Reptile & Amphibian Forums

Hi,

I am interested in purchasing a Pueblan Milk Snake in the very near future, and was hoping someone here might be able to answer some questions for me. I have previously owned a Green Iguana, and have been around snakes my whole life, but am relatively new to snake ownership (which is partially why I'm looking at Milk Snakes - good for beginners), so please bear with me if these questions seem elementary, and feel free to provide me with any other information you feel I may find useful.

As far as Pueblans are concerned, are there any major care and/or husbandry differences between the two genders? Is one sex better suited for the beginner snake owner than the other? Are there pricing or availability differences between males and females?

How do you heat your Pueblan's terrariums? I have read about several people saying they prefer under-tank heat pads or tape to heat lamps for this species, because the lamp can "dry them out", and they are sensitive to bright light; but I have a friend who is a major reptile and snake (mostly venomous) enthusiast, and he says he prefers lamps to heating pads because they produce a better temperature gradient. Which is a better choice?

What do you use for an enclosure? I was planning on lining a 55 gallon aquarium with sand, and placing a water dish and place to hide inside. I've read that this species only gets about 3 feet in length, and really doesn't require a large terrarium, but I happen to have the 55 gallon available to me. I can't imagine it, but is there any foreseeable issue with giving a snake too much space?

What age snake should I be looking to purchase? I've read that the adults are more calm than the babies, which have a tendency to bite or be aggressive. Is there a particular age that I would be best to start with?

Can anyone recommend a good breeder for this sub-species? Obviously, I want to get a snake that has been properly bred and raised, and I'm hoping to find one in the $55-$75 price range.

Any help anyone can provide on these questions would make me a better potential reptile owner, and be very much appreciated

No real difference as far as husbandry or care between males and females. Pueblans tend to be very high strung, squirmy, and musk alot. I have a male that I have had since he was a hatchling, gets handled often, and still musks. They can also be difficult feeders. If you want a tri-color, I would encourage you to look into a Nelson's or Sinaloan. Beautiful snakes, and easier to care for. For heat, I use regular heating pads from Wal-mart. I hope this helps. Good luck, Todd

Wow, thanks! I'm glad I posted - I was right on the brink of buying a Pueblan; but none of the reading I did said much about the musking or being agressive or skidish as adults.

I am definitely looking for a tri-color. I was interested in the Pueblan because I really liked the pattern, and most of the research I did suggested that they where good for novices. Looking at it now, this may have been a more blanket statement about Milk Snakes in general.

So after looking at it further, I'm thinking now either a Nelsons, or maybe a Sinaloan with a high band count. Anyone have any suggestions on a good place to get one?

I got a sinaloan as my first snake, and he's been absolutely no problem. He's calm and curious, has a great feeding response, and needs very little maintenance. Plus he's very pretty (he's got a few broken bands and some "bullseyes," which I think gives him character).

As for breeders, there's alot of great ones listed on the Kingsnake.com main page and in the classifieds section. Any good breeder will give you details on how the snake is feeding, and probably would be able to give you photos of available snakes if you're picky about their stripes. If you go to the classifieds, make sure you know why the seller is selling the snake. The more info the better.
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1.0 sinaloan milksnake
1.0 western hognose
1.0 shepherd Mix
0.1 pug
0.0.2 calico ryukin
0.0.1 red cap oranda
1.0 husband

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Thanks for the info. I was originally not too into the pattern on Sinaloans, but after some closer inspection, not all of them have the ultra-wide red bands. I looked at yours (from the link in your signature) - he's very pretty

Based on all the great advice I'm getting, I might just end up going with a Sinaloan after all!

I'm a new snake owner. I've had a Pueblan Milk Snake for about 2 months. He's 1 1/2 years old, and I haven't really had any problems with him yet. He's small for his age, I THINK. 17.5 inches, 1.5 ounces. IS HE SMALL FOR HIS AGE, ANYONE? We hold him about a hour every day. He's sorta squirmy, but not anymore than any anything else that you would be trying to hold onto. He's a good eater, and an escape artist. He's only musked on us once, and that's a weird story. When I got him out last night, I thought that he was kinda stinky. While I was holding him, I was reading this forum about the musking. I had never heard anything about that before. But, he sure is a cool little fella. Have fun on your researching...
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Deborah McAllister

You might also consider a Mexican milk. They have a darker red than the bright red of the Sinaloan and they have more banding, as their red bands aren't as wide. When I researched milksnakes to figure out what type I wanted, Mexicans (annulata) were noted as being one of the calmest of the milksnakes. The one I got has a great termperament. He's not shy (doesn't hide as much as I thought he would, either) and handles well (my 6 year old daughter handles this 3 foot snake regularly).

I wouldn't let one persons account deter you from pueblans. I handle mine monthly and i havent been musked in years. If you reach into an enclosure and grab a snake, ofcourse it will musk. If you handle a snake properly and gently lift the animal out of it's enclosure. I will gaurantee it will not musk. Thats just my personal experience.
The mexicans are just as high strung as the pueblans if not more. The sinaloans are a little less spastic but not much different than the others.

brian
www.highwaterherps.ca
Link

I have a tangerine honduran. I looked into getting a pueblan at first but found they were very squirmy and with age looked dull and dreary. My tangering honduran is a bit squirmy but not like he was when he was small. He will be a yearling in July.
Also he has never musked me and eats good. I've heard black milks are gentle giants as adults. I'm interested in getting one of those.

I agree with hwh. About 3yrs. ago I bought a adult pueblan. The first couple months he musked, never tried to bite. He has not musked sence. He is hystrung, but some of my kings are too. My pueblan is close to 4ft. now and is one of the nicest looking snakes I have. Just rember a snake is not a puppy or kitten thats going fall asleep in your lap.

I agree, hondurans can be relaxed when small. I've experienced both sides of the coin with my hondos. Black milks on the other hand... i think may be the exception to the rule. I cannot say that for sure because i work with a trio only and i have not been around to many others. My blacks are very calm once up in my hand and they aren't very flighty. The pair of conants milks are also pretty calm but on other occasions, they an be spastic.

Brian
www.highwaterherps.ca

Hey, just wanted to thank everyone for all the helpful info. I finally decided and made my purchase, so I thought I'd update and let everyone know.

I finally went with the Sinaloan. He's a little tiny bit nippy, but I've only had him a day or two, plus he's young, so I'm thinking he'll settle down with time. Plus he always makes sure to give me good notice he's not pleased with a situation before he tries to bite, and even then they are more warning nips than actual attacks.

More images...

He's very pretty..

Congratulations! He sure is a cute little fella. I'm sure that you will be as happy with him as I am with my little Pueblan.
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Deborah McAllister