Reptile & Amphibian Forums

I'm getting my first pueblan tomorrow, beautiful coloration, It is little nervous when first handled but settles down nicely after a minute or two. about 10 inches long. i'm going to house him in a 10 gallon for the time being (tanks is about 2x his length, and 14" high) then move him to a 20 or 40 long (whichever is best for an adult) so I've read all the care-sheets but would like to hear from actual owners, hides, waterbowls, substrates, branches, vines, escape-proofing, decorations, lights, heaters and anything else you can think of would be greatly appreciated. I prefer natural looking setups if possible.
thanks
Mike

1. Nervousness - Pueblans are very squirmy and jumpy, especially when young. This is normal. My advice is to not expect a super docile creature. In other words, don't fool yourself into thinking yours is unreasonable and something must be wrong.

2. Substrate - Coir fiber (Eco-Earth, CocoSoft, etc) is an excellent subtsrate. Mixed with some Calci-Sand and you have a nice substrate that holds humidity well but drains well too. The milksnake will disappear into it and not come out much. That is when you know he is content. Most folks use aspen. Sani-chip is another good one. Desert Snow is good.

You may want to use paper towels for the 1st few weeks so that if the snake has mites, you can see them and troubleshoot immediately.

3. Hides - The substrate is a good hide. So is anything low and safe. I use bathroom tile (ceramic) under a heat lamp. Snake crawls into substrate under the tile to warm up. I can feed him on the tile.

4. Branches, vines - This is a terrestrial snake that spends much of its life underground. Branches are not a bad thing. I do not see a real benefit other than it gives the snake something to climb on when he is looking for an escape route.

5. Heaters - Most people use undertank. That is fine. Overhead works too as mentioned above. Use a temperature controller available at various suppliers like www.beanfarm.com .

6. Water bowls - I think ceramic bowls like those sold for hamsters are the easiest to clean, as are the small metal dog bowls. If you want to use those molded resin reptile bowls, fine. I just think you will prefer function (ease of cleaning, cheap to replace or have a spare) over looks in the long run.

7. Escapes - Pueblans (as all milksnakes) are experts at finding and crawling through any hole big enough to get their heads through. Make sure your cage does not provide that opportunity. I had a baby Sinaloan milk get out of a 1/4" dia hole. The snake's body was larger in dia than the hole, yet there he was working his way right out. Luckily I saw it before he was gone.

Good luck.

>>I'm getting my first pueblan tomorrow, beautiful coloration, It is little nervous when first handled but settles down nicely after a minute or two. about 10 inches long. i'm going to house him in a 10 gallon for the time being (tanks is about 2x his length, and 14" high) then move him to a 20 or 40 long (whichever is best for an adult) so I've read all the care-sheets but would like to hear from actual owners, hides, waterbowls, substrates, branches, vines, escape-proofing, decorations, lights, heaters and anything else you can think of would be greatly appreciated. I prefer natural looking setups if possible.
>>thanks
>>Mike
-----
Mark

Both of my apricots are squirmy and musk when I pick them up, even the older one (06). They do like to burrow and Aspen is an excellent substrate for this. I use newspaper as it is cheaper and I have other snakes as well. Make sure your hide is not too big, the snake will like it snug. You can put hides on the cool and warm side of the cage. If you use Aspen I would feed the snake in a temporary container so he doesn't ingest the substrate.

Have fun, be patient. They are beautiful snakes.

I too recently acquired my first pueblan; we have had him about 2 months.

I felt compelled to get him out of the pet store display, they had him in a 10 gallon tank, and he is nearly 4 feet long! after seeing this the first time it drove me nuts, but when I went back after some pinkie mice, 3 months later, and the poor snake was still there, I just broke down and bought it and $40 for a full grown adult was a bargain. (he escaped on the way home, and was all over the inside of my truck for a few minutes!)

An inexpensive way to get a real attractive enclosure for far less than a fish tank, just have home depot slice you 3 pieces of 3/4 MDF board, and two end panels, Glass is cheaper at window service companies, and they will sell off size panels for real cheap!! It takes about an hour to build a very nice box with wood screws. Be sure to drill pilot holes for the screws, and vent holes in the wood so the snake can breath.

Our Pueblan has a 4 foot wide, 2 foot deep 18 inch high box with a 1 gallon water bowl, they like to sit in the water.

Pueblans in general are "musk fountains" when handled, as long as you can deal with that, you’re in there. (Soap is cheap)

Also Pueblans are noted as being a very quick & restless snake when held, so we do a lot more observing, and less holding... But I am fine with that.

Never introduce your Pueblan to any other snakes unless you are breeding them. Pueblans have been known to enjoy a snake sausage from time to time, and your other little friend may go missing.

On a closing note, Pueblans like to eat, and 2 mice or more a week is common. setting up a mouse cage with 1 male and 3 female mice will ensure plenty of food without going to the pet store all the time. and save big in the end.

Enjoy the snake.

Wayne A Harvey

Some of our snakes - Click here

typical northern watersnake.

What time of year was that photo taken? That Nerodia looks gravid as can be, but could just be full of frogs and fish.

-Cole