Roxanna Thompson
Northern News Services

Yellowknife (Oct 05/05) - Philippe Leblanc's pet is an unlikely escape artist. Maximus is a three- foot-long milk snake.

Leblanc says Maximus knows when the mesh lid is off his aquarium during cleanings.

Philippe Leblanc gives Maximus, his milk snake, some quality time out of the aquarium. - Roxanna Thompson/NNSL photo

He's also been known to take matters into his own coils by climbing up the fake plant on the side of his tank, compressing himself and lifting the lid enough so he can get out.

Once out, Maximus finds freedom to be cold and heads for the warmest place he can find. This makes him easy to locate.

"You just have to look for the hot spots in the house," Leblanc said.

In his three attempts Maximus has been found in Leblanc's blankets, under the dryer and in the hard drive of a computer after he found a small hole in the casing.

The most memorable time was when Leblanc couldn't find him for a few days until his mother was drying her hair in the bathroom and Maximus slithered across her feet. She screamed.

Leblanc now keeps a weight on top of the lid.

Getting a snake

Leblanc got Maximus six years ago when he was just 18 inches long. He could grow to be four feet and live up to 20 years.

Leblanc didn't have a real interest in snakes, but a friend in college had one.

"I thought it was pretty cool to have," Leblanc said.

Maximus lives in a 40 gallon aquarium with sand on the bottom. He enjoys hiding in and around the fake plants, rocks and wood pieces in the tank.

The snake doesn't require a lot of care. Leblanc makes sure Maximus has fresh water and that his aquarium is clean.

The tank is kept between 15 to 20 C.

Maximus eats a live mouse a week. When he smells the mouse he compresses himself into a wavy line, springs and bites it.

Milk snakes are constrictors and not poisonous so Maximus squeezes the mouse to death. The process takes about 20 to 30 seconds, Leblanc said.

When Maximus is sure the mouse is dead he lets go and eats it whole, head first.

Maximus has been a good pet.

"He's very calm," Leblanc said.

In college Leblanc used to carry the snake around in the pouch of his sweater.

The name milk snake originated from the myth that the snakes went into barns and drank milk from cows. In fact, they were probably there to eat the mice.

Milk snakes are easily confused with the similarly coloured poisonous coral snakes. The can be told apart by their colour orders. The red and yellow bands touch on coral snakes. In milk snakes the red and black touch.

Maximus now needs a new home because Leblanc got a golden receiver named Calvin. Calvin is curious about the snake but won't stop barking at him.