Milk Snake

Milk Snake (Lampropeltis triangulum nelsoni) is a relatively timid snake native to North America, mainly found in central Mexico. They have a special self-defense mechanism, which is to spray acid to resist enemies. Even when seriously attacked, they will not bite. The degree of acid spraying will decrease as they age.

Chinese name:

奶蛇

Latin name:

Lampropeltis triangulum nelsoni

Kingdom:

Animalia

Phylum:

Chordata

Subphylum:

Vertebrata

Class:

Reptilia

Order:

Squamata

Suborder:

Ophidioidei

Family:

Colubridae

Distribution:

Central Mexico

Milk Snake is a popular species of snakes in the market. It is called Milk Snake because it often appears in cowsheds and is mistakenly believed to drink milk, but in fact they eat the mice in the cowsheds. Although the majority of Milk Snakes have red, yellow, and black as their basic body colors, with only differences in the arrangement order, due to their wide distribution, different species in different regions will have more or less differences in body colors. Therefore, they are classified based on regional differences in biology.

Recommended for reptile pet enthusiasts. Milk Snake is very suitable for beginners to raise. They are non-venomous, gentle in nature, and have relatively low aggression. Even those who have never raised snakes before can easily handle them.

1. Acute pneumonia

  One of the common diseases in snakes. Its symptoms are difficulty breathing, mouth not closing, unwillingness to prey, and staying outside the nest for a long time. The onset is relatively sudden and can cause a large number of deaths when severe. It often occurs during the period when female snakes lay eggs or give birth, as their bodies are weak during this time and they do not eat water. In addition, the humid and hot weather makes snakes susceptible to illness. The preventive measures are to provide adequate clean water for female snakes during the egg-laying period, ensure good ventilation, and reduce the surrounding temperature.

  2. Mold Spot Disease

  Common in snakes kept in captivity, especially vipers, and other arboreal snake species. This disease often occurs under poor living conditions, limited range of activities, and humid environments. The main preventive measures are to keep the snake's habitat dry and allow the snake to have a certain range of activities. Lime can also be used for regular sweeping to absorb moisture, or the lime can be wrapped in paper and placed on one side of the snake's nest, and replaced regularly.

  Treatment: Apply 2% iodine tincture to the affected snake's body twice a day. Alternatively, soak the snake in a solution of potassium permanganate, and it can be cured after one week. Mold spot disease should be detected and treated early, as late-stage treatment has poor effectiveness. Do not milk venomous snakes too frequently.

  3. Parasites

  There are many types of parasites that can infect snakes, including nematodes, tapeworms, roundworms, etc. Snakes can also be infested with ticks and mites on their skin.

  Treatment method: Oral administration of a veterinary anthelmintic solution, with a dosage of per kilogram of snake body weight, administered for 5 consecutive days, can kill or expel various internal parasites. In addition, drugs such as pyrimidine, left thiamine, and chlorocresol can also be used. For ticks and mites on the skin, the snake can be placed in a nylon bag and soaked in the anthelmintic solution for 10 minutes. After the ticks and mites die and fall off, the skin can be washed with water.

  4. Snake Stomatitis

  It is almost the most common disease in snakes. Stomatitis is prone to occur in venomous snakes because venom extraction can easily cause oral injuries. Improper methods of repeated venom extraction and careless operation can also cause stomatitis. In hibernation, certain bacteria are prone to invade the cheek area, causing stomatitis. During the feeding season, mouth injuries can also occur due to fighting or swallowing larger prey. If snakes are fed artificially, the incidence of stomatitis is even higher. The main symptoms are swelling of the upper and lower jaws, inability to open or close the mouth, affecting feeding. Sometimes the gums and forehead of the mouth appear red (normally pale), and in severe cases, pus may overflow from some tooth sockets. Eventually, due to the spread of inflammation, the snake cannot drink water, become weak, and die.

The reproduction of Nelson's Milk Snake is not difficult. It does not necessarily need to hibernate to reproduce. The young snake can reproduce for the first time after about two years of breeding. The female snake can lay 10-15 eggs each time.

In the wild, Nelson's Milk Snake mostly lays eggs in warm and humid places such as rock crevices or under decaying wood. In artificial environments, you can prepare an egg-laying box and line it with moist sphagnum moss. The Milk Snake will lay eggs inside, and the eggs can hatch in about 45 days. The smaller subspecies can reach adulthood in about 2 years, while the larger subspecies may take 3 to 4 years or more to reach adulthood. The average lifespan of Nelson's Milk Snake can exceed 15 years. Artificial feeding requires changing the bedding once a week and feeding once. Daily care is relatively simple. The main food is mice, which should be the same size as the thickest part of the snake's body.