Milksnakes (Herpetocultural Library)

An elite member of the kingsnake family, the milksnake is found exclusively in the Americas and has one of the largest ranges of all snakes. Milksnakes by Bryan Engler and Jerry Walls is devoted to this most diverse of snakes, whose color variations in the pet world exceed those found in nature, illustrating how wildly popular milksnakes are with hobbyists. Thanks to milksnakes’ hardiness, ease of breeding and feeding, and generally friendly nature, these attractive snakes have few disadvantages for keepers. They’re modestly sized (maxing out at 3 or 4 feet), and their many colorful patterns are undeniably eye-catching, as captured in the photographs of this book. This Advanced Vivarium Systems title includes information about selecting and purchasing a healthy milksnake, housing and maintenance needs, feeding, handling, and health care. A separate chapter on diseases and disorders provides a complete primer on the health needs and veterinary care. The authors discuss fifteen superb milksnakes in the chapter “The Most Popular Milksnakes,” from the black milksnake to the Utah milksnake, offering descriptions and color photographs of each. The chapter “Almost Milksnakes,” covering six similar kingsnakes, and a fascinating chapter about milksnake hybrids will both prove of great interest to lovers of these friendly snakes. Resources and index included.