The Sinaloan milk snake is a large milk snake that hails from the coast of Mexico. Its calm demeanor, easy care needs, and small space requirements make it a good beginner snake. One can survive in a 20-gallon tank and the species is nocturnal so does not require UVB lighting or different nighttime and daytime temperatures. However, they are more skittish than some species, they can give off a bad-smelling musk to deter predators, and they are rarely active during the daytime, so are not ideal for all potential owners. Read on to see what you need to care for and own a Sinaloan milk snake.
Quick Facts about Sinaloan Milk Snakes
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Species Name: Lampropeltis Triangulum Sinaloae
Common Name: Sinaloan Milk Snake
Care Level: Low
Lifespan: 12 – 20 years
Adult Size: Mild, easygoing, cuddly, engaging
Diet: Mice and rats
Minimum Tank Size: 20 gallon
Temperature & Humidity: 75° – 80° temperature 30% – 40% humidity
Do Sinaloan Milk Snakes Make Good Pets? Sinaloan milk snakes make good pets for beginners and experienced keepers. They have low to moderate care requirements, enjoy being handled, and they do not require too large a tank. They are also non-venomous and rarely bite. However, they do have a defensive, pungent musk, that they emit when scared. And, while some milk snakes do enjoy being handled, they are nocturnal, in the wild, which means that they may not be active during the day.
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Appearance Milk snakes are brightly colored, using this vibrant display as a method of Batesian mimicry, which means copying the appearance of poisonous snakes like the copperhead. Although markings vary according to the exact species, the Sinaloan milk snake is red and has black and cream bands around the body. Unlike other milk snake species, the Sinaloan has wider and more prominent red bands. They have a black band behind their eyes and a cream belly.
How to Take Care of Sinaloan Milk Snakes You will need to ensure that your Sinaloan has the following setup and conditions: Habitat, Tank Conditions & Setup Tank The Sinaloan milk snake is one of the larger variants of milk snake, growing to around 48 inches in some cases. However, one can be comfortably housed in a 20-gallon tank. A slightly larger tank can be beneficial but if you provide too large a tank, the snake can become depressed and stressed. Remember that a dirty tank can cause infections. Poor living conditions are one of the most common causes of illness in snakes. Spot clean daily, removing dirt and any leftover and uneaten bits of food. Every four weeks, remove everything from the tank and disinfect it before replacing it.
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Lighting The milk snake is nocturnal. This means that UVB lighting is not necessary, but you may use a simple lighting setup to replicate a 12-hour day/night cycle. Although the milk snake does not demand it, one can be encouraged to use a weak basking lamp. Heating (Temperature & Humidity) This species can survive and thrive in a range of temperatures but tends to do best at a temperature between 75 and 85. You need to ensure that the tank is not allowed to above 90, even in the area surrounding the heat mat or under the basking lamp. Humidity requirements are lower than with other species of snake but you will need to maintain it at around 30% to 40%. Substrate Shredded aspen is considered the best substrate option because it enables you to maintain a proper humidity level. Alternatives include coconut, orchid, pine, and mulch. Tank Recommendations
Tank Type: 20-gallon glass vivarium
Lighting: Optional
Heating: Heating pad in corner
Best Substrate: Aspen bedding preferred
Feeding Your Sinaloan Milk Snake Sinaloan milk snakes are opportunistic. In the wild, they would eat anything from small birds to other snakes. In captivity, they tend to do best with a diet of small rodents. Adults will eat mice and large adults may eat small rats. The species is usually quite easy to feed, readily accepting already-dead mice. Ensure that the food is no bigger than the thickest part of the snake’s body and expect to feed weekly. Provide fresh water at all times.
Related Read: What Do Milk Snakes Eat in the Wild & as Pets?
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Diet Summary
Fruits: 0% of diet
Insects: 0% of diet
Meat: 100% of diet – small/medium sized rodents
Supplements Required: N/A
Keeping Your Sinaloan Milk Snake Healthy As mentioned above, the biggest cause of illness in snakes is poor and unsanitary living conditions. Ensure that the tank is kept clean. You should also ensure that you maintain a suitable temperature and humidity level at all times. Common Health Issues If you see symptoms of the following, you should visit a vet as soon as possible:
Stomatitis – More commonly known as mouth rot, stomatitis is a bacterial disease. It usually occurs after injury to the mouth and when something gets lodged in the injury site. Symptoms include pus around the mouth.
