One eye-catching and well-liked snake to keep in captivity is the Pueblan milk snake.
These snakes are native to Mexico’s central region and may be identified by their vivid red, white, and black bands. They are relatively simple to find, care for, feed, and handle and are non-venomous. They should have a long and healthy life if given the proper care.
Pueblan milk snakes are similarly little and have slender bodies. This implies that they can survive without a large confinement. Since they are non-venomous, owners can handle them without fear of being bitten.
You may learn everything you need to know about taking care of a Pueblan milk snake from this manual.
Review on the Pueblan Milk Snake
| Common name | Pueblan milk snake, Campbell’s milk snake |
| Scientific name | Lampropeltis Triangulum Campbelli* |
| Natural habitat | Southern Puebla, Eastern Morelos, and Northern Oaxaca in Mexico |
| Adult size | 3 – 4 ft (females can be up to 6 feet) |
| Average lifespan | 12 to 22 years |
| Diet | Mice, rats, birds, frogs, lizards, and other snakes |
| Housing | A 40-gallon terrarium |
| Experience | Beginner |
Origin
Central Mexico is the home of the non-venomous Pueblan milk snake (Lampropeltis Triangulum Campbelli). Southern Puebla, Eastern Morelos, and Northern Oaxaca are the usual locations for the snake.
These snakes’ natural habitat is in arid, dry desert areas. The milk snake, however, can survive in a variety of environments. They can also frequently be seen in forested areas and rocky prairies.
In their natural habitat, Pueblan milk snakes are fairly frequent. Since they are non-venomous and have vibrant colors, they are also highly well-liked snakes to keep in captivity.
Manifestation and conduct
A Pueblan milk snake is easy to recognize due to its vivid tricolor striped pattern.
Although they can have a variety of color patterns, these snakes usually have bright red, white, and black stripes running the length of their bodies.
To frighten off predators, these color bands resemble the appearance of the poisonous coral snake. It is referred to as Batesian mimicry.
Due to their similar color patterns, tricolor hognose and Honduran milk snakes might be mistaken for Pueblan milk snakes. Pueblan milk snakes can be distinguished from other subspecies with similar appearances, but, by their larger white stripes and black tipping over their red bands.
Compared to other colorful snakes, these snakes also feature unusually vivid and bright red bands.
Pueblan milk snakes without morphs have pure white coloring with minor black speckling on their light bands.
Pueblan milk snakes have a sock-like head and a slim body. Typically, females are larger than males.
Size and Duration
An adult Pueblan milk snake normally measures between 36 and 48 inches (3 and 4 feet) in length.
One of the things that makes the snake so popular for captivity is its relatively short and slender stature. Female Pueblan milk snakes can grow to be six feet long and are bigger than males.
In the wild, these snakes normally live for 12 to 20 years, while in captivity, they can survive for up to 22 years. Pueblan milk snakes require little maintenance.
If you keep one in captivity, you can therefore anticipate a respectable lifespan from it. New pet owners should be prepared for a long-term commitment given the pet’s lengthy lifespan.
Temperament
The milk snakes of Puebla are exceedingly calm. They hide or curl up and spend a lot of time doing so. They are frequently encountered in the wild, but because they tend to hide and are most active at dawn and twilight, they are rarely seen.
The Pueblan milk snake can also be a very timid snake that is afraid of people. However, this mostly occurs when they are young. These snakes become more assured as they age.
Pueblan milk snakes get along well with their owners but don’t get along well with other snakes.
If you keep two of these snakes together, there is a great risk of cannibalism because milk snakes hunt and consume other snakes. This is especially true when there are two male snakes around, as a battle is almost certain to ensue.
The Breeding season will undoubtedly feature dominance fighting if two male milk snakes are kept together. Due to their perception that they must compete for food, milk snakes kept together can very easily develop stress. Therefore, it’s advisable to keep your pet snakes segregated.
The milk snakes of Puebla are manageable. When held as young snakes, they may be energetic, but with time, they become calmer.
To assist them get acclimated to being handled, you will need to handle them frequently for brief periods of time. Rarely will these snakes bite their handlers.
Pueblan milk snakes’ residence
The dry, arid, warm areas of central Mexico are the native habitat of pueblan milk snakes. When housing a Pueblan milk snake, attempt to mimic identical conditions as much as possible.
But these snakes also do well in a variety of climates, from forests to deserts. This makes creating special housing and providing for these snakes rather simple.
