The Pueblan Milk Snake: The Most Underrated Pet Snakes
Pueblan milk snake is also known as Campbell’s milk snake. This is a non-venomous snake. It is a member of the Colubrid family and it lays eggs. The scientific name of this snake is Lampropeltis triangulum campbelli.
What is a Pueblan milk snake?
It is classified under the subgenus Diprotodontia, one of four sections of the genus Lampropeltis, commonly known as milk snakes. These snakes are small, ranging from 16 to 30 inches (40 to 76 cm) in length.
They are usually black with brown markings but can be brown, beige, or even tan. Some have green or yellow markings, and others have light blue or yellow markings. They also have round heads and smooth markings.
These snakes are commonly known as camping snakes because they live in large colonies. Where can I see Pueblan milk snakes in the wild? On the Pueblan Puebloan landscape, milk snakes are usually found in large underground burrows.
Large colonies of milk snakes tend to congregate at the higher elevations in the Chaco Canyon of New Mexico.
Why should I get a Pueblan milk snake?
The Campbell’s milk snake is one of the most common milk snakes found in the Southwestern U.S. They are not aggressive and rarely bite. They are known to prefer live prey and have the ability to digest dairy products.
However, they should not be fed dairy products or other animal products like meat, eggs, or bones as they are highly toxic and can cause severe diarrhea and lethargy. They are non-venomous and are considered docile reptiles.
How to care for a Pueblan milk snake? Provide them with a cold water source and warm environment to ensure they are properly hydrated.
While they can be kept in a range of temperatures, they require a temperature between about 63 and 72 degrees Fahrenheit. They are also solitary and should be housed alone.
What are the pros and cons of owning a Pueblan milk snake?
There are a couple of different degrees of venomousness for which the Pueblan milk snake falls. The most venomous of the three major species of milk snakes, P. Triangulum, is not considered to be highly venomous. Therefore, their venom is not dangerous to humans.
Other species of milk snakes, such as the Brown milk snake and the Chinese milk snake, are more likely to deliver a bite to a human that could result in a dangerous medical emergency.
However, they are considered to be significantly less venomous than P. Triangulum. Milk snakes are docile pets. As you can see from the photos below, they do not tend to hiss, nor are they aggressive when handled. Because they are docile, milk snakes are very easy to house train and clean up after.
How much does a Pueblan milk snake cost?
The most commonly available Pueblan milk snake comes in a small size at roughly 10 in (25 cm) with an average $60 price tag. It is listed as Critically Endangered by the IUCN (International Union for Conservation of Nature) on their Red List.
The reason for its status is that the species is not found naturally in any other country than Mexico. In fact, the Campbell’s milk snake was originally found in the United States and is believed to have come from the pet trade.
Is there any way to feed this snake? The Pueblan milk snake prefers not to eat live prey but prefers to eat frozen mice, mealworms, and crickets.
They can only survive up to a maximum of 6 months without food, and given their relatively small size, it can only take 4–6 crickets in a single sitting.