Dry Skin – A habitat that has too low a humidity may make it difficult for a snake to properly shed its skin. If a shed is patchy, it takes too long for the skin to come off, or if the eyecaps do not shed along with the skin, these conditions can be a problem.
Upper Respiratory Infections – Incorrect or changing habitat temperatures can lead to coughing, wheezing, and secretions in your snake’s nostrils, caused by upper respiratory infections.
Lifespan The Sinaloan milk snake has a moderate to long life, with most examples in captivity living to at least 12 years of age and some living as long as 20 years.
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Breeding Encouraging brumation can help with the breeding process but is not always necessary. Stop feeding for two weeks before reducing the temperature to approximately 60° and brumate between 6 weeks and 3 months. When the female awakens, she will think it is spring and time to breed. Move the male snake into the female’s enclosure and ensure that you supervise the breeding. The female is cannibalistic so will attempt to eat the male after breeding. If the breeding successful, the female will shed four weeks later, and two weeks after this she will lay her eggs in a suitable spot. once hatched, babies will go through their first shed after a week and can then be fed pinkies from this time. Are Sinaloan Milk Snakes Friendly? Our Handling Advice This species can be quite skittish and active. However, they tend to be docile and will accept handling, once they get used to you and the process. Younger snakes tend to be more nervous about being held. When you get a new snake, give it approximately ten days to get used to its habitat before you try picking it up and handling it. Ensure that you hold it above something that offers a safe landing, just in case. Start by handling it for approximately five minutes a day. When it is happy with this amount of handling, you can increase this to 15 minutes a day. The species rarely bites and is not venomous. However, when threatened, they can give off a pungent-smelling musk. Shedding & Brumation: What to Expect A healthy milk snake should shed all of its skin at once. If yours is shedding in patches, check the humidity level of the cage is appropriate, and if they continue to endure patchy sheds, consult a vet. An adult may only shed every two months or so, while a juvenile will shed every few weeks to every month. Brumation occurs every year in the wild, usually starting in October, but is not necessary in captivity. Some breeders encourage brumation, therefore mimicking appropriate conditions, to encourage breeding.
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How Much Do Sinaloan Milk Snakes Cost? Sinaloan milk snakes are popular and quite common. As such, they are among the more affordable breeds. Expect to pay around $50 and upwards for one of this species. The setup, including tank and food for the first few weeks, will cost considerably more and you can expect to pay several hundred dollars before getting your milk snake home. Care Guide Summary Pros
Usually tolerates handling
Striking markings
Inexpensive
Cons
Must be housed individually
Gives off a musk when threatened
Conclusion The Sinaloan milk snake is one of the more common and popular milk snake breeds. It has wider red bands than other milk snakes and the species is not prone to biting but usually tolerates being handled. Its care requirements are simple and it does not require a massive tank, which makes it a popular species as a pet, whether for beginner or experienced handlers.
Featured Image Credit: Eric Isselee, Shutterstock
The Sinaloan milk snake is a large milk snake that hails from the coast of Mexico. Its calm demeanor, easy care needs, and small space requirements make it a good beginner snake. One can survive in a 20-gallon tank and the species is nocturnal so does not require UVB lighting or different nighttime and daytime temperatures.
However, they are more skittish than some species, they can give off a bad-smelling musk to deter predators, and they are rarely active during the daytime, so are not ideal for all potential owners.
Read on to see what you need to care for and own a Sinaloan milk snake.
Quick Facts about Sinaloan Milk Snakes
View this post on Instagram
A post shared by Simon Haas (@simon.h.haas)
Species Name: Lampropeltis Triangulum Sinaloae
Common Name: Sinaloan Milk Snake
Care Level: Low
Lifespan: 12 – 20 years
Adult Size: Mild, easygoing, cuddly, engaging
Diet: Mice and rats
Minimum Tank Size: 20 gallon
Temperature & Humidity: 75° – 80° temperature 30% – 40% humidity
View this post on Instagram
A post shared by Simon Haas (@simon.h.haas)
A post shared by Simon Haas (@simon.h.haas)
View this post on Instagram
View this post on Instagram
Do Sinaloan Milk Snakes Make Good Pets?
Sinaloan milk snakes make good pets for beginners and experienced keepers. They have low to moderate care requirements, enjoy being handled, and they do not require too large a tank. They are also non-venomous and rarely bite. However, they do have a defensive, pungent musk, that they emit when scared. And, while some milk snakes do enjoy being handled, they are nocturnal, in the wild, which means that they may not be active during the day.