Embedded Size
Pueblan milk snakes may live in a typical-sized terrarium because they are not very large snakes. A single milk snake can fit in a tank that is 40 to 60 gallons in size.
While some snake owners favor vivariums, others favor glass aquariums. These milk snakes may successfully use either solution. The best terrariums for insulation are those with three wooden sides.
Your enclosure needs to be about 17 inches tall and longer than the snake is long.
Hatchlings should be kept in smaller tanks because a huge tank can quickly stress them out. Tanks for infant milk snakes should be 12 inches long and 6 inches tall.
Lighting
For Pueblan milk snakes, it would be great if you used lighting to preserve the cycle of day and night. The enclosure can be lit by incandescent bulbs 24 hours a day.
Since the lights must be turned off at night, it is not advisable to use them as the snakes’ main source of heat.
The enclosure of a Pueblan milk snake can be heated with a ceramic heater or a nighttime reptile heat lamp. During the day, regular incandescent lighting work well.
Since Pueblan milk snakes are nocturnal, a UVB lamp is not fully necessary. Nevertheless, UVB exposure is advantageous, thus we advise putting a UVB lamp with a low UV intensity.
Heat Index and Humidity
Owners should mimic the warm, dry climate that the Pueblan milk snakes are used to in the enclosure. Aim to keep the enclosure’s temperature between 76°F and 86°F.
You’ll need a warm and a cold side of the enclosure for every reptile you keep so they can adjust their body temperature.
To provide this heat, place a heating pad on one-third of the tank. By shifting between the warmer and colder sections of the tank, the snake will control its body temperature.
Pueblan milk snakes do best in areas with little humidity. The ideal humidity range is 40% to 60%. It could lead to skin problems if you don’t adequately control the humidity.
The snake may easily shed its skin when there is the right amount of dampness.
Add a ceramic bowl of water over the heated area of the terrarium if the humidity is too low. Another option is to mist the terrarium. With a hygrometer, keep a close eye on the humidity levels in the enclosure.
The Basis And Decoration
It’s not difficult to choose the substrate for your Pueblan milk snake habitat. It all depends on the type of substrate you favor the appearance of and what is easier for you to maintain. You might use butcher paper, newspaper, paper towels, or ashen paper.
This is the perfect surface for reptile bedding made of coconut fiber. Beechwood chips are also effective. The snake’s native habitat might potentially be recreated by inventive owners using dirt and clay.
For milk snakes, never use cedar bedding since it might be poisonous to the skin. The snake’s skin may also become irritated by gravel, rock, and sand bedding, so pet owners should steer clear of these materials as well.
Pueblan milk snakes are typically found in wooded or on the rocky slopes of wide grasslands. This implies that you can decorate the enclosure with different kinds of rocks or plants.
Pueblan milk snakes favor attractive surroundings. The use of natural slate rocks is always a plus because they retain heat and helps keep the snake’s underbelly warm.
To improve the enclosure and provide the snake with shade from the sun, add tall plants, cork wood pieces, and caves.
Make sure the enclosure has two roomy hides—one on each end in the various temperature zones.
Cleaning
Cleaning your Pueblan milk snake’s enclosure frequently is crucial, just like with any other snake you maintain. Spot-clean the enclosure every day to remove any excrement and to change the unclean water the snake is using. This must be done in order to stop the spread of bacteria inside the cage.
Additionally, the enclosure needs to be thoroughly cleaned once a month. How to do it:
- Remove the milk snake from its enclosure and take everything else from the tank’s decorations.
- Clean everything with hot, soapy water, or use a disinfectant safe for reptiles.
- Make sure to clean every surface to remove any microorganisms.
You can put your milk snake in a container, like a deep tub, while cleaning. Make sure the container has a lid and ventilation holes. Reintroduce the snake to its enclosure after cleaning.
Care for Pueblan Milk Snakes
Pueblan milk snakes are excellent for novice owners because they require little in the way of maintenance.
These milk snakes should have a long and healthy life as long as you maintain the enclosure tidy, heat it to the proper temperature, and feed it frequently.
Water And Food
In the wild, pueblan milk snakes are opportunistic eaters, which means they will consume almost any animal. Rats, mice, small birds, lizards, frogs, and other snakes have all been known to fall victim to them. Due to this, the species is relatively simple to feed.
The finest food to give a captive Pueblan milk snake is thawed frozen mice. Adult snakes will consume mice once every two weeks, however young snakes will consume little pinkies each week.
