Species Notes based on experiences:

Milk Snakes are examples of batesian mimicry. Milk Snakes have evolved to impersonate the deadly Coral Snake (Micrurus). The old saying Red next to Yellow…kill a fellow, Red next to Black….venom lack or friend of jack. This is in reference the way the annulations or rings of the milks snake’s pattern are arranged. Save for adult size, the amount of black pigment present and overall build of the snake Milk Snakes are generally very similar snakes to consider as pets regardless of subspecies. Some species have been excluded from consideration because of their much smaller than average size such as the Red Milk Snake (Lampropeltis triangulum syspila) which may require lizards as first prey to establish in captivity. All the Milk Snakes listing on this site will generally feed unassisted on rodent prey from birth. This snake has now been rolled into the Polyzona Milk snake (Lampropeltis polyzona) along with three other subspecies listed individually on this site. Look through the images and decide for yourself but I believe this to be folly. We have bred for ‘Pueblan’ standards for 30 years and’Sinaloan’ Standards for 30 years. Why on earth would we want to mix them? Bear in mind taxonomic decisions are based upon shifting sands, and what is de rigour one minute is old news the next. We could have mixed species that in time may well be separated again. Sinaloan Milk Snakes are one of the most commonly seen Milk Snakes in the hobby. Nowadays they are available in albino and Bulls eye and all sorts of other forms. This seems to be one of the easiest to breed with babies most ready to start on mammal prey in an expedient manner. Wide red bands approaching 4 to 5 black band widths which may develop ever so slight black tipping giving a nice netted appearance. Unlike the Conant’s Milk Snake the bands are very uniform and the pastel yellow band is relatively thin. Black Bands may become slightly wider across the back of the snake but for the most part this is a very neat uniformly patterned snake. 

Score analysis:

When considering temperament, Sinaloan Milk Snakes are generally very well behaved. They can be nervous or flighty snakes like some of the other Milk Snakes listed here as youngsters. If defensive behaviours occur, this will include tail rattling and vacating the contents of the cloaca. Biting is incredibly rare, the preoccupation with nervous Milk Snakes is to escape. With patience and time the snake will usually readily calm down and by the time the animal is a year of age it will be fully compliant.

Territory issues are nearly always more prevalent than true temperament issues. If startled snakes may rattle their tail and throw coils of their body in an agitated manner. This usually ends up covering the head (on purpose), if this fails a Milk snake may dart away trying to escape the human that disturbed it.

This snake is more subtropical than many of the other Milk Snakes although it can occur at altitude inland. Care in captivity is pretty much universal for most Milk Snakes but with this subspecies the presence of a moss box or damp hide is a strong suggestion to aid with shedding. Over subsequent generations this snake has proven itself to be of comparable hardiness to any of the other Milk Snakes discussed on this website.

This is an average size Milk Snake at around 3.5ft in length. Girth and weight are modest and would be easily outweighed by Pueblan and Mexican Milk Snakes of the same length. This may give them a slightly more delicate feel but in reality they are just as robust as the other subspecies listed on this website.  
       
Initially babies may be nervous and flee from food offered on tongs. It can take a good 6 months before the snakes are comfortable strike feeding. Some keepers just default to leaving their snake to it and leave their prey on a tray for them to hoover up in their own time. Milk Snakes are cannibals, they should be housed separately always. In the wild they are reptile feeding specialists taking both other snakes and lizards. Pairing of animals for breeding trials should be done with care.

Tub:
50ltr (exceptional animals would benefit from a vivarium)

Vivarium:
90cm x 45cm x 45cm

Budget rig: -
    60cm x 30cm heat pad
    On / off thermostat
    Digital thermometer to monitor thermostat performance
    Warm hide
    Cool hide
    Water bowl
    substrate

Recommended rig (vivarium only): -
    150w ceramic heat emitter
    Ceramic lamp holder and bracket
    Bulb guard
    Day night thermostat
    Digital thermometer to monitor thermostat performance
    Various logs and caves along the thermal gradient
    Damp hide
    Climbing and exercise branches
    Plants and foliage (live or artificial – your choice)
   Water bowl
    Substrate
    UVB light (8w T5 shade dweller 7% kit from Arcadia or equivalent) (optional)
    Subterranean section to vivarium for further psychological security (optional)
   

Climate analysis:

Some of these snake occur in regions that have very harsh summer temperatures such as animals originating from Sonora. These animals may aestivate during summer months and be crepuscular during spring and autumn and then diurnal during winter. In other areas of the range at elevation these animals may be forced to seek shelter during winter. This snake hasn’t proven to be needy in this department and a relatively short cool down and stoppage of feeding is enough to cycle animals for breeding.

 
Conclusion:

Probably tied in the modern hobby with the Honduran Milk Snake for the species you are most likely to find. This is a more manageable species than the Honduran if slightly less attractive. It is certainly available in far fewer colour mutations so inevitably the popularity of the Honduran Milk Snake is above all others. However if you want a manageable, pretty clearly marked Milk Snake that remains under 4ft this would make a fabulous choice.