Reptile & Amphibian Forums

Adult pueblan size is it 3 to 4 ft (average)?
After reading several things about them gathered very shy,nervous milk more so than most milks?
Thanks I have been looking into them and wanted to ask these two things.

I LOVE pueblans! They are just the coolest milksnake, in my opinion. I wouldn't call them VERY shy and nervous, but they are quicker than hondurans. I found that if I handled mine for about 10 minutes every day (except for the 48 hours after he ate), then he stayed much calmer. Plus, when he was a baby, I would cup him into my hands, instead of letting him fly off. The dark, contained feeling seemed to calm him down. Their colors can't be beat, also. You will probably end up with pueblans more in the 3 foot range, I would be surprised to see them at 4 feet.

Here is a great site for checking out lengths and pictures of milks and kings.

Hope this helps.
milks and kings

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phflame

Thanks for the great site. I also wanted to ask you do you see your pueblan/s much or mostly hide?
I do agree with you their colors are great and now being bred in diffeent colors.

In my opinion, if you want good temperament, pueblans are not a good choice. Brightly colored snakes need to be nervous and jumpy by nature or they would not survive...even if they are depending on mimicry for protection. A relatively small size doesn't help this behavior (more things can eat them). I chose my pueblan for the manageable size and beautiful colors. I have worked with this animal a lot and it is still a chore to handle him. As a baby he bit and drew blood whenever possible. He has stopped doing this as adult. He calms down for momemts (I assume he gets tired) and then explodes into another wirey tantrum. He is a good eater, easy to care for and a gorgeous animal. He is consumed with the notion of escape and pursues it with vigor. I would not get rid of him for the world because I respect and admire him on his terms and am committed to keeping him until the end. I don't think I'll get another one, but I value the lessons and experiences this one has taught me as well as the privilege of keeping him. I understand that there are fundamental "personality" variations between individuals of the same species (like Bubba the alligator), but this is my experience. Maybe I'm just not a snake charmer?

Thanks for the information it is helpful. I imagine you do see your pueblan by the fact that you said he is consumed with escape.
I was thinking of a 30 inch or 36 inch tank for one if I decide to get one (its between a pueblan , Coastal plains milk and quetero).
I take it I would see him ? Granted all 3 types are secretive well more than my cornsnake.
Thanks

If you are awake at the time that your pueblan decides to come out and hang out, you could see him. And that would be if you were really quiet and didn't make any sudden moves. Of course, I also have cornsnakes that do the same thing (hide all the time). Or it is possible that you would get one who didn't hide a lot.

You would not need that long of a tank for a pueblan, especially at the beginning. Perhaps when he is full grown, he might appreciate the extra room, but a baby might be overwhelmed by too much space.

I never had any problem with my pueblan, although I don't have him any longer. He is one who I regret selling. He didn't bite, didn't musk, and didn't try to escape all the time. But he was one that you would have to really watch so he wouldn't fly off your hand while you were holding him. Of course, I now have a licorice stick ratsnake that tries to do the same thing all the time (fly off my hand).
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phflame

Thanks for all the great info you have given me. I am going to look at them again as they are great looking snakes.
During summer I see some great looking babies in the classifieds.

There are some beautiful apricots available...I use one of those hollowed out half logs for him to hide in. That way I can make sure he's in his cage with a quick glance. Whatever you chose, make sure it's eazy to see him while giving him a sense of security. There's nothing like the panic you get when you lift up the hide box and it's empty. I know in my last post I kinda slammed my snake's temperament, but I have to say in his defense that he seems to be mellowing out with age. I guess with some snakes, it just takes longer to get used to being held. I don't "torment" him by holding him for long lengths of time, however. Which may be why he's taken so long to get used to human interaction. Good luck and I hope your pueblan is a mellow fellow...remember...keeping a snake can be a 20 year committment. You have a long time to get to know each other.

Your right the apricots are great looking and so are those sockheads.