If you’re looking to own a pet snake for the first time, red milk snakes are a good option. Red milk snakes belong to the milk snake family, and they’re pretty long and have colorful patterns on their body.
Red milk snakes are native to North and South America. They aren’t poisonous and can grow 24–52 inches (61–132.08 cm) long. These snakes have a red, black, and white colored glossy pattern on their body and feed on reptiles, rodents, and their eggs. They’re relatively passive and easier to keep.
Even though red milk snakes aren’t that high maintenance, you still need to know how to raise them properly. This article aims to help you better handle and care for your pet red milk snake.
Must-Know Facts for Red Milk Snake Owners
Red milk snakes look glossy and colorful and are relatively easy to manage as pets. It makes them an obvious choice for snake pet owners, especially first-timers.
However, these snakes require proper maintenance and careful handling. So, here are some facts that red milk snake owners must know.
Diet
The most crucial aspect to consider is the diet your red milk snake needs. The snake’s age and size determine their type of diet.
Here are some essential things you must remember:
- Young red milk snake diet: A young snake usually eats lizards and tiny frogs, as their young bodies may not be ready for anything bigger at this age. They can also eat reptilian or bird eggs. Feeding them once a week should be enough.
- Adult red milk snake diet: It is advisable to increase the food portion of your pet red milk snake as they grow. You can give them a diet of large mice or rats. They can also live on one meal for at least two weeks, so you must feed them after every two weeks.
- Water: You must place a water bowl in your red milk snake’s house. The bowl must be big enough for the snake to fit in, though it shouldn’t be too deep.
It is best not to give the snake live meals, especially the younger ones. Live prey can be too big for the young snakes and may even hurt them. Red milk snakes also don’t like to eat frozen food. So, you can defrost the food and give your snake the dead prey, or you can feed them fresh kills.
Living Conditions
It is essential to provide your pet red milk snake with proper housing which mimics its natural habitat as much as possible. These snakes like to live in an enclosed vivarium or tank, and a wooden vivarium would be the ideal option.
You must install adequate insulation in the vivarium or tank. During winter, you may also need to provide extra heating.
Below are several factors you must consider while buying your red milk snake enclosure.
Vivarium Length
Consider the length of the vivarium because red milk snakes can reach a maximum length of 51 inches (129 cm), so they need enough space to move around. A length of 34 inches (86 cm) for the vivarium is good enough.
Temperature and Humidity
Red milk snakes like warmer conditions, so the insulation is vital to ensure the proper temperature inside the enclosure. Ventilation is also essential to maintain airflow when needed. However, it is better to restrict ventilation as it can let cool air inside.
A snake’s “house” must also have a warm and cool end. The temperature for the warm end should be 90 °F (32 °C) and 75 to 80 °F (24 to 26.6 °C) for the cooler end.
You can use the following tips to maintain the living conditions, temperature, and light within the tank or vivarium:
- You need a basking light.
- Heat the mat when the light is off.
- The living enclosure must also have wood or bark with branches so that the snakes can climb on them.
- The vivarium needs two hiding spots at the opposite ends (warm and cool spots).
- Red milk snakes aren’t fond of overly humid conditions, so the humidity level must be within 40% to 60%.
- You must increase humidity when your pet is ready to shed their skin.
Red Milk Snake Handling
You shouldn’t handle your snake immediately after a meal. It is a good idea to wait at least two days before handling your pet.
The snake needs time to digest their meal, so you should allow them to move at their own pace without outside stimulation.
Red milk snakes aren’t poisonous. However, they can attack, so it’s advisable to take several days to hold your new pet carefully and make them comfortable with your touch.
It is better to use a glove while handling the snake and utensils, like prongs, when feeding them.
Other Important Facts About Red Milk Snakes
Here are some more facts red milk snake owners must know:
- Your pet red milk snake doesn’t need a companion because they may eat the younger snakes and attack the adult ones.
- Playing with your red milk snake is okay, but don’t touch or pat their heads. Your pet may see it as an attack or a violent gesture.
- Red milk snakes don’t like humid conditions, so you must keep their enclosure clean and dry.
- Your snake’s water bowl can help increase the humidity during skin shedding.
- Red milk snakes like to wrap their bodies around their prey and compress them, making them constrictors.
Final Thoughts
Red milk snakes aren’t poisonous, and they make good pets. They need a proper vivarium with controlled temperature and humidity. They are relatively easier to keep, but you must handle them carefully, especially if you get an adult pet.
While red milk snakes are generally friendly animals, they may attack if they feel threatened or cornered.
