Pueblan Milk Snake

The Pueblan milk snake is a non-venomous, thin snake with a striped color pattern. The stripes are black, yellow, black, and red, in that order. These color bands are used to mimic those of the venomous coral snake, scaring off potential predators. Their rounded head is different from the coral snake’s triangular shaped head.

They have a highly sensitive forked tongue which they use to sense chemicals in the environment. The snake flicks its tongue in and out so that it can capturing odor particles.

Diet

This type of snake mainly eats rodents, birds, lizards, and other snakes. The snake eats it’s prey by constricting it until the blood flow to its heart has ceased.  Once it is dead, they swallow it whole.

Behaviour

The Pueblan milk snake is generally solitary and primarily nocturnal, being most active at night and dusk. On hot days, they will stay under rocks, logs, or in burrows. You should provide a couple of hides for him to use.  If you place them on opposite sides of the enclosure, the snake doesn’t have to choose between comfortable temperatures and security.

Care

These snakes are easy to care for and grow up to between 60 and 120 cm. Your milk snake is going to be with you for a long time because they live to about 20 years of age if you look after them.  You milk snake doesn’t need a lot of room.  He will be happy in a cage about 90 cm long, 60 cm deep and 60 cm tall and he won’t get upset if you give him more space.  You will need to make sure that the enclosure has enough ventilation and a good seal because they really are great escape artists.

Since this species prefers low to moderate humidity levels, you should not use a substrate material that absorbs a lot of moisture. Rather use something like bark as it holds enough moisture without raising humidity levels too high or growing mold.

Pueblan Milk Snakes like to have access to spacious water bowls and you should choose one that is big enough for him to curl up in. They will often use them for soaking as it helps them to cool off or help with shedding.

Milk snakes get their name from a folktale that describes a snake sneaking into a barn and drinking the milk from nursing cows.