View this post on Instagram
A post shared by David Deem (@temporalis_enterprises)
Appearance
Milk snakes are brightly colored, using this vibrant display as a method of Batesian mimicry, which means copying the appearance of poisonous snakes like the copperhead.
View this post on Instagram
A post shared by David Deem (@temporalis_enterprises)
A post shared by David Deem (@temporalis_enterprises)
Although markings vary according to the exact species, the Sinaloan milk snake is red and has black and cream bands around the body. Unlike other milk snake species, the Sinaloan has wider and more prominent red bands. They have a black band behind their eyes and a cream belly.
How to Take Care of Sinaloan Milk Snakes
You will need to ensure that your Sinaloan has the following setup and conditions:
Habitat, Tank Conditions & Setup
Tank
The Sinaloan milk snake is one of the larger variants of milk snake, growing to around 48 inches in some cases. However, one can be comfortably housed in a 20-gallon tank. A slightly larger tank can be beneficial but if you provide too large a tank, the snake can become depressed and stressed.
Remember that a dirty tank can cause infections. Poor living conditions are one of the most common causes of illness in snakes. Spot clean daily, removing dirt and any leftover and uneaten bits of food. Every four weeks, remove everything from the tank and disinfect it before replacing it.
View this post on Instagram
A post shared by Golden Coast Exotics (@goldencoastexotics)
Lighting
View this post on Instagram
A post shared by Golden Coast Exotics (@goldencoastexotics)
A post shared by Golden Coast Exotics (@goldencoastexotics)
The milk snake is nocturnal. This means that UVB lighting is not necessary, but you may use a simple lighting setup to replicate a 12-hour day/night cycle. Although the milk snake does not demand it, one can be encouraged to use a weak basking lamp.
Heating (Temperature & Humidity)
This species can survive and thrive in a range of temperatures but tends to do best at a temperature between 75 and 85. You need to ensure that the tank is not allowed to above 90, even in the area surrounding the heat mat or under the basking lamp. Humidity requirements are lower than with other species of snake but you will need to maintain it at around 30% to 40%.
Substrate
Shredded aspen is considered the best substrate option because it enables you to maintain a proper humidity level. Alternatives include coconut, orchid, pine, and mulch.
Tank Recommendations
Tank Type: 20-gallon glass vivarium
Lighting: Optional
Heating: Heating pad in corner
Best Substrate: Aspen bedding preferred
Feeding Your Sinaloan Milk Snake
Sinaloan milk snakes are opportunistic. In the wild, they would eat anything from small birds to other snakes. In captivity, they tend to do best with a diet of small rodents. Adults will eat mice and large adults may eat small rats. The species is usually quite easy to feed, readily accepting already-dead mice. Ensure that the food is no bigger than the thickest part of the snake’s body and expect to feed weekly. Provide fresh water at all times.
- Related Read: What Do Milk Snakes Eat in the Wild & as Pets?
View this post on Instagram
A post shared by @stvicwildpics
Diet Summary
Fruits: 0% of diet
Insects: 0% of diet
Meat: 100% of diet – small/medium sized rodents
Supplements Required: N/A
View this post on Instagram
A post shared by @stvicwildpics
A post shared by @stvicwildpics
Keeping Your Sinaloan Milk Snake Healthy
As mentioned above, the biggest cause of illness in snakes is poor and unsanitary living conditions. Ensure that the tank is kept clean. You should also ensure that you maintain a suitable temperature and humidity level at all times.
Common Health Issues
If you see symptoms of the following, you should visit a vet as soon as possible:
Stomatitis – More commonly known as mouth rot, stomatitis is a bacterial disease. It usually occurs after injury to the mouth and when something gets lodged in the injury site. Symptoms include pus around the mouth.
Dry Skin – A habitat that has too low a humidity may make it difficult for a snake to properly shed its skin. If a shed is patchy, it takes too long for the skin to come off, or if the eyecaps do not shed along with the skin, these conditions can be a problem.
Upper Respiratory Infections – Incorrect or changing habitat temperatures can lead to coughing, wheezing, and secretions in your snake’s nostrils, caused by upper respiratory infections.
Lifespan
The Sinaloan milk snake has a moderate to long life, with most examples in captivity living to at least 12 years of age and some living as long as 20 years.
