Reptile & Amphibian Forums

I think might be a good thread to start for CaptainJack0000 and any others that have been on the fence with milksnakes or any other Lampropeltis for that matter. So everyone let's help some of these noobies out and describe what we like best about the species we work with.

Let's list some pro's and cons per species. Hopefully this can become easily enough available for noobies to find when they come to the forum. Lets have some fun with this guys, post pics too.
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My favorite L.triangulum would have to be L.t.sinaloae. or the Sinaloan Milksnake.

Pro’s – Sinaloan’s usually are great feeders from the start, and are very calm for a milksnake. They usually don’t musk or bite or become very flighty like a Pueblan that needs regular handling to calm down. If you are into a mid-sized milksnake (48” max)this is a great choice. The usually are some of the brightest in their natural phenotypes with large red bands.

Con’s – Not many con’s that I can find. It is real hard to find a pure L.t.sinaloae, most have been bred into nelsoni when the amelanistic gene became available. Some of the adults do darken with age so the bright colors could become dull later. This is also the case with most milksnake species.

Morph’s – Hypoerythristic and aberrant pattern.

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they're not my favorite. Still up there pretty close though.

DNS Reptiles - Milk Snakes

Here's one of my newest favorite milks. This snake is fairly rare in collections still but is available.

Pro's - Great color, the black snout and bands against the darker orange bands just really pop when viewing this animal. They are usually good eaters from the start, mine are actually ravenous feeders. They are a smaller South of the Border snake reaching around 36".

Con's - Remember this is just my experience with this species. Each individual animal may different. They are real spastic and have been so far even with handling. Even at almost a year the still musk and try and flea when I pick them up. Also, known as Yucatan Milk snakes. (do to some other ssp influence)

Morph's - Patternless

All in all if you can handle the spastic behavior of this milk you will just be amazed at it's coloration and behavior. I still have the "wow" factor every time I open the cage.

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Oh boy that l. t. blanchardi is really sweet looking. From the little I know about south of the boarder milks, they all seem to be spazztastic as neonates, and wild adults are the same.

-Dell

syspila are my favorite. I really dig the blotchy patterned milks and the brigther the red and the cleaner the white the better. They are the most beautiful NA milks in my opinion. And I like the fact that they are a challenge to get started as babies...yes I am crazy.

Here is my favorite female...with pics from today in the sun and the shade. The black on this one is very greyish and I wonder if she is a hypo. Time will tell.

first pic in sun...

next pic a close up of her boarders so you can see what I'm talking about...the sun doesn't really wash out the black coloration - that is pretty accurate I think...

finally one in the shade so you can see how clean she is even if not in direct sunlight

Here are some other syspila I have as well

Dave
DNS Reptiles - Milk Snakes

Stunning animals Dave. I actually like that one with the heavy black borders, but they all are outstanding.

Joe

Real Nice syspila collection Dave! I like syspila, easterns and coastals. But for NA milks I am a gentilis man and have been since I saw the picture of the two mating in the Markel's Kingsnake and Milk snake book in the early 90's. I just think 3 or 4 NA milk ssp. is all I can handle, before I start to get frustrated in getting all those worms to eat. That is pretty much their only con. IMHO.
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All very nice Dave. However, my favorite is the one you are holding and I believe the pic above that is the same animal. Very clean looking.

--Dennis

Sweet syspila Dave, those are a close second to Pales for me.

between this and the pales...of course I'm going just by looks!

I hope to diversify my collection in a few years, both are on the short list, along with Black milks.

-Rusty

Nice to hear Rusty, I forgot, or didn't know you liked Pale milks that much. It'd be great to see you with a couple of pairs of multistrata in your collection.

Being in FL. I'd recommend investment in a small wine cooler to burmate Pales in over the winter. Added plus is that the cooler also works quite well for what it was originally intended for, just don't tell anyone you've had snakes sitting in the cooler w/ the Chardonnay they're drinking.

-Dell

That animal is incredible Dell. I would prefer to see a more "natural" picture of that animal, perhaps in a deli cup and in a box with my address on it!!!

Joe

This one is my favorite Dell:

I really like it!

-Rusty

It'll come as no surprise my favorite milk.

L. t. multistrata
Bighorn Co. Montana.

I like them for a combination of qualities, their beauty of color, and variation.
Carbon Co. Montana.

The habitat they live in...

How harsh and long the winters can be in those environments, yet they survive these conditions.

To only be very difficult to find.

Cherry Co. NE.

-Dell

Well it's no surprise mine would be my Black Milks... biggest pro is the fact there are no cons... however since both my BM's are in blue right now I'm going to post my favorites from those I acquired from Mr. Ballard.

L.t. polyzona hands down, especially the female pictured here... a little over 42" at 1 1/2 years of age.

Pros for me... they'll end up being red and black (my favorite color combination). Used to raise Angelfish, Jewel Cichlids and Firemouths... everybody had red and black gravel! Also they grow to a large size, excellent feeders and have heavy scale tipping.

Cons... I'm told they are biters by others that have them. Mine, so far, haven't so much as looked at me funny when I pick them up. No musking, no spastic thrashing about... just a pleasure to handle.

Gerry

Where did you get your polyzona?

More importantly, where I can get a polyzona (...from a reputable breeder)?

With my wife's blessing, I've been able to rearrange the existing snakes and now have room for a 36 x 18, or maybe even a 36 x 24 tank. I think either of those would comfortably hold a 5 ft snake.

Send me an email.

Polyz won't keep that nice tri-colored look I'm guessing you prefer based on your comments in previous posts.

Did I mention the biting part? I only know three other people that have polyz and all three have said theirs have "attitude" issues and aren't beyond taking a nip at them just to keep the owners on their toes... I seem to have lucked out with mine because they are just as docile as can be... so far... anyway.

Also going to be a little more expensive than a hondo or sinaloan, not a lot more though mind you.

Gerry

My favorite is L. t. multistrata, which will probably come as no surprise to most of you.

Pros:
- They're variable
- They're BEAUTIFUL
- They're "small", typically staying under 3 feet
- Even heavily news-printed adults are attractive in their own right
- They have a fascinating natural history and are able to survive in some very harsh environments
- The habitats they're found in are a joy to explore
- I live within their natural range and have an affinity for native species

Cons
- Neonates can be difficult to start on domestic mouse pinkies
- Breeders are few and far between

A few photos:

(Dell's photo)

(Dell's photo, too)

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-Cole

Very nice Cole! If I were a betting man, I would have guessed multistrata! Between you and Dell, you guys must have more multistrata than anyone! When are you opening your multistrata museum? Great stuff.

Dave
DNS Reptiles - Milk Snakes

A close second favorite for me is L. t. gentilis. I like them for all of the reasons I like Pale Milks and they share the same cons, too.

Here are a few from Kansas and Colorado that I've seen and/or worked with.

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-Cole

your posting those flame sided gentilis Cole... keep me in mind should you ever feel the need to "unburden" yourself of something along the lines of that DSCF1595 of yours... a pair would even be better! Truly nice looking animals.

Gerry