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Katkin
Snake Mite
United Kingdom
30 Posts |
 Posted - 28/03/2011 : 20:39:42
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Hello all, I found your forum by sheer chance when researching milk snakes and hope to benefit from your advice in the coming weeks and months...
We are thinking of getting a milk snake - never owned a reptile of any description before (no tell a lie, I did have a tortoise when I was about 8...) but until recently, I never thought I #373;ould persuade the other half - he knows how much I wanted a tarantula and lives in mortal dread of me eventually getting one. Having handled a royal python recently, the bug had definitely bitten and now we would really like to add a small snake to our menagerie
Have been reading up, visiting nearby snake specialists and just weighing up the options now. Think I have a pretty good idea what the health and housing needs are, appreciate ownership is a long term commitment and we are not squeamish about the feeding regime
Just wanting to find out more about milks and possibly kings- all the advice says start with a Corn snake but the milks are stunning to look at and seem to be slightly smaller when full grown. Daft as it sounds, size is a onsideration because we live in a small terrace with a finite amount of space for vivariums. Some say milks are skittish, bitey and tend to musk or pooh all over the minute you try to handle them -but is that generally the case? |
1 Pueblan Milk Snake; 1 African Mantis; several of it's locust lunch mates; various Stick Insects); 1 Doberman; several cats; and 5 fish |
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Gmac
TKS Grumpy Scots Admin
United Kingdom
754 Posts |
Posted - 28/03/2011 : 21:44:51
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Hi and welcome to the forum
Most of the milks and kings can be bitey and musk when younger, some dont grow out of it but most do with regular handling.
They have a reputation for being these feisty maneating machines, i have found this not to be the case really and only been tagged the once by either of our kings.
Corns are good for first time owners but I also think milks / kings are also, but if you are getting a snake it is better getting one that you actually want and not what is generally accepted as an early entry reptile.
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9.6 Corns, 1.0 Bci, 2.1 Royals, 1.1 king snakes, 0.0.1 milksnake, 1.1 black rat snakes, 1.2 Beardies, 1.0 shovelface
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Edited by - Gmac on 28/03/2011 21:45:12 |
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Katkin
Snake Mite
United Kingdom
30 Posts |
Posted - 28/03/2011 : 22:28:13
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| Thank you Gmac, you're right, unless I've got plenty of space for more than one slippery friend, it's better to get the one I want first rather than to go for a Corn and then find out I should've had the milk. So, once the newbie has had time to bed into his or her new surroundings and assuming s/he isn't about to shed, do I go for little but often gentle handling to get him or her used to it (and keep a damp cloth to hand to mop up the muck!) |
1 Pueblan Milk Snake; 1 African Mantis; several of it's locust lunch mates; various Stick Insects); 1 Doberman; several cats; and 5 fish |
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Gmac
TKS Grumpy Scots Admin
United Kingdom
754 Posts |
Posted - 28/03/2011 : 23:06:52
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yup little and often is good,5 minute spells till it gets used to you.
and a camera handy incase it does tag you, we like those photos  |
9.6 Corns, 1.0 Bci, 2.1 Royals, 1.1 king snakes, 0.0.1 milksnake, 1.1 black rat snakes, 1.2 Beardies, 1.0 shovelface
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Edited by - Gmac on 28/03/2011 23:07:25 |
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Invalid User
account deleted on request
United Kingdom
214 Posts |
Posted - 29/03/2011 : 07:37:22
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Hi, welcome to the forum.
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Amy2310
Snake Mite
United Kingdom
45 Posts |
Posted - 29/03/2011 : 08:34:42
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lpbldg18
Egg
USA
76 Posts |
Posted - 29/03/2011 : 16:20:32
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| hello and welcome! i tell everyone this because, my first snake was a Mexican Milksnake and it was a absolute perfect starter snake! never been musked on and never even struck at. i recommend the Mexican Milksnake for a first snake, they are such nice and friendly snakes! :) |
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lee2308
Kingsnake Forum Admin
United Kingdom
1609 Posts |
Posted - 04/04/2011 : 20:48:34
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| hi and welcome to the forum |
1.0 dumeril boa,0.1 bci boa,1.0 royal python,1.0 mbk kingsnake,1.0corn,1.2 chinese water dragon,0.0.1 bearded dragon
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Emmajayne
Hatchling
United Kingdom
166 Posts |
Posted - 09/05/2011 : 12:54:33
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Welcome :)
I am also think along the lines of a king or milk for my starter snake :)
Im not allowed one until august though :( |
0.0.1 Leopard Gecko - Toby
1.0.0 Crested Gecko - Hector
0.0.1 Banded Cali King - Murray
1.0.0 Pastel Dwarf Boa - Dave
1.0.0 Black Long Haired Cat - Pixie
0.1.0 Grey Tabby Cat - Ariel
2.0.0 Rats - Gizmo and Rocky R.I.P
     
Soon to come:
1.0.0 Very Cute Puppy - Luka
"Humans are so interesting. In this world of infinate wonders
they have managed to invent boredom" ---- Terry Pratchet |
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Newbie to all things snake
