnake or a kingsnake alleged to carry the most terrible temper, it soon has changed into the complete opposite. I think that adult milksnakes or kingsnakes with a nervous or aggressive behaviour are either mistreated or hungry. I have kept several species of Lampropeltis since the early 80ies and I have never once been bitten, except for newly hatched young.
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04/08/08 12:58pm
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#1695720
SteveOllllO
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Message To: Peter54 In reference to Message Id: 1694522
Pueblan Milk, First Snake, Some Noob Questions
Well I guess im fairly new to the Lampropelitis familly. Most of my experience is with the Elaph group. Such as Gutatta & Obsoleta. I have deffinately noticed a difference in attitude. well.. Behavior all together. I love my Emory & Texas rats, But you cant beat a good milk.
Which reminds me. Man, I’m in a bind. theres a herp show that im going to next weekend. & i cant make up my mind on what i want. Its a toss up between an Albino Nelson & an Albino Honduran. What do you think the better choice would be?
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04/09/08 02:48am
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#1696212
Candy_Corn
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Message To: SteveOllllO In reference to Message Id: 1695720
Pueblan Milk, First Snake, Some Noob Questions
I personally would go with the Nelson’s, but that’s just because I have a female Nelson’s, and wanted an albino to go with her :)
Albino Hondurans are beautiful as well, and they get larger in size. I didn’t even see any albino Nelson’s or Hondurans at the last show I went to.
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04/09/08 03:39pm
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#1696256
Peter54
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Message To: SteveOllllO In reference to Message Id: 1695720
Pueblan Milk, First Snake, Some Noob Questions
Steve
Hard to decide between the two, but I would go with the Honduran since I already keep a bunch of sinaloans and nelsons are just too close to them in just about every aspect.
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04/09/08 04:06pm
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#1697223
SteveOllllO
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Message To: Peter54 In reference to Message Id: 1696256
Pueblan Milk, First Snake, Some Noob Questions
I might just go ahead and buy both of them. if i can scrounge up the money. I have 3 empty spaces in the custom enclosure i built.& I like them both equally.guess i’ll have to wait and see
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04/10/08 03:27am
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#1698822
MilkY_king
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Message To: SteveOllllO In reference to Message Id: 1697223
 Pueblan Milk, First Snake, Some Noob Questions
pretty milk
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04/11/08 12:44pm
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