Trouble with one of my Milks!!

[dashnu]

Guys & Girls,

I have tried EVERYTHING to get my youngest Milk to eat. I have been able to force feed him fish and pinky pieces but this is not something I care to do weekly for his sake and mine.

When I cought him he was in the process of eating a garter, I "saved" the garter in turn taking a good sized meal away from the Milk.

I tried scenting of all sorts with no luck. I have had him for about a month and a half I think..

If I release him do you thing he will be ok? This is the first snake I have failed and I feel pretty ****** about it to be honest..

Thanks!

[infernalis]

Brett, The snake may well do just fine if you release it in the right area.

It's a tough call.

I once starved a WC snake to death, trying.... It was not until winter the poor little guy gave out. At that point it was too late to let him go.

Maybe best to let it go, and find one that will eat.

[KITKAT]

Milksnakes eat fish???

That is the first time I have heard of this. I thought they were mouse eaters only?

[dashnu]

Yes, Eastern are known to eat fish.. Not sure about others.

[pETER1]

Hi,
If he was in the process of eating a Grater snake when you caught him, and you still have the Grater try secnting the pinkie with the Grater? It's worth a try.

Peter

[dashnu]

I tried that already, and today I tried something different even.. Put 4 garters in a small "critter cage" for about two hours. Took them out put in a pinky and a the milk, NO Luck :(

[infernalis]

I just wish you had a live pinky to try

[Lori P]

Yeah. I'm betting live is the only way he'll eat at this point, being wc. Brett, can you find some live pinkies at a local pet store?

[crzy_kevo]

ya i agree although i dont have any experience with milks i think a live pinky might work

[dashnu]

Yeah. I'm betting live is the only way he'll eat at this point, being wc. Brett, can you find some live pinkies at a local pet store?

I have not been able to yet.. I am going to call a place about an hour or so from me and see what they say.. I think a live pinky is the only way to or a live garter but I can't do that :p

[ssssnakeluvr]

have you tried small lizards??? they can eat small reptiles

[crzy_kevo]

lol what about an anole

[dashnu]

ha! Yea my **pet** anole is in the milks house now!

[crzy_kevo]

i wonder why that darn milk won't eat that anole hmmm you think it might not like the viv?

[Loren]

Hi Brett.
If live lizards(I would try fence lizards or similar- something from your area) and live pinkys dont work, I would be tempted to find a good place to release him soon, before he runs out of reserves. As long as he doesnt look emaciated, he should survive. Pick a good habitat with lots of small wildlife(food).


The only thing is, I would try not to expose reptiles to non native(to your general area/state) animals(other than feeder mice) if he might be released later. In theory, this is how new diseases can be introduced into wild populations. I suppose feeder mice could carry something too, but you gotta have something to feed the snake...
Just my opinion. :)

Sometimes wild collected animals just dont work out in captivity. Its one of the things that you will face time to time if collecting wild. Between my buddies and I, over the years, we have definitely lost a few, and even had a couple die within days of capture.
That is another reason why I prefer captive bred whenever possible, although as I have stated on other threads, the snakes I am interested in are not legally captive bred in my state, so as backwards as this may sound, my legal way of obtaining them is to remove them from the wild.
All you can do is research the species, give it the best set-up possible, and try.