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Question about Pueblan milksnakes

toxiclight

toxiclight

Artz and Snakez
I have a quick question.

I have cornsnakes. I like them. I'm content with them.

My daughter, however, has been asking for a Pueblan milksnake ever since the first time she saw one. She loves the colors.

I've never handled a milksnake before, and don't know much about their care. I can find directions for care online...that's not really a problem. I'm more wondering how they are to handle. She's seven...hasn't been bitten yet by the corns but is pretty nonchalant about it happening (according to her, it can't hurt worse than the cat)

Obviously, as she's seven, we would be doing the majority of the snake care, but she would assist. She already helps with the corns...she helps prepare their food and feed them, checks their vivs for poo, etc. We would like to reward her by getting her the snake she wants.
 
I can't think of anything noteable except GET HER AN ADULT. Milksnakes can be very skittish, and probably 98% of the ones I've held have been "HUMAN! FLEE! FLEEEEE!" The only ones that haven't done that was a HUGE Honduran (think it was an adult male) and a yearling sized Pueblan.

Definitely, definitely get an adult.
 
ShenziSixaxis said:
I can't think of anything noteable except GET HER AN ADULT. Milksnakes can be very skittish, and probably 98% of the ones I've held have been "HUMAN! FLEE! FLEEEEE!" The only ones that haven't done that was a HUGE Honduran (think it was an adult male) and a yearling sized Pueblan.

Definitely, definitely get an adult.
Click to expand...

You don't necessarily need an adult, just one who is handleable. My amel honduran was calmer than my adult when I got her as a baby, so you just need to make sure you can hold them easily.
 
Milksnakes have a really annoying temperament... I can't say I have much patience for them but it -is- possible to tame them down so that they are calmer on the hands and not so frantic.
Getting an adult/sub-adult is actually risky... if the snake was not handled as a baby, it will be hard to get him used to it now. At times, during purchase and travel, the snake is so stressed that it acts relatively calmly... but once he is settled, he regresses to his skittish/aggressive self.

I suggest a baby... 2-3 months old, which reacts well to being handled.

Personally I don't think Milksnakes are "children" snake material... allot of handling usually won't do them much good... I -do- know though that you have Thayeri kingsnakes which have a milk-phase... they can really remind the milksnake, and are -way- more docile usually.

Just an errant thought.

Oren
Just a thought anyways.
 
I agree with Christina. Milksnakes are just skittish snakes, you will have to deal with that. But they will tame down when they get older. Just give them time, and get them used to you. They are GREAT snakes though. I love love love my pueblan milksnake.
 
My Pueblan, Marley, is going on two years old. I have only had him for about 6 or 8 months now. Anyways, he is annoyingly flighty! I try to be patient but I can honestly say I would not suggest one (of any age) as a starter snake. However, in your case she is familiar with corns, so it wouldn't exactly be a starter snake.

I would highly suggest that if you get a milk snake, it not be a Pueblan (just my .02)!
 
I can't speak personally about a Pueblan, but I know that our Sinaloan Milk Snake, Zipper, is A LOT faster moving than any of our corn snakes. Not a bad thing, but since it would be your young daughters snake, something to be aware of.
 
I like the oreo pueblan morphs, I bet they go good with milk too!
I love my sinaloans, they are still under a year and I have not had them too long
The female is a lot more calm than the male, but the male does settle down after a few minutes.
Neither has ever tried to bite me, they have musked, but that doesn't seem to be happening very often now
 
Seems a bit consensus... If there's any common theme about Milk Snakes, I guess "flighty" would be the word. I have a Nelson's Milk Snake that I've had for almost 2yrs (since a baby), and he was much more flighty than any of my other snakes at that age. He's calmed down a great deal, and I really enjoy handling him and having him as a pet, but it takes a gentle hold and being alert to handle him, because every once in a while he just decides to dart.

Definitely not discouraging you, but I would just keep in mind that they can be very flighty. Like you said, though, she would be more of an assistant than the primary care taker, so I'm sure you could make it work. My concern would be making sure that you're always present when handling, because I could see a 7yr old having a baby Milk Snake dart right out of their hands, and possibly losing it. My Milk Snake is considerably bigger and calmer, and I still don't trust to even take him outside for a photo-shoot for that same reason.
 
We've had a pueblan for about 6-7 years... yep they are skittish and quite quick but not really that much of a problem... I think your daughter would be OK with it... She's been around snakes and she knows the score.. You have other snakes she could handle... I say go for it and get her the one she really wants...
 
Lampropeltis are quite a bit of fun. But be ready for musk. Flighty has been mentioned, but in flight they tend to give you a bit of a stinky present too. They are poo-flingers for sure. As far as biting goes, most bites I've gotten from Lampropeltis species have been feed-response bites rather than defensive bites. And also, as mentioned, the babies tend to be more flighty than adults. But I would recommend getting a baby. That way, you can make sure that it has been raised in a way that makes it more comfortable with being handled. And the baby bites and musk aren't a big deal at all.
 
She's decided to look into some other, calmer snakes after we discussed everything that had been said in this thread :) The flighty part worries her a bit...she's not terribly worried about getting bit (she feeds our snakes now without worry), but she doesn't want to lose her snake ;)
 
lefty_mussolini said:
Lampropeltis are quite a bit of fun. But be ready for musk. Flighty has been mentioned, but in flight they tend to give you a bit of a stinky present too. They are poo-flingers for sure. As far as biting goes, most bites I've gotten from Lampropeltis species have been feed-response bites rather than defensive bites. And also, as mentioned, the babies tend to be more flighty than adults. But I would recommend getting a baby. That way, you can make sure that it has been raised in a way that makes it more comfortable with being handled. And the baby bites and musk aren't a big deal at all.
Click to expand...

Just wanted to note that "Lampropeltis" stands for a rather large group of animals, some of which are quite docile and are not really that inclined to musking. I agree with your assessment should it be applied to just the Lampropeltis Triangulum complex.
 
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