Milk snake is an amazing beauty

2024 Author: Henry Conors | [email protected]. Last modified: 2024-02-12 02:46

The milk snake is a reptile that is very easy to keep in captivity, so it is often found in terrariums - both at home and in zoos. At the bottom of the terrarium for her, it is best to put moss, sawdust, coconut flakes. Since these snakes love water and prefer damp places, having a pool is a must for them. This snake is not poisonous, not aggressive, with a very bright and beautiful, memorable color. In length, it reaches almost half a meter. Naturally distributed on the east coast of North America.

Amazing name

When you see this bright representative of the Already-shaped family, the question involuntarily arises: “Why exactly the “milk” snake?” She received such a name according to the legend, which tells that when milk was lost from cattle, farmers often blamed these beautiful harmless creatures. It was believed that they allegedly sucked milk from cows. However, it is noteworthy that snakes do not have an upper palate, and they do not know how to suck anything. In addition, atthey completely lack the enzyme that processes milk. So this myth is absolutely not supported by scientific facts. In nature, milk snakes feed mainly on lizards, small animals, and birds. In conditions of captivity, they do not refuse mice, lizards, and especially large individuals even eat chickens. However, they are moderate in food, and as a rule, two or three such feedings are enough for them for a week.

The most common species that lives in the homes of terrarium enthusiasts is Campbell's milk snake. Its length is approximately 90 centimeters. In nature, she lives in Mexico. She spends a lot of time in the water and prefers to be nocturnal. The appearance of the snake is extremely remarkable and bright. It has a bright orange color with black, white, yellow, red. Lives for about ten years. Females of these snakes mature later than males, approximately in the third year of life. The species is oviparous. In one clutch, which in nature occurs once a year, there are up to 12 eggs.

This milk snake on the market today costs in the range from 3 to 6 thousand rubles. To hands, as a rule, gets used well. You can keep it in a terrarium about half a meter cubic per individual. It is necessary to maintain the temperature during the day at about +32 degrees, at night - +24 degrees with an air humidity of 75%. If you have several such snakes, then it is recommended to keep them one by one. In captivity, they also breed well, so the female and male can be planted in the spring. When preparing snakes for breeding, you should carefully consider their diet anddiversify it.

The royal milk snake, like the milk snake, is a representative of the genus Lampropeltis. Cases have been recorded when she ate a rattlesnake. The common king snake is small and calm. It is often kept on sandy substrates.

Honduran milk snake

It can reach almost one meter in length. It should be kept in a terrarium that is shaded and has half the open space. This species belongs to the forest.

These snakes are so beautiful and attractive that they will decorate and liven up your terrarium.