Milk Snake

Lampropeltis triangulum

Milk snakes are nonvenomous kingsnakes in the Lampropeltis triangulum complex, with red, black, white, cream, or yellow banding that can resemble coral snakes. The group ranges widely through North America and into Central America, and its taxonomy has shifted as researchers separate regional forms. The old farmyard name came from folklore about snakes stealing milk, though these snakes actually hunt rodents, lizards, eggs, and other small prey.

In reptile keeping, milk snakes are common because many captive-bred lines feed readily, stay manageable in size, and tolerate simple secure enclosures. They still need hides, a thermal gradient, clean substrate, and solitary housing, since kingsnakes may eat other snakes. Breeders often distinguish locality animals from color morph projects, and good records help prevent mixing lines that look similar but come from different regional backgrounds.