Honduran milk snake Honduran milk snake can be described as a large variety of milk snake which grows between 5 and 6 feet on average. The snakes are located in the tropical areas of Honduras, Costa Rica, and Nicaragua.
Honduran milk snakes* can be famous for their white, red as well as black and white stripes. They’re not usually dangerous to humans, and they are fairly easy to take care of.
Honduran Milk Snake Overview
| Common name | Honduran milk snake |
| Scientific name | Lampropeltis triangulum hondurensis |
| Natural habitat | Subtropical areas comprised of Honduras, Nicaragua, and Costa Rica |
| Adult size | 5-6 feet long |
| Average life expectancy | 15 to 20 years |
| Diet | Mice and rats as well as |
| Housing | Minimum 3×2 2-foot wooden vivarium, with one-third of the tank set at 90degF to serve as a basking area and the remainder of the tank in 70degF. |
| Experience | Beginner |
Origin
Honduran milk snake Honduran milk snake ( Lampropeltis triangulum hondurensis) is located in the grassland and forest habitats in the subtropical zones in Honduras, Nicaragua, and the northern region area of Costa Rica.
Because snakes are bred in warmer habitats, it’s crucial that the tank conditions are similar to this heat.
Appearance & Behavior
Honduran milk snakes can be famous for their stripes of three bands, which are colored black, red, and cream or white. The tangerine milk snake species is distinguished by a light orange stripe that is in addition to that red stripe. The female Honduran milk snakes are known to have larger bodies than their male counterparts.
Honduran milk snakes are Honduran milk snake has bright colors to convince predators that it’s venomous. However, the snake isn’t venomous. Female and male Honduran milk snakes look alike, making it difficult to distinguish between the two.
Size and Lifespan
Honduran milk snakes have tinier bodies that, on average they measure approximately 5 to 6 feet in length. They can live for up to 20 years in captivity when properly taken after.
Temperament
Honduran milk snakes generally calm and will not behave violently with humans. The species can be timid and more active in the evening. Herpetoculturists shouldn’t have Honduran milk snakes in their homes for the purpose of exhibition purposes.
Housing Honduran Milk Snakes
The area where the basking occurs within the Honduran milk snake’s tank must reflect the warmer habitat in the wild. Place the snakes inside a tank with closed lids as the snakes are well-known for their ability in escaping.
The snake must be kept by itself as it’s known to be aggressive towards other snakes, and it is known to devour snakes of identical species. Honduran milk snakes are known to be gentle toward humans.
Size of enclosure
The species requires a moderately-sized enclosure that is at minimum 3x2x two cubic feet. The younger snakes are able to live in a somewhat smaller living space.
Lighting
Make use of the UVB light inside the Honduran milk snake’s closure in order to more closely mimic the habitat in which the species lives.
To help the snake maintain its nighttime routine, provide daylight lighting that is on a 12 hour timer.
Temperature and Humidity
The humidity level in the snake’s tank must be maintained at 50% to help support the snake’s process of shedding. Check the humidity of the tank by using an hydrometer.
The different parts of the tank need to be in different temperatures. Make a basking zone around 80-90degF making use of a heating pad or lamp, and then keep the remaining tank in the 70degF range.
Substrate and Decoration
Utilize substrates within the Honduran milk snake’s terrarium, which permits the snake to do the natural rooting, burrowing habits. Cypress is a great substrate because it can hold humidity well. Other popular substrates include mulched papers, aspen, along with orchid bark.
Give this snake numerous hiding spots like caves faux plants branches, decoration for the cover. Honduran milk snakes are a shade-loving species, preferring shade and shelter in open areas.
Make sure that the growth of mold and bacteria within the tank are maintained at a minimum by regularly cleaning the tank. To prevent the growth of bacteria, make sure you have a vivarium that has adequate ventilation. Avoid keeping the snake inside an enclosure that is bioactive. Bioactive enclosures include living things like plants and fungi that function in a self-sustaining, self-sustaining system inside the tank.