Stomatitis – More commonly known as mouth rot, stomatitis is a bacterial disease. It usually occurs after injury to the mouth and when something gets lodged in the injury site. Symptoms include pus around the mouth.
Dry Skin – A habitat that has too low a humidity may make it difficult for a snake to properly shed its skin. If a shed is patchy, it takes too long for the skin to come off, or if the eyecaps do not shed along with the skin, these conditions can be a problem.
Upper Respiratory Infections – Incorrect or changing habitat temperatures can lead to coughing, wheezing, and secretions in your snake’s nostrils, caused by upper respiratory infections.
- Stomatitis – More commonly known as mouth rot, stomatitis is a bacterial disease. It usually occurs after injury to the mouth and when something gets lodged in the injury site. Symptoms include pus around the mouth.
- Dry Skin – A habitat that has too low a humidity may make it difficult for a snake to properly shed its skin. If a shed is patchy, it takes too long for the skin to come off, or if the eyecaps do not shed along with the skin, these conditions can be a problem.
- Upper Respiratory Infections – Incorrect or changing habitat temperatures can lead to coughing, wheezing, and secretions in your snake’s nostrils, caused by upper respiratory infections.
View this post on Instagram
A post shared by Ultimate Exotics (@ultimateexoticsreptiles)
Breeding
Encouraging brumation can help with the breeding process but is not always necessary. Stop feeding for two weeks before reducing the temperature to approximately 60° and brumate between 6 weeks and 3 months. When the female awakens, she will think it is spring and time to breed.
View this post on Instagram
A post shared by Ultimate Exotics (@ultimateexoticsreptiles)
A post shared by Ultimate Exotics (@ultimateexoticsreptiles)
Move the male snake into the female’s enclosure and ensure that you supervise the breeding. The female is cannibalistic so will attempt to eat the male after breeding. If the breeding successful, the female will shed four weeks later, and two weeks after this she will lay her eggs in a suitable spot. once hatched, babies will go through their first shed after a week and can then be fed pinkies from this time.
Are Sinaloan Milk Snakes Friendly? Our Handling Advice
This species can be quite skittish and active. However, they tend to be docile and will accept handling, once they get used to you and the process. Younger snakes tend to be more nervous about being held.
When you get a new snake, give it approximately ten days to get used to its habitat before you try picking it up and handling it. Ensure that you hold it above something that offers a safe landing, just in case. Start by handling it for approximately five minutes a day. When it is happy with this amount of handling, you can increase this to 15 minutes a day.
The species rarely bites and is not venomous. However, when threatened, they can give off a pungent-smelling musk.
Shedding & Brumation: What to Expect
A healthy milk snake should shed all of its skin at once. If yours is shedding in patches, check the humidity level of the cage is appropriate, and if they continue to endure patchy sheds, consult a vet. An adult may only shed every two months or so, while a juvenile will shed every few weeks to every month.
Brumation occurs every year in the wild, usually starting in October, but is not necessary in captivity. Some breeders encourage brumation, therefore mimicking appropriate conditions, to encourage breeding.
View this post on Instagram
A post shared by Rueben Fogliasso (@thebraceconnection)
How Much Do Sinaloan Milk Snakes Cost?
Sinaloan milk snakes are popular and quite common. As such, they are among the more affordable breeds. Expect to pay around $50 and upwards for one of this species. The setup, including tank and food for the first few weeks, will cost considerably more and you can expect to pay several hundred dollars before getting your milk snake home.
View this post on Instagram
A post shared by Rueben Fogliasso (@thebraceconnection)
A post shared by Rueben Fogliasso (@thebraceconnection)
Care Guide Summary
Pros
Usually tolerates handling
Striking markings
Inexpensive
Cons
Must be housed individually
Gives off a musk when threatened
Usually tolerates handling
Striking markings
Inexpensive
- Usually tolerates handling
- Striking markings
- Inexpensive
Must be housed individually
Gives off a musk when threatened
- Must be housed individually
- Gives off a musk when threatened
Conclusion
The Sinaloan milk snake is one of the more common and popular milk snake breeds. It has wider red bands than other milk snakes and the species is not prone to biting but usually tolerates being handled. Its care requirements are simple and it does not require a massive tank, which makes it a popular species as a pet, whether for beginner or experienced handlers.
Featured Image Credit: Eric Isselee, Shutterstock
