Hatchlings are raised in plastic tubs with a warm side of 83-85F and a cool end around 74-76F. Thermoregulation is a basic need for all reptiles and we like to provide our animals with options to pick their comfort zone. We provide our animals that are in cages with as wide of a thermal gradient as possible. There have also been reports of wild gravid females basking in sunlight patches that reach temperatures of 92F and higher. We do maintain our ambient temperatures cool enough (72-74F) most of the year for all our colubrids but found our Black Milksnakes to behave no differently even during the warmer months. However, we have found our animals basking in spots that reach 94F and have found no change in behavior or fat accumulation due to the warmer basking option. The majority of caresheets that are out there will reference their high elevations in lieu of keeping Black milksnakes at cooler temperatures. We have found that using a dry hardwood chip keeps the bacteria levels down while the humid hide we offer allows that option for increasing humidity as well. Substrate choices can vary but be sure to not allow for excessive humidity build-up due to the substrate. Providing hides will also help your snake adjust to its new surroundings by offering a retreat when nervous. One placed in the cooler end of the thermal gradient and the other in the warm section. We recommend having two hide options for your snake. More height may be provided but not as necessary as they are primarily terrestrial animals. Due to their large size, adult Black Milksnakes will require a minimum cage size of 4вЂ™x2вЂ™x1вЂІ. Hatchlings may be raised in plastic tubs but they very quickly outgrow this and would be more suited in an enclosure like a 24вЂіx18вЂіx18вЂі Exo Terra tank or enclosure of equivalent square footage. Couple this with their bulkier body shape, Black Milksnakes are sometimes called the вЂњPoor ManвЂ™s IndigoвЂќ due to their resemblance to Indigo Snakes ( Drymarchon couperi). gaigeae will consistently reach the 6-foot mark with some individuals and localities reaching 7 feet in length. Limon, Costa Rica) to retain genetic vigor in captive populations. There are now a handful of breeders that are working with locality animals (eg. We suspect ours to be of the same origin. Many captive-bred lines are still from this original zoo bloodline. A species that hails from the higher elevations (4000ft-7000ft) of Costa Rica and Panama, Black milksnakes were first established in captivity by the San Antonio Zoo. Hatchlings are born at around 13-15 inches with a tricolored banded pattern and gradually fade into a solid black snake as adults. An ontogenic change that is so drastic, it seems like two different snakes when you are the keeper of Black Milksnakes ( Lampropeltis triangulum gaigeae).

Milksnake black