Cleaning
Make sure to keep your Honduran milk snake content by keeping the tank clean. Clean the tank at least once each week and replace the tank’s substrate each couple of weeks.
To cleanse the enclosure, take out the snake, along with all the aquarium’s decorations and substrates. Clean the decorations as well as all surfaces of the tank with a disinfectant that is reptile-friendly. Follow the instructions on disinfectant and clean up any residues using an old towel.
Clean the tank every daytime so that the snake has the chance to bask for at least an hour after returning to the tank prior to when the lamps for basking are turned off to turn off the lights for the night. The time spent basking will stop the snake from becoming too cold.
Do not take the snake immediately from the aquarium either before or after eating as the snake might chew, swallow its food, if it’s had a meal, or not be willing to eat.
Honduran Milk Snake Care
If you ensure that Honduran milk snake has the right conditions within its tank, the species is fairly simple to take care of.
Food and Water
Honduran milk snakes can be carnivores and feed on the diet of rats and mice. Rodents must be purchased frozen, then thawed prior to feeding to the snake. Don’t feed Honduran milk snakes live rodents.
The baby snake should be fed a defrosted mouse every week. As the snake gets bigger expand the size of its food up to the point that the milk serpent becomes an adult and is able to eat large rats and mice. The adult Honduran milk snakes must be fed once every two weeks to prevent the snake from becoming overweight.
Honduran milk snakes require an ongoing supply of fresh water in large bowls. Keep the water bowl in the cooler part of the tank to prevent creating a higher humidity in the tank. Snakes can bathe from time to time in the tank to cool off.
Handling
Honduran milk snakes are anxious in their infant stages and can be prone to whipping their tails and biting to pose an attack on predators. By a regular, gentle handling and care, the snake is less likely to exhibit these behaviors as it grows.
When you are handling the snake, make sure to ensure that you support the entire body. Avoid placing your hands near the head. The snake should be allowed to reach out and explore the surroundings. Avoid handling the snake before or after feeding it clean your hands prior to handling the snake so that it doesn’t view your hands as food.
Common Health Issues
Snakes are often affected by parasites , such as mites, ringworms and ticks. Signs that a snake has parasites include getting tired or slow and developing spots around the body. Get advice from a veterinarian when you experience these signs.
Honduran milk snakes can also be suffering from mouth rot caused by an overgrowth of oral bacteria. Snakes suffering from mouth rot display no interest in eating and may have discharge, pus and bloody mouths. To cure mouth rot, take your snake to a veterinarian for antibiotics , as well as complete mouth cleansing.
Breeding
If you keep female and male Honduran milk snakes together, they might cross breed.
Create a nesting area in the tank that’s big enough for females to rotate around within. If the snakes get married she’ll lay her eggs inside the box that she nests in. The flooring of the nesting box with soil that is moist enough to hold its shape, but not enough to cover eggs.
When the female is able to lay eggs, transfer them into an incubator that is 84 degrees and a moist substrate to ensure the humidity to a high level. Some eggs might be stuck together, and separation could be harmful to the embryos of snakes.
See more: Snakes lay eggs? 3 ways snakes give birth
The eggs hatch within two months. The hatchlings should be moved to a larger or 10-gallon enclosure. After about two weeks the hatchlings shed their first time, and they should receive their very first mouse that has been defrosted.
You may choose to keep the baby snakes in a group or to separate them. If you decide to keep them in the same group be sure to watch them closely and remove the snakes as soon as you notice signs of aggression.
Choosing and Buying a Honduran Milk Snake
An Honduran milk snake can cost between $100 and $250. It is advised to purchase these snakes from a reliable breeder or reptile retailer. The snake is readily found in reptile specialty stores.
When purchasing the Honduran milk snake inquire with to inquire about the history of the family that the snake is from to identify the possibility of developing genetic diseases. Snakes that appear tired or slow or show indications of infection, like bleeding from mouths or spots on the body, must be avoided.
