Care sheet
Milk Snake
Lampropeltis triangulum
Also known as: Eastern Milk Snake
Colubridae ยท Squamata
- Activity
- ๐ Nocturnal
- Temperament
- Docile
- Adult length
- 36โ48 in
- Lifespan (captivity)
- 15โ20 yrs
- Native range
- Eastern/central United States and southern Canada (nominate species)
Care guide
Overview
Milk Snake (Lampropeltis triangulum) โ a hardy, manageably sized colubrid and a good beginner snake. Secretive and somewhat fossorial, so provide snug hides and a humid retreat. Note that the 'milk snake' complex spans many subspecies with different adult sizes and humidity needs; tropical forms (e.g. Honduran) prefer higher humidity than temperate ones.
Environment
Climate
Housing
Enclosure
- HatchlingNot specified
- JuvenileNot specified
- Adult48x24x24 in (4x2x2 ft) for an average adult
Housing
Substrate
Nutrition
Diet & feeding
- AdultMice / young rats; no wider than ~1.5x the snake at its widest
- HatchlingEvery 5-7 days
- JuvenileEvery 7-10 days
- AdultEvery 10-14 days
Care
Water & behavior
Water bowl plus a humid retreat (moist sphagnum in the cool hide).
Legal & ecology
Conservation
Least Concern; not CITES-listed. 'Milk snake' is a large subspecies complex โ size and humidity vary by subspecies (tropical forms run more humid).
Genetics
Morphs
Citations
Sources
Every husbandry parameter on this page is backed by the references below. Click through to read the originals.
- government
Range, conservation status, threats (localized declines).
Published: 2023-01-01
- Lampropeltis triangulumacademic
Animal Diversity Web, U. Michigan
Academic species account: biology, range, diet.
Published: 2011-01-01
- Milksnake Care Sheetbreeder community
ReptiFiles (Mariah Healey)
Subspecies size table, temps, humidity, UVB, enclosure size, feeding, 20+ yr lifespan.
Published: 2022-01-01