The Pueblan milk snake, also known as Lampropeltis triangulum campelli, is a nonvenomous subspecies of the Colubridae family of snakes. It lives in the Mexican states of Puebla, Morelos, and Oaxaca. If you are keen on getting to know this reptile, this guide is for you.
Pueblan milk snakes are commonly bred in captivity and are non-venomous, so these snakes adapt well as pets. They are one of the most captively-bred subspecies of snakes. As with any pet, proper care and feeding are critical to ensuring your snake’s long and healthy life.
The rest of this article will discuss the care, size, and temperament of the Pueblan milk snake. I’ll tell you how best to care for a pet milk snake and whether it can cohabitate with other snakes.
Pueblan Milk Snake 101: Care, Size, Temperament, and More
Pueblan milk snakes have black, yellow, and red stripes similar to venomous coral snakes. Experts believe this color pattern evolved to ward off the milk snake’s predators.
Let’s get to know the Pueblan milk snake better.
Care and Diet
In the wild
Pueblan milk snakes are solitary nocturnal creatures. During the hottest part of the day, they like to be under logs, rocks, or other dark and cool places. In the winter, they will typically stay in communal dens in a state of brumation, a type of hibernation that allows the snakes to survive colder temperatures.
Milk snakes will eat almost anything they can catch, such as:
- Mice
- Birds
- Lizards
- Frogs
The Pueblan milk snake will even eat other milk snakes and can hunt down venomous snakes for their next meal.
In captivity
Pueblan milk snakes thrive in enclosures kept at proper warm temperatures and humidity levels. Adult snakes can be fed thawed frozen mice or thawed frozen chicks and given plenty of fresh water, while baby milk snakes can eat crickets and other insects. As the babies reach maturity, their diets should include frozen and thawed baby mice (also known as “pinkies”).
Here are some tips for creating a healthy enclosure for your Pueblan milk snake:
- Start with a glass aquarium or reptile enclosure about two-thirds as long as your snake. Ensure the chamber has three wooden sides and one glass side for better insulation.
- Use a heat lamp with a timer to keep the internal temperature between 78 and 82 degrees Fahrenheit (25.5-27.8 degrees Celsius) during the day. As these snakes are nocturnal, turn off the lamp at night, when milk snakes are more active and like to eat.
- Use a hygrometer to monitor the humidity in your enclosure. The enclosure’s humidity level needs to stay between 40 percent and 60 percent to prevent skin problems for your snake.
- Ensure the chamber has a few spots where your secretive milk snake can hide.
- Keep a dish of cool, clean water inside the reptile enclosure. Change the water whenever necessary, and thoroughly wash the water dish at least once daily.
Size
Pueblan milk snakes generally reach a length of between two and four feet (0.6-1.2 m) at maturity. Hatchlings are only a few inches long when they leave the egg. However, a wild Pueblan milk snake can grow up to six feet (1.8 m) in length, significantly larger than the same species in captivity.
Temperament
Pueblan milk snakes are generally secretive and shy. They rarely bite humans, and even if they are provoked to bite, it is usually not dangerous.
Patient and conscientious owners can teach their milk snakes to accept handling. However, a milk snake will likely never come to enjoy this activity. Owners should avoid handling milk snakes during shedding season or the snake’s mealtimes.
In addition to biting, disturbed milk snakes can emit a pungent, foul odor as a defense mechanism. Snake owners should avoid annoying their snakes to the point that they discharge this odor, as it is pretty strong and hard to eradicate.
Longevity
The typical lifespan of a Pueblan milk snake in the wild is unknown. In captivity, however, these snakes can live for at least 15 to 20 years. Keep this in mind when considering the purchase of a Pueblan milk snake as a pet.
Keeping a milk snake as a pet is a decades-long commitment. New owners should understand this responsibility before deciding if this is the right pet for them.
Getting Along With Other Snakes
After becoming accustomed to life as an owner of the Pueblan milk snake, some snake-keepers might want to adopt another milk snake. Unfortunately, adding another snake to your enclosure poses a grave threat to them both.
Pueblan milk snakes are both carnivores and cannibals. Two Pueblan milk snakes in one enclosure will very likely eat each other.
Final Thoughts
The Pueblan milk snake is an excellent choice for those considering adopting a snake as a pet. These snakes are nonvenomous, commonly bred in captivity, and relatively easy to care for. With proper care, captive-bred milk snakes can live as long as 20 years.
It is highly ill-advised to keep more than one milk snake in an enclosure, as these snakes might eat one another.
