Reptile & Amphibian Forums

Hello all, I plan on getting a milk snake this weekend, and I am very partial to the tri-colored varieties of the different subspecies. I will either choose a Pueblan, Nelson, Honduran or Mexican.
Which one of these generally has the best disposition? I will be the primary "parent"(it will strictly be a pet), but my wife does not want me to get one that is prone to being more nervous or nippy than others. I've read that Pueblans tend to be the most jumpy, while Mexicans seem to be the most calm. Can anyone offer some advice or experience?
Thanks, and I love all the pics everyone posts here.

Paul

>>Which one of these generally has the best disposition?

I think the best starter milk for disposition is the Mexican Milk. Sinaloans are also usually pretty calm as adults as well and many snakes that are sold as Nelsoni are proably sinaloans as well.
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Chris Harrison
San Antonio, Texas

Gotta agree of those the Mexican is the best starter MILKsnake. Though I no longer work with them they have always been a favorite.

my sentiments match chris's-hondos are often kind of jumpy as youngsters,but turn out nice and melow usually;pueblans,i would say are often much jumpier-like you mentioned-even as adults;sinaloans are a hobby favorite but again are often skittish as youngsters and many are nelsoni intergrades;the ones i hear the best about most consistently are definitely the annulata,mexican milks.....pretty,calm,good rodent eaters even as babies.don't know why we don't see more in the hobby.
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"with head raised regally,and gazing at me with lidless eyes,he seemed to question with flicks of his long forked tongue my right to trespass on his territory" Carl Kauffeld

As far as milksnakes go I think Nelosoni or Sinaloans are both great choices and are typically calm adults..

What show are you going to?

~ Mike

I keep all four sbsps you mention. Hondis are good. Nelsons tend to be more jumpy (TME) My Mexican (F) can be nippy, but otherwise resonably calm.

Frank

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"The luxury of not getting involved departed with the last lifeboat Skipper..."

What a spectacular Annulata. I have never seen such clean and thin bands. You just made me want to get back into keeping them!

To the guy looking for a milk to own. I breed and kept Mexican Milks for many years. They are a super sweet snake and stay about the two foot range. They tend to be a little snippy as hatchlings, but calm rather quickly. They also tend to stay sweet tempered when not held often. As long as the snake is taking regular food, this is a good beginners snake.

Good Luck:
Jason Mc

Will be going to the Greater Atlanta Reptile & Exotic Show this weekend in the metro ATL area. I hope to find what I'm looking for.

Forgot to ask everyone, but how different are the natural environs of these diferent subspecies? Since I am leaning towards the Mexican or Pueblan, and plan on setting up a relatively naturalistic home for it, is there a big difference between the two or the others? I know in nature they probably live at different altitudes, ect. but have not found too much info on what a good natural setup would be for these guys.

If you're looking for a "calm pet", I wouldn't go with a peublan. Almost all are jumpy and musky as hatchlings and many (but not all) stay jumpy as adults.

I have peublans, sinaloans, nelsons and hondurans and would reccomend a nelsons or sinaloan for you based on what you are looking for. They are generally calm as both hatchlings and adults and are beautiful.

I don't have any mexicans, but have been told they are calm as well.

Good luck picking out your snake!

Dave

DNS Reptiles

If your looking for a book on naturalistic setups, try "The Art of Keeping Snakes" (Herpetocultural Library) by Philippe De Vosjoli.

I'm not sure "desert" would be a approriate habitat for any of the mentioned milks, since they are noctural and seek cool, somewhat damp habitats. Some desert herps (like western banded geckos) do best in a "temperate" scrublands setup, and I suspect milks would be the same.

I've kept all the milks that you mentioned except Mexicans. In my experience Pueblans are jumpy and do not enjoy handling as babies or adults. Hondurans are beyond jumpy as babies and they bite, but eventually they calm down. Nelson's are as tame and easy to keep as a corn snake. Albono Nelson's are one of the most beautiful snakes on the market!

Tim

Third Eye

It's too bad you're partial to tri colors. The Black Milk Snake is the most placid Triangulum I've had the pleasure of working with.

I have only had annulata, they are great for me!
Todd Hughes

Hi Everyone,
Wejnt to the reptile show today and there were only 2 L.T. annulatas at the whole show, and the vendor who had them had to correct their containers as they were labeled wrong as Pueblans. the temperament was obvious even with the hatchlings, all the Pueblans I looked at and held were basically freaking out, practically jumping away from us. the first annulata was much more calm, but still very fast and really wanted to run and hide. the other one, which I chose, was was way calm but very active and curious, almost in a laid back but not sluggish way. Out of all I examined, this little male seemed to be the one most comfortable with being handled, so he came home with me.
thanks for everyone's input and opiniones, it was all very helpful. I'll post pics as soon as I take them.

Paul