Defining Characteristics:

• These snakes keep their color from juveniles to adults, and there are different color mutations to choose from that are incredible
• Although given the name “milk snake” these snakes are very similar to king snakes and also eat other snakes
• There are several different localities of milk snakes but the Hondurans tend to be more common in the hobby

Name: Lampropeltis triangulum hondurensis, the Honduran Milk Snake. These snakes are named after the country they originated from but the “milk” name comes from an old folk tale that the snakes would actually drink the milk from farmers' cows.

Recommended Enclosure Size & Setup: A single juvenile animal should be kept in a 24x18 inch footprint enclosure until it outgrows that. Adult enclosures should be upgraded to a 4x2 foot footprint.

Solitary housing is recommended, and the enclosure should provide a cool side (70°F) and a hot side (90°F), a large water bowl that the snake can soak their whole body in, a hide they can access, and plenty of places to climb. 

Temperature (°F): Ambient temperature should be 70-75 degrees, while basking temperatures should ideally be between 85-90°. Nighttime temps shouldn't drop lower than 65°. We recommend monitoring these temperatures with a thermostat (VE-200, Herpstat, Freedom Breeder Thermostats) with a night drop feature.

Humidity: These snakes live close to water sources in Honduras so in captivity, they need a decent humidity level so they can shed easily. Humidity levels in our enclosures usually stay between 40-60%. We recommend creating a humid hide that your snake can retreat to and a large water dish that they can soak in. A good thermometer/hygrometer combo meter will help keep this in check.

Size: Hatchlings are approximately 10-12 inches in length. Hondurans are the largest of their subspecies and top out from 4 to 6 feet; males are typically smaller than females. At the time of sale, these snakes are about 12 inches.

Age: The typical lifespan in captivity under ideal conditions is 20 years, and in the wild this is shortened to around 15 years. Approximate age at time of sale is 1-2 months old.

Feeding: In the wild these snakes are known to prey on frogs, lizards, rodents, and small bird eggs. Our snakes are currently feeding on 1-day newborn frozen (thawed) pinky mice every 5-7 days. Babies are often fed baby mice cut in half until they are large enough to eat whole prey. 

Sexing: Snakes are sexed by using a probe inserted into their vent and gently pushed towards the tip of the tail and measured by the amount of caudal scales based on the depth. Shorter count of caudal scales is a female and a larger count is a male.

Color/Pattern: These snakes don a three-banded pattern of a mostly red body, black, and yellow, with each colored band bordered by a black one.  Different mutations are available with albinos and higher orange (aka tangerine) types.

Social Behavior: These are solitary snakes that do better on their own. Cannibalism is common within this species, so it’s best to keep them in separate enclosures from other snakes. These snakes are active during the day and will utilize any climbing space provided. Most snakes take some time to feel safe in their environment, so they will likely hide from you until they understand you are not a threat to them.

Breeding: Most colubrids require a brumation period where temperatures are dropped to simulate the dormancy these snakes experience during the fall and winter seasons, which means the snakes have to be periodically cooled down and have their feeding periods reduced. Once the season turns to spring (after approximately 3 months of brumation) the snakes are then warmed up periodically and fed larger meals before eventually pairing.

Most rat snakes from North America take approximately 5 weeks to lay a clutch of eggs, and those eggs should be collected and put in an incubator with a vermiculite substrate that will stay between 75-82°F and about 95% humidity. Temperature fluctuations do not create many problems, but it's always safe to stay at consistent temperatures. Snake eggs will begin to hatch approximately 60-70 days after laying. 

Natural Range: These snakes are found in tropical areas of Honduras but also found in Nicaragua and Costa Rica. 

History in the Hobby: These are popular snakes in the hobby, but often overlooked as incredible pets.