Mexican Milk Snake: Facts, Info & Care Guide (With Pictures)

The Mexican milk snake shares similar properties and almost identical care requirements to the Sinaloan and Nelson’s milk snakes. The biggest difference is in tank size because the Mexican tends to be the smaller of these similar species and is therefore fine with a smaller habitat. It is also not uncommon for owners to find that their Mexican milk snake has been misidentified.

Although it can take time to tame this snake for handling, they are relatively docile and may make a suitable pet for first-time snake keepers, especially those with limited space. Read on for more information on how to care for your Mexican milk snake.

Quick Facts About Mexican Milk Snakes

Do Mexican Milk Snakes Make Good Pets?

Milk snakes are considered good pets because they are smaller and require a minimally sized tank compared to other exotic snakes. They do not have any specific humidity requirements, so the only real habitat requirement is that of temperature, but even this is easy to manage.

They are non-venomous and will become accustomed to being handled in time. They are vibrant and attractive. They are carnivorous and eat mice. They can make a good first-time snake and are suitable for experienced owners.

Appearance

Milk snakes are known for their red and yellow, or milk, color. Their bodies usually have thick red bands, which are twice the size of black and milk bands.

The Mexican variant is a little thicker than other milk snakes but will only grow to a maximum length of 30 inches, or 2.5 feet, with the majority only achieving a length of 1.5 feet. The females are usually a little larger than the males, as is common with snakes.

• Related Read: Honduran Milk Snake

How to Take Care of Mexican Milk Snakes

Considered a reasonable choice for novice keepers, the Mexican milk snake has low to moderate care requirements. You will need to provide the following habitat and conditions for your pet.

Habitat, Tank Conditions & Setup

Tank

Although it may be possible to keep one in a smaller tank, you should provide a 20-gallon tank for adult Mexican milk snakes. This is smaller than is recommended for most other species, but still, the more space you can provide, the more the snake will thrive. Although large glass tanks are available, wooden tanks are preferred because they retain heat better.

Provide hiding spots, using items like upturned coconut shells or half logs. Flowerpots may also be suitable, and it is possible to buy commercial hides made from rock and other materials. Add rocks and branches for more natural-looking décor.

You should spot clean the tank every day. This means removing feces and other dirt. You will also need to give the tank a full clean every 4 to 6 weeks, which involves removing all items and cleaning these and the tank before replacing them.

Lighting

Milk snakes are nocturnal, and if house lighting is on in the evening and the tank is in daylight during the day, it isn’t strictly necessary to have lighting in the tank. Putting a simple LED light in the cage can improve your snake’s habitat, though, and make it easier for them to distinguish between day and night.

Heating

As with all reptiles, it is a good idea to implement a heat gradient across the tank. With the milk snake, the cooler end of the tank should be around 70° F, with the hotter end, or the basking area, at approximately 85° F. Temperatures should not exceed 90° F.

The milk snake does not have any specific humidity requirements, though you should ensure that humidity is not allowed to rise too much.

Substrate

Aspen is a popular substrate for this species. Alternatively, you can create your own mix of potting soil and sand.

Feeding Your Mexican Milk Snake

The Mexican milk snake is actually easy to feed. They do eat mice, and some bigger milk snakes may occasionally eat rats, but other than dusting the mice before feeding, little else is required. Young Mexican milk snakes will eat pinkies and hoppers. Adults will eat adult mice. This species rarely reaches a large enough size to eat rats. Ensure that the mice are dusted with a calcium supplement when feeding young snakes, and expect to feed them once or twice a week.

Keeping Your Mexican Milk Snake Healthy

The Mexican milk snake is considered a hardy breed that will survive well in under human care, but there are conditions that this small species is prone to.

Common Health Issues

Lifespan

Expect a milk snake to live at least 12 years and up to a maximum of 20 years under human care.

Breeding

Mexican milk snakes should usually be kept separately, and the only time they should be kept together is if you want to breed them. The female needs to be fully mature, and both need to be free of genetic illnesses and conditions. This species will breed freely if kept together, and you shouldn’t need to do anything special other than put them in the same tank.

Provide a nesting box and use a material like moss to keep the box humid and damp. Incubate the eggs at 84ºF. It will take approximately 2 months for the eggs to start hatching, and once the first baby breaks free, this will encourage the others to follow suit.

Are Mexican Milk Snakes Friendly? Our Handling Advice

The milk snake can be a little nervous and skittish as a baby. They may try to scare you off if they perceive you as a threat, but they are unlikely to bite.

When you first get a Mexican milk snake, give them 1 to 2 weeks to settle into their new surroundings before handling them. Ensure that you do not hold the snake too high off the ground because they are more active than some other species when handled.

Shedding & Brumation: What to Expect

The milk snake will outgrow their existing skin and shed, and this happens more frequently in babies than adults. Young snakes might shed every month, while adults will only shed approximately every 3 months.

Although they brumate naturally in the wild, milk snakes do not need to brumate when kept as pets, unless you want them to. This may be encouraged before breeding.

How Much Do Mexican Milk Snakes Cost?

Mexican milk snakes are small and make popular pet snakes with experienced and novice handlers. They also breed easily. This combination means that the milk snake is inexpensive, typically costing between $100 and $200 for a young one.

Care Guide Summary

Final Thoughts

The Mexican milk snake is one of the dozens of varieties of milk snake and one of three similar species. They’re the smallest of these related species, however, typically only growing to a length of 30 inches. They are docile as adults snf easy to handle, and they only require a relatively small vivarium to be comfortable. Popular as pets with experienced and novice handlers, these little snakes are attractive and fun to keep.

Related Reads: 

• Black Milk Snake
• Sinaloan Milk Snake

Featured Image Credit: eptiles4all, Shutterstock