When these snakes are young, start them with tiny pinkies, and as they get older, work your way up to full-sized mice.
Make sure to feed these snakes mice of the proper size. This ought to be a mouse that is roughly 1.5 times the snake’s thickest region.
Since adult Pueblan milk snakes are already very thin, you should prevent them from putting on too much weight. Reduce the feeding if they do.
Handling
Pueblan milk snake handling is not difficult. Although it could be challenging at first, handling a snake comfortably and frequently is possible after it becomes accustomed to human contact.
When you first handle a juvenile Pueblan milk snake, they will be extremely hyperactive and timid. The snake will become more relaxed when handled as it ages.
These snakes must be handled quickly yet consistently. Never handle the snake for more than 15 minutes at a time.
Never handle a snake right after feeding it because this will put it under too much stress. Before handling a snake, it must have at least 24 hours passed since its last feed.
If you handle them right after feeding, they could get upset and vomit their meal.
Another fascinating detail to keep in mind is that when handled, Pueblan milk snakes can exude a pungent liquid from their cloaca.
This protection strategy is more prevalent in young snakes that haven’t had much experience being handled.
Typical Health Problems
The health of Pueblan milk snakes is unaffected by any conditions unique to their species. However, they can develop any of the widespread health problems that can plague snakes kept in captivity.
Parasites and bacterial or fungal infections are common health concerns. A polluted habitat puts the snake at risk for infections, which usually manifest as respiratory infections.
The easiest method to prevent these problems is by routinely cleaning the snake’s enclosure.
If the proper humidity levels are not maintained, the snake may also have respiratory diseases. The snake will require antibiotics as a result of the irritation this creates in its mouth and nostrils.
It’s always a good idea to check a snake for any potential bacteria or parasites before bringing it home. An examination of a stool sample is possible.
Considering how frequently pueblan milk snakes are bred, selecting a reliable breeder can help you avoid these health problems.
Breeding
A healthy adult pair of Pueblan milk snakes should be present before breeding. Adults should be well developed and in good physical condition.
If not, the adults risk passing on their medical conditions through reproduction. Additionally, you must be ready to care for and feed each hatchling separately.
When To Reproduce
Pueblan milk snakes typically reproduce in the spring when the weather is better since this is when the eggs are most likely to hatch.
To make sure the snake’s digestive tract is empty before brumation, stop feeding it about two weeks beforehand. Around October would be the time.
In November, you should keep the temperature at a somewhat lower and more stable level. Your objective is to make the snake aware of a seasonal change so they understand it is time for breeding.
For about six weeks to three months, you can brumate. To get the female ready for reproducing, give her food.
Breeding Techniques
Introduce the male to the female’s enclosure because of the female’s strong pheromone emissions. If the female has recently shed, the pheromones will be more potent.
Given their propensity for cannibalism, it is always a good idea to keep an eye on these snakes when introducing them to new enclosures. The female could be bit by the male. Although the bite won’t harm you severely, it could tear the skin.
The snakes should be left alone as the copulation process takes several hours. Once the snakes have mated, separate them. To confirm that the female snake is pregnant, you can carry out this procedure more than once.
Egg Laying
After roughly four weeks following mating, the female sheds her skin before depositing eggs. She will begin searching for the ideal location to lay her eggs a week after shedding.
Once she has spent a week locating the ideal nesting location, she will lay her eggs. The period from copulation to egg laying is roughly six weeks.
Include a box big enough for the female to deposit eggs in. With a layer of vermiculite at the bottom, this egg-laying box should be filled with a lot of moss that is just slightly damp.
After 60 to 75 days of incubation at 78°F to 80°F, the eggs will hatch.
Baby snakes should be fed a diet of little pinkies right away because they will shed in their first week. If you don’t separate the hatchlings, they can try to consume each other.
How To Select And Purchase A Pueblan Milk Snake
Since pueblan milk snakes are rather numerous, they are easily accessible. To reduce the risk of bacteria and subpar breeding, always purchase these snakes from a reputable breeder.
Pueblan milk snakes typically cost $150 or less to purchase. Consider the snake’s coloration when selecting one. It should be colorful, vibrant, and healthy.
Pay attention to any potential nasal or oral inflammations as well, as these could be signs of an infection.
Test the snake for bacteria before bringing it home, as you should with any snake. Before introducing the snake to its permanent cage, you might want to keep it in a quarantine enclosure.
