Pueblan Milk Snake Care Sheet

This Pueblan Milk Snake care sheet should be used for guidance only. If you have decided to keep a pet snake please gather as much information as possible from other reliable sources about the species you intend to keep.

Pueblan Milk Snake

Lampropeltis triangulum campbelli

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DESCRIPTION

The Pueblan Milk Snake is a constrictor native to Puebla, Morelos, Oaxaca MEXICO

The Pueblan Milk Snake is a medium sized Milk Snake with a fairly stocky build which averages 3 feet in length.

It is known as a tri-coloured Milk Snake due to the 3 bands of red, black and white running the length of its body.

The Pueblan Milk Snake is a nervous species but prefers to retreat as its first defense, rarely bites and is relatively easy to care for.

These snakes will live 10 to 20 years in captivity with the proper care.

HOUSING

An enclosure measuring 30”x12”x12” is suitable for housing the Pueblan Milk Snake. The enclosure can be a wooden vivarium with sliding glass doors or an aquarium with a well ventilated secure lid. Being a mainly terrestrial species they are also successfully kept in large plastic storage boxes with plenty of ventilation holes drilled in the sides. Whatever type of enclosure you choose for housing your Pueblan, you must ensure it is secure and escape proof. Milk snakes are superb escape artists.

Pueblan Milk Snakes are nervous, shy creatures and should be provided with plenty of places to hide within the enclosure. Pieces of cork bark or hollow logs are ideal. You can also buy hides specially made for reptiles at many pet shops.

Milk snakes like to burrow and a suitable substrate should be used to line the floor of the enclosure to reflect this characteristic. Aspen bedding or coconut fibre are ideal substrates for Pueblan Milksnakes. Cocunut fibre can be bought in compressed blocks. (Eco Earth substrate block)

A sturdy water bowl placed near the coolest part of the enclosure is essential and should be large enough for the snake to bathe in if it wishes.

Any cage furnishings (hides, branches, plants etc.) should be securely anchored if you want them to remain where you placed them, as Pueblan Milk Snakes have a tendency to rearrange everything while you sleep.

HEATING, LIGHTING AND TEMPERATURE

Pueblan Milk snakes are best kept at daytime temperatures varying from 31 to 33 degrees centigrade at one end of the enclosure and 24 to 26 degrees centigrade at the other. A temperature drop of 5 or 6 degrees can be allowed at night.

A thermal gradient like this can be achieved by placing a heat mat under only half of the enclosure, leaving the other half cool. Heat mats should be controlled by a thermostat to maintain correct temperatures. Always follow the instructions that come with your heating equipment as these can vary between manufacturer.

If you find that extra heat is needed a low wattage bulb fitted to the ceiling of the enclosure can be used to increase temperature. Bulbs used for heating or lighting your Pueblan Milk Snakes vivarium that are above 15 watts should be covered with a bulb guard to protect your snake from burns.

Any lighting should be turned off at night. An inexpensive timer can be used to do the job for you.

Lighting is not a necessity if your snake is kept in a room with a window but can make your vivarium more attractive.

FEEDING

Pueblan Milk Snakes can be fed on an appropriately sized mouse or rat once every week and the food offered should be roughly the thickness of the snake at the centre of its length, although several small food items are often preferred to one large one. Milk snakes are best fed at dusk or after nightfall.

Frozen mice and rats can be bought in many different sizes from pet stores that deal in reptiles and can be thawed out for your Pueblan at feeding time.

Milk snakes are quite shy and may not always take food from tongs. Just leave the mouse in front of it's hide and leave the room for an hour or so to allow the snake to eat in privacy.

HANDLING

Pueblan Milk Snakes are suitable for handling and rarely bite, just don't expect this snake to settle for any length of time. Keep a close eye on your Milk Snake if you allow it to wander as it is amazing how quickly it will disappear if it finds a small dark hole such as the side of a sofa cushion.

GENERAL MAINTENANCE

Your Pueblan Milk Snakes enclosure should be spot checked for faeces on a daily basis and cleaned out completely with a reptile-safe disinfectant at least monthly. All cage furniture should also be disinfected and the substrate should be changed.

Your Milk Snake should be given fresh water at least twice weekly as part of your care regime.

Cleanliness and hygiene are an essential part of your care regime and will help keep your Pueblan Milk Snake healthy and disease free.

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