kingsnake.com - reptile and amphibian classifieds, breeders, forums, photos, videos and more

return to main index

  mobile - desktop
follow us on facebook follow us on twitter follow us on YouTube link to us on LinkedIn
International Reptile Conservation Foundation  
click here for Rodent Pro
Mice, Rats, Rabbits, Chicks, Quail
Available Now at RodentPro.com!
Locate a business by name: click to list your business
search the classifieds. buy an account
events by zip code list an event
Search the forums             Search in:
News & Events: Herp Photo of the Day: Gecko . . . . . . . . . .  Herp Photo of the Day: Ackie . . . . . . . . . .  St. Louis Herpetological Society - July 13, 2025 . . . . . . . . . .  San Diego Herp Society Meeting - July 15, 2025 . . . . . . . . . .  Colorado Herp Society Meeting - July 19, 2025 . . . . . . . . . .  Chicago Herpetological Society Meeting - July 20, 2025 . . . . . . . . . .  Bay Area Herpetological Society Meeting - July 25, 2025 . . . . . . . . . .  Suncoast Herp Society Meeting - July 26, 2025 . . . . . . . . . .  DFW Herp Society Meeting - July 26, 2025 . . . . . . . . . .  Tucson Herpetological Society Meeting - July 28, 2025 . . . . . . . . . .  Southwestern Herp Society Meeting - Aug 02, 2025 . . . . . . . . . .  Greater Cincinnati Herp Society Meeting - Aug 06, 2025 . . . . . . . . . . 

Re: black milksnake wild habits


[ Follow Ups ] [ Post Followup ] [ The Milk Snake Forum ]

Posted by gila7150 on February 15, 2003 at 06:49:19:

In Reply to: black milksnake wild habits posted by ballyhoo1887 on February 14, 2003 at 21:23:17:

:I was recently doing some research on black milks, and I didn't pull up much about their wild habits. I guess there's not much info about that. While I was researching, an idea popped into my head, and I wanted to check in with some of the more experienced herpers to make sure it wasn't that preposterous of an idea. I was thinking that maybe a reason that captive black milks, (which are fed captive raised mice or rats) so easily become obese is because in the wild they may live on a diet consisting of mostly reptiles. I have seen pictures of king cobras that live on a rat-only diet compared to king cobras that live on a snake-only diet, and the muscle tone is significantly different. Seems like it might be a valid point, but I wanted to make sure.

:-Mack


Mack,
Your theory about the different diets of wild vs. captive definitely has validity.
Another more obvious reason would be the difference in activity levels. A 5' snake in a 4' cage is probably going to be much less active than a snake in the wild. A wild snake actually has to go out in search of prey where captives have a frozen/thawed rat placed in front of their hide box.
Also, a wild snake does not always have regular feeding patterns. They may eat two prey items in a week and then go 2 months without eating.
Interesting concept...good luck with your research.
Chris



Follow Ups:




[ Follow Ups ] [ The Milk Snake Forum ]