Mexican milk snake

Content

• Quick facts about the Mexican milk snake
• Do Mexican milk snakes make good pets?
• appearance
• How to Care for Mexican Milk Snakes
• Habitat, tank conditions and setup
• Tank
• Lighting
• heating
• Substrate
• Feeding Your Mexican Milk Snake
• Keep your Mexican milk snake healthy
• General health problems.
• Lifetime
• Breeding
• Are Mexican milk snakes friendly? Our handling advice
• Shedding and bruising: What to expect
• How much does a Mexican milk snake cost?
• Summary of Care Guide
• Result

The Mexican milk snake shares similar characteristics and care requirements are almost identical. The biggest difference is in the size of the tank because the Mexican is the smallest of the species, and thus requires a smaller habitat. It is not uncommon for owners to have their Mexican milk snake misidentified.

Although milk snakes can take time to handle, they are relatively docile and can make suitable pets for first-time snake keepers, the Mexico is ideal for those with limited space.

Quick facts about the Mexican milk snake

Species Name:Lampropeltis Triangulum Annulata

Common name:Mexican milk snake.

Level of care:less

Lifetime:20 years

Adult Size:30 inches

Food:Rats, sometimes rats.

Minimum tank size:30" x 18" x 18"

Temperature and Humidity:70°-90°F, ambient humidity.

Do Mexican milk snakes make good pets?

Milk snakes are considered good pets because they are smaller and require a smaller tank size than other exotic snakes. They have no specific humidity requirements, and the main housing requirement is temperature, but it is also easy to manage.

They are non-toxic and will get used to handling in time. They are dynamic and attractive. They are carnivorous and eat mice, but are also fairly easy to manage. They can make a good first time snake and are also suitable for experienced owners.

appearance

Milk snakes are known for their red and yellow, or milk, coloration. Their bodies usually have thick red bands that double as black and milky bands.

The Mexican form is slightly thicker than other milk snakes, but it can grow to a maximum length of 30 inches, or 2.5 feet, with the majority only attaining a length of 1.5 feet.

How to Care for Mexican Milk Snakes

Considered a reasonable choice for novice keepers, the Mexican milk snake has minimal care requirements. You will need to provide the following accommodation and conditions for your pet.

Habitat, tank conditions and setup

Tank

Although it may be possible to keep them in a small tank, you should provide a 20-gallon tank for adult Mexican king snakes. This is smaller than recommended for most other species because the Mexican is a small snake.

Provide hiding places, such as coconut shells or half logs. Flower pots may also be suitable, and it is possible to purchase commercial pots made of rock and other materials. Add rocks and branches to give a more natural look.

You should clean the tank every day. This means removing the mill and other dirt. You will also need to give the tank a thorough cleaning every 4-6 weeks, which includes removing all items and cleaning them and the tank before replacing them.

Lighting

Milk snakes are nocturnal and if the house lighting is in the evening and the tank is in daylight during the day, lighting the tank is not strictly necessary. Adding a simple LED light to the cage can improve your snake's habitat, and make it easier for them to distinguish between day and night.

heating

As with all reptiles, it is a good idea to have a heat gradient in the tank. With a milk snake, the cooler end of the tank should be approximately 70°F with the hotter end or basking area approximately 85°F. The temperature should not exceed 90°F.

Milk snakes have no specific humidity requirements, although you should make sure that humidity is not allowed to get too high.

Substrate

Aspen is a popular substrate for this species. Alternatively, you can make your own mixture of soil and sand.

Tank recommendations

Tank Type:20 gallon wooden vivarium.

Lighting:There is no need.

Heating:Heat mat or ceramic bulb.

Best Substrate:Aspen

Feeding Your Mexican Milk Snake

The Mexican milk snake is actually an easy feeding snake. They eat mice, and some large milk snakes may occasionally eat mice, but mice require little more than dust before feeding. Mexican milk snakes will eat horses pink. Adults will eat adult mice. This species rarely reaches a size large enough to eat rodents. Be sure to give rats a calcium supplement when feeding young snakes and expect to feed once or twice a week.

Diet summary

fruit:0% of the dose.

Insects:0% of the dose.

Meat:100% Diet-Small/Medium Rats

Supplements Required:Calcium dust for young snakes.

Keep your Mexican milk snake healthy

The Mexican is considered a hardy species that will survive well in captivity, but there are certain conditions that this small milk snake species must meet.

General health problems

• mouth rot - This usually occurs after an injury in the mouth and when bacteria infect the injury. A yellow discharge covers the injury and eventually breaks down the tissue.
• Dry Skin – While humidity doesn't need to be monitored too closely, if the humidity level in your snake's tank is too low, it may struggle to drain properly and completely. Go to a vet or build your own humidity tank.
• Respiratory infections. - Regular and excessive changes in humidity and temperature can lead to upper respiratory infections. Infections such as pneumonia can be life-threatening and require treatment with antibiotics.

Lifetime

Expect a captive-bred milk snake to live a maximum of 20 years and minimum  12 years.

Breeding

Mexican milk snakes should generally be kept separately and only kept together if you want to breed them.

The female needs to be fully mature and both need to be free of genetic diseases and conditions.

These species will breed independently if kept together, and you shouldn't need to do anything special other than putting them in the same tank.

Provide a nesting box and use a material such as moss to keep the box moist and moist. Cook eggs at 84º F. It will take about 2 months for the eggs to start laying and once the first brood is free, it will encourage the others to follow suit.

Are Mexican milk snakes friendly? Our handling advice

A milk snake can be a little nervous and clumsy as a baby. They may try to scare you if they think you're a threat, but they're less likely to bite.

When you first get a Mexican milk snake, allow it to settle into its new environment for 1-2 weeks before handling it.

Make sure you don't keep snakes too high off the ground as they are more active than some other species when handled.

Shedding and bruising: What to expect

Milk thistle oozes as it grows and outgrows its existing skin, so it occurs more frequently in children than in adults. Young snakes can shed every month, while adults only shed every three months.

Although they break down naturally in the wild, milk snakes don't need to be bromated in captivity, unless you want them to. It can be encouraged before breeding.

How much does a Mexican milk snake cost?

Mexican milk snakes are small and make great pet snakes for both experienced and novice handlers. They also breed easily. This combination means that milk snakes are inexpensive, with a young snake typically costing between $100 and $200.

Summary of Care Guide

Occupation

• Smaller than other species.
• Simple nutritional requirements.
• Home and cheap to buy.

Cons of

• Young snakes are quite lively and agile.
• Difficult to distinguish from other species.

Result

The Mexican milk snake is one of dozens of milk snake species, and one of three very similar species. It is the smallest of these related species, however, typically growing to only 30 inches in length. As adults, they are easy to handle, and require only a relatively small vivarium to live comfortably. Popular as pets with both experienced and novice handlers, these small snakes are attractive and fun to keep.