| general
|
| description |
One of the most popular
pet snakes. Its adaptability as captives, docility, ease
of breeding, and varied color phases and pattern types
make it a choice for beginners and experienced snake keepers
alike. |
| distribution |
Northern & Central America (U.S.A., Canada, Mexico,
Ecuador) |
| adult
size |
3' - 4' ; individuals
may get to 6' |
| hatchling
size |
5" - 10" |
| venomousness |
Nonvenomous |
| subspecies
|
| Abnorma |
Guatemalan Milksnake |
| Amaura |
Louisiana Milksnake |
| Andesiana |
Andean Milksnake |
| Annulata |
Mexican Milksnake |
| Arcifera |
Jalisco Milksnake |
| Blanchardi |
Blanchard's Milksnake |
| Campbelli |
Pueblan Milksnake |
| Celaenops |
Big Bend Milksnake / New Mexico Milksnake |
| Conanti |
Conant's Milksnake |
| Dixoni |
Dixon's Milksnake |
| Elapsoides |
Scarlet Kingsnake |
| Gaigeae |
Black Milksnake |
| Gentilis |
Central Plain's Milksnake |
| Hondurensis |
Honduran Milksnake |
| Micropholis |
Equadoran Milksnake |
| Multistrata |
Pale Milksnake |
| Nelsoni |
Nelson's Milksnake |
| Oligozona |
Pacific Central American Milksnake |
| Polyzona |
Atlantic Central American Milksnake |
| Sinaloae |
Sinaloan Milksnake |
| Smithi |
Smith's Milksnake |
| Stuarti |
Stuart's Milksnake |
| Syspila |
Red Milksnake |
| Taylori |
Utah Milksnake |
| Triangulum |
Eastern Milksnake |
|
| housing |
| natural
habitats |
Terrestrial; Farmlands,
Grasslands bordering Woodland and Rock Outcroppings |
| cage
|
It should be large instead
of tall because it does not climb much. (e.g. Wooden
Terrarium, Glass
Terrarium)
Make sure it is escape-proof, easy to disinfect, free
of sharp edges, dry, well ventilated, and hold heat to
ensure proper temperatures. |
| substrate |
wood shavings, barks (e.g.
Repti Bark, Coconut
Bark), gravel, fine sand (e.g. Repti
sand, Calci-Sand),
compressed paper granules (e.g. Good
Mews) |
| activity
period |
 Nighttime (nocturnal);
give heat and help monitoring by infrared lamps (e.g. Nightlight
Red Bulb, Infrared
Heat Lamp) where the light is invisible for it but
humans |
| temperature |
25 - 28 ¢XC -- day
(e.g. Daylight Blue Bulb,
Basking Spot Lamp)
22 - 25 ¢XC -- night (e.g. Nightlight
Red Bulb, Infrared
Heat Lamp, Ceramic
Heat Emitter) |
| humidity |
mid to low |
| water
dish |
a large water dish (e.g.
Rock water dish)
should be available for it to drink or soak in. It would
usually excrete in water. It is specially important for
one that is going to shed its skin. |
| hiding
place |
Essential, a place for
its privacy, security and sleep by day.
Possibllites include caves (e.g. Habbe
Hut, Heat Cave), etc |
| diet |
| wild
diet |
Carnivorous (meat-eating);
Rodents (e.g. mice, rats), Small Snakes, Lizards, Eggs,
Frogs, Salamanders |
| captive
food |
Rodents (e.g. mice, rats) |
| how
often to feed? |
once every 5 - 7 days
for hatchlings to juveniles;
once every 7 - 10 days for adults |
| notes |
1. Feed it in the dark.
2. Do not ever move your hands near when it is feeding.
3. Do not handle it till a day after the feed. |
| reproduction |
| reproduction
|
Oviparous; lays 10 eggs
per time, incubate in Fall |
| mating
season |
Spring to early Summer |
| gestation |
28 - 30 days |
