Black Milk vs Mexican Black King

[knox]

My Black Milk Snake arrived this morning. What I want to do over the next year is to show the differences in the Mexican Black King (MBK) and the Black Milk.

Both of these snakes are 2011 hatchlings. The hatch date on the Milk is 10-10-11. I don’t know the hatch date on the MBK. However, it is quite clear that the Milk hatched much larger than the King. The King starts out jet black – mine has a white spot on her chin. The Milk will slowly darken with age.

The King is a female, and the Milk is a male. From what I understand, the Black Milk males tend to be larger than the females, which is generally the opposite of North American snakes. Of course, this isn’t a hard and fast rule, as genetic strains play a vital role as well.

The MBK is kept as any other North American Colubrid – warm spot in the mid 80’s, cool side mid 70’s.
The Black Milk, however, is kept in the low to mid 70’s – perfect room temperature. No additional heat required.

I hope you enjoy this little journey, and if you have any specific questions, I will do my best to answer them. And please, if any of my information seems to be in error, I welcome the correction.

Mexican Black Kingsnake:

Black Milk Snake:

 

[razrbak]

Subscribing...
Thank you for doing this. My Black Milk(female) is a month and 10 days older than yours, curious to see the progression on the two as well.

 

[razrbak]

... should I say, in addition.

 

[knox]

Subscribing...
Thank you for doing this. My Black Milk(female) is a month and 10 days older than yours, curious to see the progression on the two as well.

Is there a pic of yours somewhere? I would love to see it.

Both MBKs and Black Milks are wonderful snakes. I had a hard time deciding between the two, so I got both. I am looking forward to seeing the growth rates, the temperaments, and the colors as they grow.

And maybe someone will be able to choose the snake they want because of this. After all, it's all about helping the next herper who comes along!

 

[Fatman608]

Question - Why do some Black Milk snakes darken up faster than others? I have three from two different breeders and all hatched in 2010. The darkest is a female from Isis Reptiles the next is my male from John Cherry and the other female has only darken up a little compared to the other two.

Second question, why do Black Milk snakes eat all your mice so you have nothing to feed the other snakes?

Third question, why are they so calm all the time? I feed mine while I hold them and they do not even care if I pet them while they eat.

Forth question, When they grow up is it ok to feed them say a MBK? Only kidding there.

I have to admit that I do like watching the color change. It is like watching the colors come in on a Corn snake.

 

[knox]

Good questions, Fatman. Take a look at this vid on color changes between two Black Milks. I guess it all has to do with the genetics that are inherited:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LSiU0rrGT0g

Mine, too, came from Isis Reptiles, so maybe mine will darken quickly as well.

The temperament is something I am looking forward to comparing as well as the color as they grow.

 

[knox]

Oh, and glad to hear they are as voracious eaters as their King cousins.

 

[Fatman608]

I saw that video a long time ago and that actually is why I ask that question.


The Black Milk will grow a lot fast them the MBK if they grow like Cali Kings. I do not own a MBK but do own 5 Cali Kings and my Black Milks have greatly out grown them.

 

[knox]

I saw that video a long time ago and that actually is why I ask that question.

yeah I thought you might have. if you are anything like me, you ingest everything you can about these critters.

 

[VickyChaiTea]

Id love to know what their temperament turns out to be. Honestly the general prospect of being handleable is what would sway me to purchase one or the other. Of course, if I fall in love with the snake it wont matter what the personality is like Haha.

See milks and lings have been totally different in my experience. The cali king I managed attempted to literally eat me. All the king snakes I've worked with where flighty, but never bit.

 

[knox]

Everything I have seen shows Black Milks to be very gentle. But, my MBK is nice so far.

I will say that my MBK musks every time I pick her up. The Milk, this morning, was VERY flighty when I picked him up, but didn't open his cloaca at all.

 

[knox]

In the coming months, I hope to show both snakes as being gentle.

 

[Fatman608]

Id love to know what their temperament turns out to be. Honestly the general prospect of being handleable is what would sway me to purchase one or the other. Of course, if I fall in love with the snake it wont matter what the personality is like Haha.

See milks and lings have been totally different in my experience. The cali king I managed attempted to literally eat me. All the king snakes I've worked with where flighty, but never bit.

Vicky, I only have one out of five Cali. kings that try to eat me. The rest are nice calm snakes. However, when I hold them and feed them at the same time the Cali. kings make me nerves if I move a finger because of the way they look at the finger.

The Black Milks just do not act the same. I can hold them and feed them and if I move a finger they flick their tongue and look else were.

 

[razrbak]

Is there a pic of yours somewhere? I would love to see it.

Both MBKs and Black Milks are wonderful snakes. I had a hard time deciding between the two, so I got both. I am looking forward to seeing the growth rates, the temperaments, and the colors as they grow.

And maybe someone will be able to choose the snake they want because of this. After all, it's all about helping the next herper who comes along!

She can be seen on pg. 34 of the "Official Black Milksnake thread" in this forum.

 

[ZoologyGirl]

Question - Why do some Black Milk snakes darken up faster than others? I have three from two different breeders and all hatched in 2010. The darkest is a female from Isis Reptiles the next is my male from John Cherry and the other female has only darken up a little compared to the other two.

I know, right. Both my black milks are from the San Antonio Zoo line (though from different breeders). My female was relatively slow, compared to some other black milks...but my male was just snail pace at changing. Took foooooorever. I'm still not even sure if he is pure black yet, in the right light I can catch a wee glimpse of color.

My black milks are somewhat spazzy when I first take them out (not aggressive, just wiggly/jumpy), but they calm down pretty quick. I love them.

 

[knox]

She can be seen on pg. 34 of the "Official Black Milksnake thread" in this forum.

Yep, looks just like mine.