Milk Snakes for Sale

There are around 25 subspecies of the milk snakes, including the Scarlet Kingsnake (Lampropeltis triangulum elapsoides).

Keeping Milk Snakes as Pets

These snakes will typically grow to lengths of 2 to 3 feet as adults, and can be purchased in an array of colored ring patterns. These snakes commonly live anywhere from 15-20 years in captivity when properly cared for.

Honduran Milk Snakes as Pets - Buy a Honduran Milk Snake

The Honduran milk snake (Lampropeltis triangulum hondurensis) is an egg laying species of non-venomous colubrid snake. It is one of the more commonly bred milk snakes in captivity and is the largest of the milksnakes reaching a length of 5 feet. The Honduran milk snake's base color is red with distinct rings or bands of black and yellow. In some cases the yellow is actually a deep orange color and the animal in question is referred to as a tangerine phase. The Honduran milk snake is the largest subspecies of milk snake, attaining a length of 48 inches in the wild and some captive specimens reaching a length of 5 feet. The Honduran milk snake has a resemblance to the coral snake and this similarity in color, known as Batesian mimicry, helps protect the snake from potential predators.

Honduran milk snakes adapt well to captivity due to their large size and brilliant colors. Like all king snakes and milk snakes, they must be housed alone, apart from the breeding season, because they are cannibalistic.

Nelson's Milk Snakes as Pets - Buy a Nelson's Milk Snake

The Nelson's Milksnake (Lampropeltis triangulum nelsoni) is a type of king snake that is found in Mexico from southern Guanajuato and central Jalisco to the Pacific Coast. It is also found on the narrow plains of northwestern Michoacán and on the Tres Marias Islands. The range of this snake appears to be tied to the proximity of watercourses, including ones utilized for irrigation and agriculture. It is a subspecies of the milksnake, Lampropeltis triangulum. It is similar in size to other king snakes, averaging 42 inches long, and like them, is nonvenomous.

The snake has 13 to 18 red rings and commonly has a dark-flecked light snout (in rare cases, the snout is mostly black). While the red bands are quite wide, the black ones are noticeably thinner, and the white is very thin. There is practically no black tipping on both the white and the red scales. Albinism and pattern aberrancies are established. It has 19 to 23 rows of smooth scales and a single anal plate.

This species is named in honor of Edward W. Nelson who worked for the U.S. Biological Survey from 1890, becoming chief in 1916.

Pueblan Milk Snakes as Pets - Buy a Pueblan Milk Snake

The Pueblan milk snake (Lampropeltis triangulum campbelli) or Campbell's milk snake, is an egg laying species of non-venomous colubrid snake. It is commonly bred in captivity and is found in several color variations. When handled, it discharges a pungent smelling exudate from its cloaca as a presumed defense mechanism.

The Pueblan milk snake's base color is red with distinct rings or bands of black and whitish yellow. Adult Pueblan milk snakes reach lengths of 28 to 36 inches. The Pueblan milk snake has a resemblance to the coral snake and this similarity in color, known as Batesian mimicry, helps protect the snake from potential predators.

The Pueblan milk snake is be found in southern Puebla, eastern Morelos and northern Oaxaca, Mexico. Like most milk snakes, Pueblan milk snakes are nocturnal, especially during the summer months when the heat of the day is often beyond their tolerance. They tend to be flighty, nervous, and typically defecate when initially handled, though they will rarely bite. They become more docile with regular handling.

Pueblan milk snakes adapt well in captivity if kept between 80 and 85 degrees Fahrenheit, with a night time temperature drop of 5 to 10 degrees. Temperature control is important, as it maintains the animal's feeding response and digestion. Cages should be escape proof, and fresh water provided at all times. A hide box is necessary, since Pueblans are more comfortable in confined spaces. King snakes and milk snakes must be housed separately (except during the breeding season) because they are cannibalistic.

Sinaloan Milk Snakes as Pets - Buy a Sinaloan Milk Snake

The Sinaloan milk snake (Lampropeltis triangulum sinaloae) is an egg laying species of non-venomous colubrid snake. It is one of the most commonly bred milk snakes in captivity. It is a fairly docile species and will rarely bite. If handled, it will discharge a pungent smelling exudate from the cloaca as a warning. The Sinaloan milk snake inhabits the rocky and semi-arid drylands of southwest Sonora, Sinaloa, and southwest Chihuahua (Mexico).

The Sinaloan milk snake is predominantly blood red with distinct rings or bands of black which have thinner cream-colored or yellowish bands within the black bands. The red rings are bordered near the edge of the ventrals by black pigment, leaving the center of the triad (on the ventral side) with a creamy white. The Sinaloan milk snake is easily distinguished from other subspecies because of the very broad bands of red which are wider than in most other subspecies (three times the width of the black bands). The head is black with a thin yellowish or cream-colored band just behind the eyes across the top of the head. The belly is yellowish or creamy white. Fully grown adults can reach a length of approx. 120 cm. or more in some cases. Like other milk snakes, the Sinaloan milk snake is very agile.