Lampropeltis triangulum, commonly known as the milk snake or milksnake, is a species of kingsnake; 24 subspecies are currently recognized. Lampropeltis elapsoides, the scarlet kingsnake, was formerly classified as the subspecies L. t. elapsoides, but is now recognized as a distinct species.

Is a milk snake poisonous?

However, the milk snake is not venomous or poisonous, not matter how badly it wants to be. Milksnakes prefer to live in forested areas but will also be happy in barns and agricultural areas. They eat a wide variety of prey including other snakes, amphibians, rodents, insects, fish and small birds.

Do milk snakes bite humans?

Milksnakes do not have fangs and their teeth are extremely small, so a bite from one (which only happens if you pick up the snakes) can do little more than scratch a human or any other animal larger than a rodent.

Are milk snakes good or bad?

These snakes are beautiful, docile, and nonvenomous. Milk snakes are a subspecies of 45 kinds of kingsnake; there are 24 subspecies of milk snakes alone. These snakes are easy to keep and are a good beginner snake. They vary significantly in size, color, and patterns.

Can a milk snake be a pet?

Milk snakes are a popular choice for pet snakes, and with good reason. ... They are small enough to be housed in a standard-sized cage, but they are large enough to please most snake keepers. Most of the subspecies do very well in captivity and will eat frozen / thawed rodents on a regular basis.

Milk Snake, The Best Pet Snake?

30 related questions found

What happens if a milk snake bites you?

Although unlikely for them to attack, milk snake bites are non venomous. These snakes won't cause much damage beyond surprising you when you discover them. If anything, they can be beneficial to humans because they consume animals that are often much more destructive to human environments, like rodents.

What does a milk snake bite feel like?

And the bites are unlikely to break the skin because of how small the milk snake's teeth are. This means that it is also unlikely that a milk snake bite will even draw blood. In that regard, what you will probably feel from a milk snake bite should be more of a stinging sensation rather than actual pain.

Are Honduran milk snakes good pets?

Of all the different milk snake species, the Honduran is one of the snakes most commonly kept as a pet. They are colorful, easy to care for, and relatively small in size. They are large enough to be an enjoyable pet, but not so large that they present any housing problems for you.

Do milk snakes drink milk from cows?

They are nocturnal hunters and are often found resting during the day in old barns and under wood. An old fable about milk snakes is that they suck cow udders to get milk. The story is entirely false, and is discredited by the fact that the milk snake is not physically capable of sucking milk from a cow.

Can snakes hear your voice?

Snakes lack external ears (pinna), ear canals (external auditory meatus) or external ear drums (tympanic membrane) as is seen in most other reptiles, but they have well-developed internal ears and can hear sounds from 40 to 2,000 hertz; the human voice averages 500 to 1,000 hertz, and thus, is within the range of ...

Why does my snake watch me?

A snake usually stares at its owner because it wants to be fed. Other reasons include protecting its environment, sensing heat, and lacking trust. In some cases, it can be a sign of stargazing, which is a dangerous condition requiring medical treatment.

What snake looks like a milk snake?

The copperhead snake (Agkistrodon contortrix) is a venomous snake found in North America that risks being confused with the similar-looking, nonvenomous milk snake (Lampropeltis triangulum).

Why do they call it a milk snake?

Sinaloan milk snakes exhibit aposematic mimicry; they are not venomous, but their color patterns resemble those of a venomous snake. The common name "milk snake" originated from the false belief that these snakes milked cows.

What do milk snakes eat as a pet?

Pet milk snakes eat pre-killed mice and rats with day-old chicks and baby quail for variety -- they can thrive on a mammal-only diet, but not a bird-only one. They swallow their prey whole.

Do milk snakes eat mice?

In the wild, milk snakes will prey upon small animals like rodents, small birds, bird eggs and occasionally other snakes. Hatchlings and juveniles will sometimes feed on frogs or small lizards. ... Most adult Milk Snakes can be fed adult mice to small adult rats once every 5-7 days.

Do milk snakes rattle?

He said that the eastern milk snake does not have a rattle, but it still rattles its tail as a warning, and sometimes even creates rattling noises due to vibrations and dry leaves that may shake during the rattling. ... If it's not a garter snake, some residents begin worrying it might be a rattlesnake.

Do pet snakes recognize their owners?

Snakes are able to recognise and distinguish between humans and may recognise the scent of their owner as familiar or positive with time. However, snakes are unable to view humans as companions so cannot form a bond with their owner like other pets can.

Can snakes feel love?

This means that, while your pet snake may not technically love you, they can definitely feel pleasure when you provide them with the things they need to survive – food, water, places to hide and feel safe, a warm spot to digest, and a cool spot to thermoregulate!

Do pet snakes show affection?

They will not display emotions as cats or dogs do, but that doesn't mean they don't enjoy the company of their owners. Pet snakes are shy creatures, and although most will show affection without asking for anything in return, experts say you'll have to work hard to earn your pet's love.

What snake is best for beginners?

In this article, we discuss the top 20 pet snakes that can be handled by beginners based on ease of care, cost, and temperament.

• Western Hognose Snake.
• Garter Snake.
• Gopher Snake.
• Milk Snake.
• Rosy Boa.
• Ball Python.
• California King Snake.
• Corn Snake.

How big can a milk snake get?

Milk snakes can be from 35 to 175 cm long, with the longest snakes being found in Mexico and Central America. In the United States lengths are usually 60 to 130 cm. They are very colorful snakes and their colors vary throughout their range.

How big of a tank do milk snakes need?

Baby and juvenile Milk Snakes can be set up in an enclosure as small as a 10 gallon (20" x 10" x 12"H) but adults should be housed in a larger enclosure of 20 to 70 gallons (36" x 18" x 25"H) depending on their full adult size to allow for additional room and a better design.