FIT FOR A KING, OR JUST MILKING IT?

Has the corn snake’s supremacy in the pet trade cast a shadow over the true kings of the colubrids?

With milk snakes offering stunning colouration, interesting characters and an expanding morph market, Exotics Keeper Magazine looks at the underdogs in the ‘best pet snake’ category.

Milk snake or an udder one?

All milk snakes are king snakes, but not all king snakes are milk snakes. The term king snake refers to all members of the Lampropeltis genus which is made up of 24 different species. Previously, the milk snakes were considered subspecies of the Eastern milk snake (Lampropeltis triangulum), however this is no longer the case. Frequent updates in the taxonomy of this complicated genus of snakes contributes to the popularity of using common names in conjunction with scientific names.

The wider group of “king snakes” range from Canada to Ecuador, contributing to the genus’ versatile appearances and behaviours. Milk snakes also range across much of this area though most species that appear in the pet trade are from Mexico and Central America. These are the popular Honduran, Sinaloan, Nelsons and Pueblan milk snakes.

According to the University of Michigan’s Animal Diversity Web, the milk snake gets its name from an old folktale claiming the snake sneaks into barns and drinks the milk of nursing cows. Of course, this is physically impossible and there is no truth in this tale at all. Their distinct tri-colour patterning could contribute to the perpetuation of this story, as they are an easily recognisable snake that could be found on farms where there are lots of rodents to feed on.

Something a little less corny

Caring for a milk snake is very similar to caring for a corn snake and yet the latter has consistently proven more popular than the former. This is largely because of their suitability as pets. Overall, corn snakes have a much more tolerant demeanour, especially as young snakes which pet owners are likely to buy. However, with such a broad range of king snakes available on the market, bold species such as the central plains milk snake (L. gentilis) or the California king snake (L. californiae) can make excellent pets as they mature.

Gary Morris (GM Reptiles) and Toby Maxted (TMAX Reptiles) have been keeping and breeding kingsnakes, including milk snakes for decades. Both share a similar passion for the Lampropeltis genus and regularly attend many of the European trade shows. Gary told Exotics Keeper Magazine: “Corn snakes just never really excited me. I have kept them for friends, but I have only ever had three in my collection. Kingsnakes on the other hand, have a bit more about them in my opinion. They often have bright colouration and they’re almost always shiny, in fact their Latin name translates to ‘shiny shield’. I mean, this is a snake that will eat another snake, there’s just something about their character that I find more exciting than corn snakes. A lot of them can reach an impressive size too so they’re confident. You can really feel that snake in your hands!”

Toby explained his very similar infatuation with king snakes as he told us: “I like their attitude too. They’re always moving and always interacting with their environment. It’s not like other snakes that will sit there for the majority of the day, milk snakes are like having a kid around the house. Yes, king snakes are more food oriented, but I would never put someone off buying a milk snake as their first snake. I would always warn of the size of Hondurans, because people don’t realise how long they can get, especially the males! Generally, the sinaloans and the pueblans are shy snakes but with a bit of patience they will definitely get used to handling.”

Versatile style

Despite having a widespread distribution, the kingsnakes are often grouped into similar care guides and requirements. Although some milk snakes occur as far south as Ecuador and some king snakes as far north as Canada, the natural behaviours of these animals mean there are few disparities in their care and keeping.

Stuart Worth has been a major figurehead in the herpetoculture industry since the 1980s. He explains “There is not a lot of difference in the care requirements of the king snakes. The main difference between the North American and Central America species would be that the former would require a longer cool period in the winter, whereas the latter would require a much shorter one, if any at all. The species that do come from Central America tend to inhabit grassland environments rather than tropical forests, so the keeper could provide slightly higher humidity levels, but this really isn’t necessary. The biggest variation in the care of these species is between the highland and lowland species. For example, the mountain king snakes are going to need a much cooler temperature than their lowland counterparts.”

This gives keepers a lot of scope when it comes to choosing a king snake. Not only is there a whole spectrum of species, subspecies, locales and morphs, but all of them are quite straightforward

Housing mini milks

Kingsnakes behave differently to corn snakes, but for the right person they can be extremely rewarding and manageable pets. Being such hardy animals, creating a suitable enclosure for a milk snake is relatively simple to achieve but enjoyment can be found in going the extra mile. The first important thing to consider is the size of the snake. Young snakes can almost double in size each year, so housing appropriately to avoid significant stress to but its just a little scratch. After a few weeks, maybe a couple of months they get much more comfortable with you and become great pet snakes. The most important thing is for people to do their homework, but also don’t be afraid to ask questions.”

As snakes that can reach up to five feet in length, a 4 X 2 X 2 feet vivarium is required to house most adult milk snakes. Of course, the smaller species will feel more comfortable in an enclosure this size and going slightly larger for a Honduran is not going to hurt.

Supplying a hot end of around 32°C and a cool end of around 23°C with plenty of hides is a necessity. Providing “Zone 1” UVI lighting should give the animal adequate UVB. Heating is often achieved through a heat mat, but observations of snakes in bioactive enclosures have seen some king snakes choosing to use a basking spot as opposed to their ‘warm hide’. Liam Sinclair of Reptiles and Research suggests: “a lot of days my king snakes will flat out sit under the T5 and bask all day. In the wild they bask cryptically by exposing a single coil or when they do bask openly its amongst grass and other vegetation where it is safe from predators. But in captivity it’s another story, there are no predators so the need to avoid being seen isn’t as dire. Hence why mine bask so readily. The benefit of basking remains while the risk of predation is removed. These benefits include: Increased activity levels and alertness and increased melanin production - so they may look better. People take snakes outside to look at the iridescence in the light. When you have UVB they sit there shimmering, the Mexican black kingsnakes almost have a blue hue to them. It’s fantastic.” Along with these observations, UVB holds a myriad of well-known health benefits for the development of the animal.

Substrate choice can be largely subjective, especially with snakes. As king snakes can be particularly inquisitive with some burrowing tendencies, maintaining a naturalistic or bioactive set up can provide a wealth of enrichment. Liam continued: “Previously I had the Cali king bioactive, and my Mexican black king snakes on a naturalistic mix of topsoil to play sand while still doing full cleans. I have switched one of my Mexican black kingsnakes to lignocel to see if there are any behavioural differences. What I found after the snake had adjusted is that once a lattice of tunnels is formed, they tend to be reused. I noticed burrowing behaviour increased when I heavily sprayed down the enclosures once a week, I think this is because it made the soil easier to work with. As the heat from vivariums below warmed the one above, the substrate was being warmed from both angles, causing it to dry out and compact quickly. I have noticed quite adept climbing abilities, even the use of the tail to grip things as they go. I have also noticed a notable increase in muscle tone in 2 of my snakes. Just the position of branches etc or hides can affect behaviour. It’s better for the snake and its better for the keeper to watch a more active snake that’s out more.”